My name is Joseph...

My name is Joseph, you're my baby, you're my son. Well kind of. You know I always dreamed of having a son, a son with my eyes, with my hands. A little one that I could teach and mold. My son!

I always wanted to teach you how to build your first chair, how to treat your mom…wow your beautiful mom. I simply wanted to be your dad.

But tonight as you place your small hand in mine I feel so weak. I feel as if I am not holding you, but you are holding me. Tonight in my arms lays the hope of everything I have built my life upon. Tonight in my arms lays the hope of the world.

My name is Joseph, and I have been chosen to give my name and share my home with the Son of God who has become the Son of Man. Who am I that a King should entrust me to raise him? Why couldn’t God have chosen another man?

I always dreamed that I would build your first crib. And yet you lay there in a feeding trough because I can’t afford a room. I envisioned our families celebrating your birth, but we are surrounded by dirty shepherds and even dirtier animals. It is as if you have come to redeem all creation, not just the righteous.

You see, my name is Joseph, and this is all I have to give. This is not how a king should live. The Son of God, has become the Son of Man, but this is all I have to give. What can offer you my son? I cannot teach you of the reckless love of God, because you are the reckless love of God. So, I am Joseph, and well, that’s all I have to give.

The Glory of God has taken the form of man. Tomorrow my little one, you can save the world, but tonight, tonight you are My Jesus.

Compassion - Sermon Transcript FCSBC

Compassion

As we enter in to this holiday season, a season of Thanksgiving, of rejoicing, of celebration, we have a tendency to become self centered. I know that I begin to look forward to the gifts that Christmas will bring, or to the amounts of food I can stuff into my face. I begin to think of all the things that I am blessed with, which I have, we all have, so many. I give thanks with my words, I speak thanksgiving, I even pray and tell God how great I think he is because of all he has given, that he has provided. I speak to God as if He if this giant Toy’s R Us for adults. I speak of contentment to my friends for all that I have.

This year I want to take a look at the coming season through a different lens. I’m talking about one word. A word that we speak so often and yet I don’t think we can fully comprehend the depth of what we are saying when we use this word. Jesus used this word, he experienced this word, and yet we fail to teach this word with the passion and force that drives it.

The word is compassion or Splagchnizomai in the Greek. For the sake of all of we’ll stick with compassion.

Throughout the Gospels we are told multiple times that Jesus saw the crowds and was moved with compassion. The very thought that Jesus would be moved to compassion upon simply seeing a crowd of people is humbling even before we discuss the definition of what this word means.

Compassion as we have learned it or have made it out to be is merely the feeling of pity or sorrow. We say we feel compassion for the man in the street or the child with no family or the hungry girl who hasn’t eaten. We say that we feel compassion when we see the video of Operation Christmas Child or we think of those who are suffering in Darfor or the child soldiers of Uganda. And yet as we look at scripture and to the true definition of compassion my prayer is that we would all realize the depths of our confusion and be moved in a way that we cannot explain.

The Webster’s definition of compassion is:

a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

Yet the Greek definition of Splagchnizomai is:

To be feel the pain and suffering of another to the point of anguish, only then being moved to alleviate the suffering

We see that the English translation here, while it is useful doesn’t expound on the fact that compassion isn’t an emotional feeling of tears and pity, rather it is a physical pain that as the Greeks would put it, is birthed in the bowels.

Mark 6:34

This passage is very familiar to many of us; we read it as children when we learned of how great Jesus is, to perform a miracle that could feed the multitude. It wasn’t until recently that I realized that the beautiful part of this passage isn’t the miracle that Jesus performed; it is the lesson of compassion that we are taught. The miracle simply shows the power of God and it is there to get our attention, but here is what we miss all too often.

As Jesus left the boat and saw the multitude He literally felt the weight of their burden upon his back. As he looked into the faces of each one, His heart, according to the word used here, broke for each individual situation, and his body could literally experience their pain.

There are three simple concepts that we should take away from this passage. Three things that are self evident in this passage.

1. When moved by compassion you Go to it, rather than run from it.

It would have been very easy for Jesus to say to His disciples, let’s get back on the boat and deal with this tomorrow. It would have been justified, after all the reason they went to an isolated place was for rest, the previous verses say that they were going so hard that the disciples hadn’t even had time to eat. And yet because he felt their need for Him he left the peacefulness of the boat and went into the crowd.

2. He taught them the way of the Father

The Bible says he taught them many things, I have no idea what He said that night, it could have been how to live a Godly life or it could have been how to knit a sweater. The subject of his lesson is irrelevant, what is important is that he began to teach on their level, right where they were. He began to equip them for life.

3. He provided for their physical needs

It would have been justified had Jesus gone into His boat and not gone into the crowd, it would have also been justified had he taught them and then called it a night. But we are taught here that when true compassion moves upon us that we must do everything in our power to alleviate the suffering of the afflicted. Jesus had met their need for Him to be in their midst, he had even comforted them with words of truth, and yet that wasn’t enough. Those who had sat under the teaching of Jesus were hungry and in need of food.

Jesus realized that His teaching would be for naught if he didn’t meet their immediate need for food. And so it is here we learn of feeding of the multitude. Which isn’t the whole story, rather the essence of need fulfilled.

You and I are daily faced with pain and suffering, whether it be the man on the street corner or the suit in the office next door. And everyday we turn our back and walk away. Then we give money to missions or build a shoebox, both of which are good things, but can be used as mere conscience relievers. We say that is compassion when we are simply seeking to relieve our own pain and ease our guilt rather than face the pain of someone else.

This season of Thanksgiving give thanks with your actions rather than your words. Go into the crowd and feel their pain, teach them the way of the Father, provide for their needs in a real, effective, physical way.

If you are truly thankful for what God has done, show someone else how to live in abundance rather than hogging it all to yourself.

Go, Teach, Provide. Be thankful, and show it.

The vision of man cannot be fulfilled until the character of man is built and tried in the fire.

Revolution of Restoration - Partial Transcript - Nov 5. 2006, FCSBC

This morning I am at a loss for words as to what we should talk about. I have spent this week hurting for my brothers and sisters, longing for a revolution of restoration to sweep through the American church body. I have been taught so many things that I am finding to be irrelevant to Godly living, and yet I am learning that I am ill-equipped to lead as Jesus lead. I am learning that those with the most letters behind their names are the ones that we trust the most without any concern for their private conversations with God. And yet we turn our back on the man who has a true calling to the care of souls and pastoring because he lacks the pedigree of others.

I wanted to come here today and preach a sermon that would cause us to smile and laugh, I was even going to take Barry’s keys and wallet until I heard that had already been done. But this week my spirit was broken, so this morning I want to talk to you as your brother and friend, rather than the preacher or pastor.

I was taught in college that the study of scripture was purely systematic. That the same process works every time without fail. I have found however that to study scripture systematically by the book increases our knowledge to the point of arrogance and yet our spirit falters through lack of Spirit filled understanding.

The emphasis on daily devotion to scripture is thus that we fail to order our lives in such a way that our quiet time lacks the ability to provide joy throughout our day, instead choosing to live in chaos. We see our commitment as a systematic approach. 30 minutes in the morning of prayer and reading is sufficient fuel for the day. I beg to differ. When we place our devotion as obligation rather than spirit induced meditation we fail to see the beauty of the scripture laid before us. We invest in study tools written by men with their own human faults and sins, rather than allowing the very Spirit of God to lead and teach His word. We rely on the preacher to speak with eloquent words to properly articulate the message that God has breathed so poetically through the hands of biblical writers.

I stand here today as a broken man. This past week men of God that I trusted, loved, played golf with, ate dinner with fell. My heart aches not only for those men but for the children of God who had placed their trust in them rather than the Shepherd. Not only Pastor Haggard but a dear friend of mine who has fallen.

I wept this week for my hometown, 20 men and women who I grew up admiring, the sheriff who has served for 20 years, some were my classmates, one was a deacons wife, were arrested and charged with 48 felony charges. I literally cried painful tears as I thought about a pastor’s son that I played basketball with in junior high who was arrested for sex trafficking.

And the thing that broke me the most is that I knew that if any church in America spoke regarding any of these issues it would be in condemnation rather than a spirit of responsibility and restoration.

I don’t come here today with all the answers, but I stand here today to tell you that the church as we know it is failing, not only those in the streets that don’t know God, but it is failing our brothers and sisters who are in pain and can’t find a way out.

I wasn’t angered at the deacon’s wife who was selling drugs, I was angered at her pastor and her husband for not knowing her spiritual needs. I am saddened that while women across this country are having emotional affairs with the men behind the pulpit, those very men are failing to equip and empower husbands to love and lead with true Christ-like authority in the home. I am saddened that a man who is trusted to be a deacon of a congregation does not care enough for his wife to see the sin that is controlling her life.

I was given the argument this week that some people hide their sins and it isn’t possible to help everyone. I felt the need to laugh at such an absurd thought. If a man or woman is truly submitted to and controlled by the spirit of God, sin in the lives of those we love and are biblically responsible for is as evident as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. The problem we face today is that we aren’t submitted and controlled, rather we are addicted and patrolled.

The Billy Graham Association says that 75% of people sitting on church pews this morning are on their way to hell. I find this interesting when we compare it to George Barna’s finding that 80% of American Pastors do not believe in effectual calling, rather they see ministry as a career choice. Do you see the correlation here? Maybe the reason these leaders are falling is, because they themselves have been led by someone who isn’t submitted to biblical authority.

I am convinced that the spiritual health of someone that is under the discipleship of a leader is discernable if that leader is submitted to God in prayer and meditation. This past week God began to show me things within my Spirit that scared me, things about friends, my family, my own life.

I realized this week that spiritual accountability is not an individual responsibility, the spiritual well being of the person sitting next to you belongs to you and to everyone in this building. Your spiritual life is the covenant responsibility of each and every person here today, and of your future pastor. I speak with assurance of one thing this morning, no man should ever stand behind this pulpit that is not willing to stand accountable for what you do outside of these walls.

Ephesians talks about the body of Christ, the arm, the leg, the head, the eye. The body does not operate properly without all of these parts being healthy. If we were to look biologically at our bodies we would realize that our body really works together when something goes wrong. Is we are cut, red blood cells race to the surface and form clotting to prevent us from dying. When germs enter our body, there is an all out war to rid itself of the disease. If we trip, our arms instinctively reach out to protect the rest of the body and to break the fall. When a leg is broken, the arms become stronger to support our weight on crutches. Do you see where I’m going with this? The body works together to prevent disease or harm, and then if harm does come, it works together to heal itself.

Cain failed God, Cain failed his brother, and yet through Cain I see myself. I see that I am quick to judge based on my offering compared to that of someone else. I see that I immediately scorn the fallen, yet fail to take responsibility for their sin. And yet restoration is what God taught as he restored life to Cain. Yes he punished him by cursing the ground from which his livelihood came from. But he restored him to the place where he married and fathered children. Yes he had to suffer for what he had done, but God did not fail to restore a new life to him.

God himself is our example this morning, if God was willing to restore life to a murderer, then should we then not help in restoring the life of an adulterer or a thief. Should we not speak words of peace and truth, words that encourage rather than destroy, and leave the judging and the punishment to God?

What I am saying this morning, is yes, these men who have fallen should pay the price for their actions, but you and I should not be their judge. Our prayers and encouragement should be at their disposal.

And yet this should cause a deep evaluation of what you are doing for the spiritual life of those around you. Men you are accountable for your wife’s and your children’s relationship with God, women you are responsible for constant prayer on your husbands behalf that he leads in the way of Jesus. And you are all responsible for the spiritual life of the person that God calls to be your future pastor. And even more important than that, we are all accountable for each other. Isn’t it nice to know that we are not alone, in our struggles, in our joy, in good times, and in bad. The journey is ours to share. We are our brothers keeper, Jesus said to go and make disciples, to make a disciple we must invest our lives into someone else. True discipleship is learning to do life together in the pursuit of life as Jesus lived. You are my brothers and sisters, and I’m counting on you as you should count on me.

It seems like the only alpha male I’ve ever read about that doesn’t have a messiah complex is the actual Messiah. - Matt Chandler

No title

Today I weep...I weep for my fallen friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, who despite their best efforts have been led astray by the arrogance of the corporate institution we call the church. Read foxnews.com about the latest scandal in my hometown of Martinsville, VA. What you won't read is that the majority of the people involved held prominent positions in the counties most respected churches.

Today I weep...I weep for the soul who is barely clinging on, but is just another number in scheme of things

Today I weep...I weep for my friend who has fallen into sexual immorality and all we can do is laugh and scorn.

Today I weep...I weep for the pastor who is called a thief, and then proven to be one

Today I weep...I weep because I very easily could be anyone of these people.

But Today I am encouraged...I am encouraged because I believe the remnant of true followers will begin shine

I am encouraged because this generation has the capability to engage culture and embrace a kingdom

I am encouraged because now is the time for a revolution of restoration for the fallen

The time for thought without action is over, the world will never know Jesus if the church fails each other.

Blinded

The city seems so alive today
But death lingers in the street
The sun brings life and warmth
But evil dwells between the sheets

So dark the lives within our midst
Yet our busyness hides it all
We cannot hear desperation's call
Because it is silenced with evil's kiss

The sun brings warmth
Yet the remnant hides
In the safety of knowledge
and the thinkers cocoon

We believe our thoughts will light the way
But turn our backs on sins decay
How can I be a child of God
When my life condemns the very thought

To think and not act is my sin
To hide the calling from within
I cannot speak if I do not love
But I cannot love by holding my tongue

Sorrow is abundant before my eyes
I hear the pain as the city cries
No resolution in the streets will be found
If the remnant is hiding beneath the ground

So take to the street in love and in deed
And do not give up til sinners are freed
To think and not act is the remnant's crime
To speak and not love is mine

Let's feed the hungry, care for the sick
Shelter the homeless that lives in the ditch

To reach the world this city must see
The life that abounds in you and in me.

----Mike Waddell----October 29, 2006----

Today I thought about why I have a calling and yet I also have a very selfish side. I wondered today if it was ok for my selfish desires to be different than the calling and desires God has placed in my heart. Can they coexist or must the calling suppress that which is natural. I know the answer to this, I think, but today I couldn't convince myself of it.

Why does the Church exist? - Partial Transcript Sun. Oct. 8, First Chinese SBC

Why Does the church exist? Why did God create the Body to be the Bride of Christ? What is our purpose as Christians? Why were we not immediately taken to heaven upon our conversion? Why did God create the church?

One of the major misconceptions we have as believers is that the church in its current form is an exact replica of what was formed in the book of Acts. As early Christians gathered together their purposes for gathering were much different than that of today.

Today we come to church out of obligation, we come for the social status it gives us. We come to meet new people, and increase our database of friends. And yet for some reason we are unfulfilled as believers. So we seek to add programs and games, community events, we even use evangelism as a way to fill this void that church can’t fill.

Over the past few weeks, over the past few years my thoughts have continually turned to the thought of why do we need a church, why do we need the institution. And the overwhelming answer is that we don’t. You see, the majority of us have confused the true definition of the church to mean a gathering, with programs, and outreach. We have transformed the definition to mean a place rather than a people. I’m not saying that a gathering of God’s people isn’t vital to our growth and our lives as believers. Scripture teaches clearly that we are to gather together. But how much better would our lives be if we had the definition of Church “ecclesia” right.

As I have studied, and sought council from men of God, I have been constantly drawn back to the book of Ephesians. Here Paul is responding to the church at Ephesus who historically we find were asking the same questions posed today.

You see the majority of the believers at Ephesus were converted idol worshippers. People who had devoted their lives to the possession of things. People who worshipped that which they owned. They had placed idols over different aspects of their lives. Idols over their children, idols over their homes, idols over their financial status. Idols had consumed their existence. The beautiful thing about their conversion is that you and I can relate easily. Actually you and I can relate to Paul’s response easier than the believers at Ephesus. Where they had placed idols we simply place things. We place our children, our homes, our cars, our education, our social status, our jobs as idols in our lives. We completely bypass the idol and make the material possession our God.

Getting back to questions at hand, we look at Paul’s response to the question, why do the Christians exist to make up the church? And just exactly what is this church we’re talking about anyway.

In chapter two he explains that prior to being Christians they were spiritually dead, separated from Christ, not included in God's covenant, without hope, and without God. Their preconversion condition was horribly grim.

But in Chapter 1 Paul goes in depth as to the purpose their being Christians and ultimately being the church.
He began by explaining these things.

God is the source of blessings (verse 3).

God provides every spiritual blessing in Christ (verse 3). There is no blessing that comes outside of the gift of God. Nothing that I can gain is beneficial to me, except that it come from Christ alone. Anything that I can do on my own is worthless. God blesses us according to our submission and outside of that submission no blessing can occur. God has blessed us to be a blessing to others. A life not devoted to blessing others through Christ cannot receive the true rewards of the kingdom.

Before God created the world, God chose all people who would be holy
and blameless to be His people (verse 4).

Before creation he chose to adopt the church as the Bride of Christ (verse 5).

It is clear that God is Sovereign and that his foreknowledge of those that would come to him must cause us to realize his immense love for us. He knowingly takes our sin and forgives without question. He formally adopts us to be His own. The beauty of our election and adoption are the purest form of love that we can truly wrap our arms around.

The realization of my adoption causes me to ask:

Why? Why would God do those things?

So that those who were alive in Christ would exist to the praise of
the glory of His grace (verse 6). – God is a jealous God, and for our praise to be placed anywhere other than unto Him is everything but an outright rejection of His love for us. God created us to worship Him, he saves us to Praise him, and he created us as the church to be a celebration of what he has done and is doing.

We exist as Christians to be living evidence of how good God is, to
demonstrate God's goodness, and to cause other people to glorify God.

Paul continued his emphasis.

In Christ you have redemption through his blood (verse 7).
In Christ you have the forgiveness of your trespasses. - Christ calls us to be His known, so that we can not take credit for our own salvation. When we realize that there is nothing that we could have done to earn Christ’s favor, only then can we truly live out our calling to be instruments of praise.

In fact, in Christ:
God lavishes His grace upon you (verse 8). To further help us understand that we are incapable of saving ourselves, causing us to even further appreciate the love that is poured out on us.

God showed you what He was doing--makes known to you the mystery (verse 9). – Like any good leader, nothing of importance is hidden from us. We see clearly that we, the people of God, are chosen to be instruments of praise. When God lays out before us His plan, and then continues on with it, we cannot help but realize that His will for our lives is good. That he sets before us the plan which is best for us, and most glorifying to Him. And yet too often we reject His will in pursuit of our own dream, only to find that our success is dependant upon our submission to plan he has so clearly laid out before us.

God reveals His complete purpose and shows how that purpose is summed
up in Jesus (verse 10).

Through that purpose, we have obtained an inheritance (verse 11). That inheritance is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Why? Why has God revealed all those things in Christ?

(verse 12)

So that we who have our hope in Christ should be to the praise
of God's glory. Through our praise people are drawn to praise and glorify, not through our programs and institutions, not through our knowledge or social status, but through our praise. People will begin to praise God, and know God when God’s people begin to praise God for who he is. The world will know God by the praise that abounds in the lives of believers.

Why? Why would God do that? (verse 14)

Because He expected them to be to the praise of His glory.

When other people saw what God did in them, those people would praise
God and give Him glory. The existence of the church cannot and will not live on if it is lived within the walls of a building. God expects us to be the praise of His glory, that means that everything you and I do should be to the Glory of God and to the expansion of His kingdom. This morning we must all take a step back and reevaluate that which is in our lives. If it doesn’t bring Glory to God it must be removed, changed, or dealt with.

Why does the church exist, not to simply gather for the sake of gathering. The church exists for the praise of the One who is worthy of all our praise.

The church is not a building, the church is the people of God, who commit their lives to the praise of God.

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his NOT understanding it." - Upton Sinclair

The NHance San Francisco Team

Vote for My Jesus - a must read

http://www.burnsidewriterscollective.com/general/2006/09/vote_for_my_jesus.php

Binding and Releasing, a partial transcript of Sunday's Sermon at First Chinese

"Binding and Releasing"

Mark 15:1

INTRODUCTION

I want us to look at two words once again. These two words hold very different meanings, and yet one or the other is lived out in the everyday life of the church. One of these words is unhealthy, and with it the body suffers and can even die. The other word breathes life, and restores freedom.

Mark 15:1 says
"Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound (DEO, to bind spiritually) Jesus, led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate."

Our text presents us with what in many regards is a great tragedy. Not a tragedy in that our Lord is taken away, not a tragedy in that this would begin His march to the cross, but rather a tragedy in that those whom He came to deliver from the law became the very ones who rejected and ultimately bound the hands of Jesus before taking Him to stand before Pilate.

What did it mean for God’s people to reject Christ? The whole of history had been set for such a climactic period. The prophets had spoken of a great messiah upon whose shoulders the people of God would be free. And yet the chief priests rejected Him. I have wondered for a long time now, why would the one’s who should have known Him best reject Him the harshest. And it wasn’t until recently that I began to see my answer. The chief priests weren’t afraid of the claims Jesus was making, they were afraid of the loss of power in their community. They had spent a lifetime writing the laws for people to live by, and they were afraid that this man’s ideals would begin to seep in to their congregations. They believed that the words of Jesus were ethereal, and that the only way to truly live a committed Godly life was to live by the rules they had set forth. They truly believed that this man Jesus would cause utter chaos if His thoughts and opinions were allowed to be widely spread and taught. How could living a Godly life be as simple as Jesus had explained it? You see Jesus broke it all down; we are to be salt and light, love the unlovable, feed the hungry, care for the sick, care for the widow, care for the orphan, be humble and not haughty, be meek, follow Him and abandon worldly pursuits. Not once did Jesus speak of elevating yourself to a position of high regard, except in a negative light when he said that the rewards of earth are all that that person will receive, and yet he says the Kingdom of heaven belongs to the one who humbly serves and follows.

The hands and feet of Jesus were bound by the high priests because of their fear. Their fear to believe in a simplistic Gospel. Their fear to follow the movement of God. And ultimately their fear of the loss of power. You see leaders have a hard time leading when their egos aren’t effectively stroked. And yet the greatest leader in the history of the church had no ego. Many of us, myself included need to allow our fears to be nailed to the cross along with our egos. There are things in each of our lives, maybe not egos, maybe its fear of rejection, fear of life, loss of culture, loss of identity that keep us bound and in turn bind the working of God. What is it in your life that needs to be crucified?

You and I stand guilty in many ways when we look at the bound hands and feet of Jesus. The entire attitude of the western church is in fact binding in some degree. When the Spirit of God wants to move He does not seek our permission but rather asks for our participation in bringing the Kingdom to earth in a literal here and now sense. When we stand in the way of that we become an obstacle to the advancement of the Kingdom rather than a catalyst.

I believe our text gives us a much deeper meaning than that of the physical binding of Jesus’ hand and feet. John prophesies to the future church warning that what has happened in the physical realm will also happen in the spiritual realm if our hearts and minds are not open to the voice of God. We can literally become shackles that bind and weights that hold back the movement of God.



1. The literal binding of God’s movement in us.

Let’s get one thing straight; I’m not saying that if we don’t do God’s work then His movement will die. God doesn’t need us, He doesn’t need me, and He doesn’t need you. He longs for us to be an active part of the Kingdom. What I am saying that we fail to experience the abundant life that has been promised to us simply because we bind the Spirit of God in us. When we fail to listen to and obey, obey being the key word, we literally reject the good things God wants for our lives.

The fact is, God is going to move, He is moving right now, in our midst, but we are too consumed with the activity around us to see the beauty of His movement. The children of God must be committed to releasing His movement in and through us. There is a harvest, but our eyes our blinded to it because we are too busy taking credit for the few seeds we have sown. What would happen if the people of God began to quiet the world around them and begin to listen, watch, and see where God is moving, and then go with Him? The results would exceed anything that we can create on our own, and the Kingdom of God would infiltrate every aspect of our lives.

When we bind the movement of God we fail to bask in the life that we were created to live.

2. The binding of God’s hand and feet
1 Corinthians 12:12 speaks of the body being made up of many members and we are unified unto one being through Christ. With this in mind let’s look at how we as followers should and must guard our hearts against the Binding of the Body.

One of the greatest atrocities that can ever go on inside the walls of the church gathering is that one element of the body binds another from doing its duty. We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and yet so often we bind one another with our unwillingness to release them to their calling. Pastors are afraid that to truly release someone means a drop in tithe or fewer attendees to a service. Or that the pastors’ talent would no longer be in the limelight. That pastor fails to see the global influence that releasing can have. An entire world can be influenced by a core group of believers in a sojourners city such as San Francisco. Thousands upon thousands come and go through the city each month, going to the uttermost parts of the earth. And yet we as a church fail to see the outreach opportunities because we are afraid of letting go. How much more effective would a community of believers be if their intent was directed solely upon the empowering of each person that it came in contact with to go and do the work that God has called them to do. Instead we co-opt them, abusing their talents and skills, capitalizing on their strengths rather than empowering their weaknesses. Our fear is that we won’t grow if we let them go. I beg to differ, growth cannot and will not happen until people are released and empowered. The growth of this and any congregation depends solely on its ability to release.

When we release we empower, when we empower we promote, and we promote we support, when we support we live and grow. If the feet are bound we fall, if the hands are bound we can’t work, we can’t eat, and if either happens long enough all life begins to fade away. In short when we bind we die.

To equip, empower, and release. Release yourself, release your children, your grandchildren. Release your spouse from spiritual bondage, and empower them to move and act as an active part of the Body. We all have a calling, we all have purpose. Release yourself to that calling and purpose and pursue abundant life.

Redskin Theology 101

If Tom Cruise continues to sit in the owners box of my beloved Redskins I will be forced to relinquish my allegiance to the Hogzilla's of football. Regardless of the fact the Joe Gibbs came out of retirement to bring the team back to the contender it once was, I cannot cheer for a team that is owned by the playboy wannabe Daniel Snyder. To have Tom Cruise in the owners box allienates the fans that have worshipped the Skins for decades. When was the last time the Hogladies were invited into the box with ole Danny boy, NEVER!!!

I know you're thinking, Mike has lost it. Maybe I have, but I'm tired of people in power, or rather people with money and clout, ruling over the people that took them there. Has Dan Snyder forgotten that he wouldn't have his precious money if the fans weren't at the game?

I think as pastors, we can look a lot like Dan Snyder. We like to hang out with the Tom Cruises of the world so that we can look like we're somebody. But what we fail to see is that while we're off partying, or golfing in my case, the people that bust their asses everyday so we look good are still doing just that, busting their asses, so that we look good. Isn't it time that leaders give credit where credit is due and say thank you to those who got them where they are. Or better yet, let's invest in those who having nothing to invest except their lives. For pastors its simple, we need to invest in people, people who are hurting, poor, hungry, broken, sick, and afraid, rather than the next big guy or the golden boy of the moment. Let's invest in something that's eternal, rather material. Let's care for someones soul and forget about the talent or checkbook they bring to the table. Let's stop teaching about giving and be examples of stewardship. Let's stop touting our ego and model humility.

I think there's a lot we can learn from Dan Snyder, but to be honest, I learn the same things from myself if I look deep enough.

Go Skins!!!!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow I am speaking at the First Chinese Southern Baptist Church here in San Fran. I appreciate the prayers that I know you will all be sending up for the service.

Colossians 1:28

who's your brother, who's your sister
you just walked passed him
i think you missed her
as we're all migrating to the place where our father lives
'cause we married in to a family of immigrants

my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man
my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
it's to a king & a kingdom

there are two great lies that i’ve heard:
“the day you eat of the fruit of that tree, you will not surely die”
and that Jesus Christ was a white, middle-class republican
and if you wanna be saved you have to learn to be like Him

but nothing unifies like a common enemy
and we’ve got one, sure as hell
but he may be living in your house
he may be raising up your kids
he may be sleeping with your wife
oh no, he may not look like you think

1 Chronicles 29:15
For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

Friends or co-opters of gifts

Since moving to San Francisco I've learned a lot about those in my past. I've realized that true friends still care for you even when they can't use your gifts and talents, while those you thought were your friends seem to forget you exist, all because they can't use you anymore.

More and more I believe that Christ truly calls us to know someone intimately before we ask for a persons gifts and talents to be used at our expense. Recently my dad and I were discussing a church in VA that just lost their pastor and my dad is filling in. I asked him to pose a simple request to the church as they search for their new pastor, Do you truly know this man? How can a church know a mans spiritual, intimate, and private life by simply listening to a sermon and reading a resume? Too often we see someones talent and fail to test their relationship with God. What a dangerous place to take the children of God. How can a true man of God take a church as simply a hired hand, not knowing the people on a personal level? I do not believe this the kind of man God calls to lead His people.

Never again will I allow myself to be used the way most churches and orginizations use people, but more importantly, I pray I never use anyone to advance my own agenda.

Thank you to all of my friends that are still there, even though I have co-opted and mistreated you. Thank you for sticking with me as God taught me these valuable lessons. I love you and thank God that you all played a part in my learning.

A New Law continued

Why is there such a phariseean spirit among us today? In my own life I see signs of creation of new laws in order to gain a deeper spiritual understanding, or a closeness with God, when I simply need to submit to Christ. Must we always seek to establish new laws in order to preserve our elite spiritual status? Is it to much to ask for a Christian to simply be that, a follower of Christ, not a writer of law. My life must seek humility rather than law.

A New Law

I think Derek Webb has a pretty good understanding of the American Christian don't you.....


don’t teach me about politics and government
just tell me who to vote for
don’t teach me about truth and beauty
just label my music

don’t teach me how to live like a free man
just give me a new law


i don’t wanna know if the answers aren’t easy
so just bring it down from the mountain to me


i want a new law
i want a new law
gimme that new law


don’t teach me about moderation and liberty
i prefer a shot of grape juice

don’t teach me about loving my enemies

don’t teach me how to listen to the Spirit
just give me a new law


what’s the use in trading a law you can never keep
for one you can that cannot get you anything
do not be afraid
do not be afraid
do not be afraid

News from SF

Ok so there really is no news to report, other than Katie and I leave early tomorrow to go to Ohio for her sister's, Lauren, wedding. My parents are coming up, so it'll be a great time with our families that we haven't seen for two months.

Things are great here in the city, life is happening 100mph and we have to force ourselves to slow down sometimes. We held our first "service" on Sunday and we're so excited to see the harvest that God has prepared for such a time as this.

The business is growing steadily and Katie is loving the neighborhood center. There is so much more to write but we're getting up at 3am so I'm turning in.

Thank you all for your prayers, we miss you.

Oh yeah I almost forgot, I've added the links to a couple of friends blogs over on the right so check them out. Ryan and Ken are great guys and great friends, so read there stuff.

"And it is getting hotter, and the ice caps are melting, and there is a buildup of carbon dioxide in the air. And I think we really need to address the burning of fossil fuels. If we are contributing to the destruction of this planet, we need to do something about it."


- Pat Robertson, admitting on his television show, The 700 Club, that recent heat waves have convinced him of the reality of global warming.

Community

Community is a popular word these days in the Christian realm, as well as in the secular, often bandied about with ill-defined meaning. Perhaps its increasing importance results from the fact that well documented research supports what many have already concluded - commitment to community is not as strong as it once was. Those who continue to affirm its importance frequently must demonstrate its value to clarify its purpose.

Here in SF we participate in "Faith Community" not in the traditional sense of a local meeting or congregation, but in the sense that the Christian faith is the foundation upon which the community rests, the common subject matter the community explores, and the common experience the community seeks to understand and articulate. As Christ spoke directly to the early disciples, we believe that Christ continues to teach those who seek Truth. We aspire to be a community where such a search characterizes our life together.

We are also a community of learning, as individuals who have responded to God's call in our lives gather to embark on a journey that radically transforms as our lives follow in service of our King.

We as a community also seek to be a community of "hospitality" characterized by our understanding of Christian love. In a city that is filled with sojourners, our desire is to be a place where people meet God through our lives and carry "community" wherever they go from here.

The intentional definition of community creates the setting in which we are discipled and seek to make disciples for our God.

FYI

Hey guys, we have recently started a theology pub here in SF and we'll be blogging on our weekly discussions. I'll still be blogging here but I'll also be writing over there as well. The address for the new blog is simplerevelation.blogspot.com.

Let me know what you think...

Who is my center???

As you read this post please keep in mind that I am a work in progress, seeking only to follow Jesus. I do not write this with a condemning spirit but with a heart of love for my fellow brother and sister whom I fear is living a life submitted to something other than Christ.

Long before moving to SF I have wrestled with the reality that in general most of us have no concept of what a life centered around Jesus looks like. Yes, we have our ideas of what the perfect Christian should be, but deep down there is no reality of what a life fully submitted to Christ should look like. As my spirit began to break over this subject we moved ourselves to a city condemned by most "christians" as a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah(although those that do probably have no idea why the cities were destroyed). Upon arriving in the city that is anything but that, my spirit longed for something deeper than the model institution that has been set before us as the church. My reality was shattered. What I once found safe horrified me. My comfort zone had been destroyed.

What I am realizing is that my entire life had been centered around the institution called the church rather than the founder of it whose name is Jesus. I had fully submitted my life to a corporation that has an industry like attitude toward what the Normal Christian Life should look like. I had become the Pharisee that looked upon Christ in the flesh and still had no understanding of who He truly was or is today. We no longer look at the true church as people living organically together, doing life together, fulfilling the promises of God together with a common bond, but we have made the church into a breeding ground for self righteousness that says if your not like me I can't love you. Our desire is not to show Christ but rather to make "them" one of "us". We have made ministry a profession rather than a normal part of everyday life for all who call themselves followers. Pastors forsake their own families to build an empire that will go down in history as their legacy. Members of churches worship their doctrine more than their God and worship their pastors more than their doctrine. These same members also feel that it is the pastors job to evangelize and proclaim the gospel, and their only obligation is to attend a service once a week and tithe 10%. The church has allowed the gathering to dictate lives rather than allowing life to dictate the gathering.

I am not condemning the institution, you see I've submitted my entire life up to this point to it. But I have a desire and a calling to call it what it is and to live my life following only Jesus, not the church, because I am the church and so are you.

I long for the day when our gatherings and worship services fill the largest stadiums, but not because of some man but because of Christ alone. I hope for the day when all who come in contact with me know that I love Jesus, not by what I say but by my actions. I desire to see multitudes turn to Jesus, not for my glory but His. I pray for the day when Sunday is not the beginning of the week where we come to be fed, but the celebration of a life lived the week before all for the glory of the Father. You see, I don't believe it's the Pastor's job to spoon feed someone that attends a service, his only job is to show you the way and equip you to feed yourself. I believe that if a man doesn't work he doesn't eat, the same goes for spiritual food, you have to long for it and seek it out, not count on a sermon to fill you up for a week.

I long for the day when my life is no longer centered around man's creation of God's church, but when my whole heart, body, spirit, and mind are centered only on Jesus. Then and only then do I think we can really begin to enter in to the life He has designed for us.

To know Christ is to know life. Until we begin to understand who He is we cannot serve Him, we can only serve a corrupt institution that truly believes it is doing the right thing. Our understanding of doctrine is secondary to knowing Him. Even our understanding of scripture is secondary to centering our lives around Him.

As I consider the very things that I am writing, their is a freedom revealing itself in my spirit. A freedom from bondage of a system that holds the true church down.

To put a box around God's true church and try to control life is a dangerous thing. The pharisee's did it. The catholic church of old did it. And yet in every situation where followers were sought out to be controlled a small faction of the people rose out to proclaim a real, living, intimate, relational Savior. The first generation of these people were the prophets of the Old Testament, then came the Apostles and the early church fathers. After that we saw the champions of the reformation, and the puritans and pilgrims out of the churches control in England. I believe that we have again come to the place in history where the true church is in need of reformers, that will call a spade a spade and rise up and lead the way, not by their words, but by their lives.

Lives that are centered in Christ alone.

Have we forgotten how to think?

With all the uproar concerning the recent release of the Da Vinci Code (which I have not seen, but plan to very soon) I have been thinking a lot about our failure as a society to think for ourselves. We rely solely upon the so called wisdom of others to dispense to us the knowledge that we are fully capable of attaining on our own, and yet are simply too lazy to open our minds and think for ourselves.

My friend Kenny just posted a blog that I think all of you should read so here's the link

Is it too much to ask that before we talk about a subject that we simply think about it for ourselves instead of simply spewing out what others have said without thinking themselves.....

I am a whore

Isn't it strange how much modern day Christians, myself included, look so much like Gomer, the bride of Hosea. We never fully seem to understand the love of our Husband(Christ), and yet while we continue to live our lives of extravagance and destitution He continues to pursue us relentlessly.

I think too often we simply put on our wedding dress when it is convenient for us to be married to Him, and when we are done with that season we simply remove all that resembles His sacrifice for us and walk away much like the Prodigal son. Thankfully this doesn't end His pursuit, He sends other members of our bridal party to allure us and witness to us the majesty of our husband. And finally when all else has failed he lures us into the desert place where there is nothing left for us to run to or cling to, and there we finally understand that we must no longer call him Our Baal, but rather, Our Master, our Husband.

What a thought, that while we live our lives as whores and harlets, he pursues us as pure vessels for marriage. Thank God for this relentless pursuit!!!

Miracle at Cana, I mean Collinsville!!!

So the wedding has come and gone and the memories will last a life time. God in His providence gave us the best day we could possibly have imagined. More than anything Katie and I were able to worship with our friends and family, and had the opportunity to share Christ with friends and family that aren't followers of Jesus. It was awesome to hear comments from those who have walked in faith for many seasons as to how our simple little ceremony impacted their lives.

We even caused a bit of controversy with our musical selections. But again God used that to open the eyes of those who had for so long refused to understand the changing of time. I had the opportunity to sit with my childhood pastor and work with him and explain that we are not going away from our faith, but rather have an opportunity to embrace our relationship with Christ like never before and engage a culture that the church has seemingly abandoned for so long. As we talked we learned a lot from each other, I finally understood why the fundamentalist movement I grew up in fought so hard against my generation and our struggles with institutionalized religion, and he has begun a process of excepting that we believe that the message of the Gospel is and forever will be the same and yet our methodology must progress with culture in order to properly engage people.

What a privilege to see His hand in even the simplest of things. While Jesus' first miracle may have been at the wedding in Cana, His most recent I believe was the wedding at Collinsville, VA.

Katie and I leave next week for San Francisco. We are beyond excited to begin this new life God has laid before us. As we allow the kingdom of God to expand in us, it is our prayer that He uses us to expand His kingdom here on earth.

That's all for now

peace....

Provision

A good friend of mine has said that our work is worship, we are simply to trust God for provision.

Over the last few weeks I have learned the truth in this statement. It is amazing how God provides for all of our needs when we begin to simply worship in everything we do, or at least try to.

Katie and I are getting ready to move to San Francisco to work and live with our friends, but a lot of things had to happen to make this move possible. In the beginning and at many times over the last few weeks I have been discouraged about those "things". I saw no way for them to happen, which is good because I would have probably tried to accomplish them on my own. But thankfully the answer to these "things" was always just out of my reach, so we have simply had to trust God for provision.

The first thing that had to happen was my Jeep, my beloved Jeep, had to be sold. Within days God allowed that to happen. In the beginning I had no idea where I would work, but God has allowed our friends business to pick up to the point where I will be able to begin work as soon as we get out there. I think the biggest thing was the fact that it is going to take a good amount of money to get us there, and my finite mind couldn't understand where it was going to come from. But slowly checks began to come in. I don't know how but somehow we are over halfway to our goal.

I wanted to write this now, before we reached our goal to simply give God the credit for it all. I know that I have a tendency to take credit that isn't due to me and definitely didn't want to steal it from Him. We are trusting Him to bring in the rest and to provide for all of our needs as He sees fit.

How exciting is it to know that our God is a provider? That he simply takes care of His own...What lesson can we learn from this?

Reality

Not a lot to say today other than I've been thinking a lot about this idea of reality. Reality is a hard pill to swallow sometimes. Sometimes it goes down sweet but most of the times the reality of any given situation can be hard to grasp. The reality of the unknown in our lives is a scary thought, we never truly know what tomorrow holds. The reality of life freaks me out, the idea that I'm not in control is especially hard to comprehend.

But above all there is a reality that causes great peace and joy, that's the reality of Christ and his promises.

All this got me to thinking about what reality I've been living in...most of the time I'm a hypocrite and live in a reality not meant for His children, or anyone for that matter. It's a struggle everyone faces...

Which reality are you in?

Is it late or really early???

Right now it's about 2:30am and I've just gotten in from work. Tonight I was reminded of how good God is, sometimes He provides opportunities to share His Son when you'd least expect it. And to be honest when you really don't feel like it. And then I'm reminded of how my weakness brings out His strength. I went to work today with no real ambition to do anything other than do my time and leave, but apparently someone else had bigger plans.

The store closes each night around 11 and we're usually out of there by 11:30. But for some reason tonight my boss asked me if I would stick around and help clean the oven and a few other things, I could tell that he really didn't want to clean the oven but it's a good way for a man to say, hey buddy I need to chat. I really had no desire to stay but I felt that little push from you know who so I stayed. I won't go in to detail, but with our heads in a huge pizza oven we discussed life, and why we're here, and some things he'd been thinking about recently. He asked me my take on life and why I thought we were here. I was exhausted but somehow, from somewhere the words came that I could not have spoken had I been completely refreshed and awake. I told him I was a friend of Jesus, not a religious zealot, but that I was just a normal person trying to follow Christ. I told him that I am a hypocrite at times, even in this conversation when I should be excited about talking with him about faith and life I'm tired and in the beginning I just wanted to go home. I told him that my faith is more than church on Sundays, it's about my everyday life, it's how i talk, how i react when customers cuss me out. And finally I told him that it's not about me, it's about him. I told him that my faith, my relationship with Jesus, was about being a friend to him when he needed a friend, not a judge.

So there with our heads in an oven and with oven cleaner starting to get a little strong he simply said, wow, thanks dude. And that was it, no great conversion story to tell you about, not even a prayer together. But I think he understands that he has a friend, and I believe that a seed may have been planted, maybe I'll be blessed and get to harvest it, maybe that will be someone elses blessing. But most importantly tonight I realized His strength in my weakness.

I am a man of unclean lips, and yet I am blessed to proclaim
Holy Holy Holy is the Lord Almighty.......

Reflection

Wow it has been over a month since my last post. It's not that I've been too busy to write, just that I've been, well, lazy. I haven't been in the right mindset to write the deep stuff that drives me. I've been focusing on what I haven't been able to do, rather than where God has me right now.

You see, March 3rd was my last day with World Help. I knew the time was coming for me to leave, I just thought that it would be the summer when I had planned to move to San Francisco. But before my trip to NY I found out that World Help had to make budget cuts and since I was leaving anyway, it made it a lot easier to include me. My world was rocked, my comfort zone destroyed. It's so much easier to say that you'd serve God in the gutter or wherever He places you until He asks you to lay down your pride and position and become a driver at Papa John's. I must admit that the last month has not only been humbling but humiliating at times. I find myself working for a kid that's still in high school after I have worked for 2 years for one of the giants of modern day missions. I find that I am slapping pizza dough instead of standing in front of thousands of people proclaiming the gospel. But then days come when you are sitting there with that high school boss of yours and you see how troubled and broken his spirit seems and you understand exactly why God has brought you to this little pizza shop on the corner of Church and Fairy.

I couldn't understand why God would bring me back to Martinsville, if even for a short season. I couldn't understand why I would be humbled and humiliated. And then God showed me. I had, for only a brief moment, the opportunity to peer into someone elses heart and feel their pain, to understand their hurt. And then it all clicked, this is what we're called to do. Not stand in front of thousands everyday, but to sit and listen and be a friend. God created us to long for relationships, to develop friendships, to bring others to Him by our example. Again my humility reached an all time high.

Over the past month, God has allowed my world to be turned inside out. He has given a clear path for an interesting future.

On March 3rd I ended my season with World Help, a place I will always love and never forget. On March 4th I asked Katie Rickabaugh to be my wife, suprisingly she said YES!!! One month from today, Katie and I will be married and will begin this crazy life together. This is my public invitation to you all.

And that's not all, after a brief honeymoon, she and I will begin our trek across country to our new home in San Francisco, where we will join our dear friends Kenny and Kelly McCord for a time of growth and allowing the kingdom of God to expand in us and hopefully we can bring some new things to the table. Call us adventurers but we don't even know where we're going to live yet, other than spending the first few weeks with Kenny and Kelly.

So as we start this new life I am reminded to always look with anticipation at what God holds for us next. I am also reminded to cherish what He has for you now, it may be a preparation for what's to come.

ok so i thought i was back

Wow, so much has gone down since my last post. I don't have time to expound right now, but I'll post more later. Just a quick update, I'm no longer with World Help, I'm moving to San Francisco, and there is one HUGE thing that i'll tell you all about in a few days when i have time to write more. But until then, here is a question that a friend asked me the other day and I'm gonna write on later, here is it is, let me know your thoughts.

Do you pursue success or do you live out of success?

more later.........

i'm back...i think

So I have just returned from a great week at the NRB(National Religious Broadcaster's convention) and I am thoroughly wiped. I don't think I've been this tired in a long time. My feet hurt, my back is throbbing, but it's ok we accomplished a lot.

I met a few great men of God, men that when looked upon from afar have accomplished so much for the kingdom. I thought that once I met them I would have a different take. But they were all so very humble, well most of them. I had the opportunity to meet a hero of the faith, Dr. David Jeremiah. I was so impressed with his smile, the way he talked, the way he walked. Not even a hint of arrogance. This is a man that God has used greatly and yet he is almost embarrassed to be introduced as anything other than a simple servant.

I also heard a message from R.C. Sproul about "relevance" He pointed out some great truths that I think we can all learn from. He said that even though he is old and "uncool" he can still be relevant. He also said that a lot have what it takes to be cool but have no concept of what it takes to be relevant. He went on to explain that relevance depends on our ability to reveal the true nature of Christ in all we do. Relevance depends on our Christ like lifestyle, whether we are cool or not, our lives should revolve around one central theme, the revelation of Christ in all we do.

When we begin to reveal the character of Christ, relationships come naturally, social justice comes naturally, community comes naturally.

So you want to relevant, reveal HIM.


Ok so I leave again tomorrow, I'll be going to Ohio to spend some quality time with Katie, and then on to NY to speak at Davis College during their Global Needs Week. I'll be speaking in Chapel on Wednesday and then teaching seminars the rest of the week. Keep me in your prayers. www.davisny.edu

The Runner

Today I had the opportunity to sit and watch the viewing of a new documentary about a guy who is a good friend of mine called the runner.

David Horton set out last year to break the world record on the Pacific Crest Trail that runs from Mexico to Canada by taking a trail that is some 2600+ miles long. The previous record had been 83 or so days and David broke that record by running the trail in 66 days. Check out the trailer and order the dvd.

http://www.journeyfilm.com/therunner/

While I sat there in amazement at this incredible accomplishment I began thinking about my own race. The race that I have been called to run, my destined path before I was even born. I thought of all of the obstacles that have come and gone, and I thought about what lies ahead. So often, as David wanted so many times on the trail, I want to quit. Just give up, but something inside says that just over the next hill there is rest. A place to find comfort, water when I'm thirsty, food when I'm hungry, sleep when I'm tired.

Isn't it amazing how selfish we become while we're on this race? We reach a certain place and begin to take the credit, take the glory in what we have accomplished, while never turning around to see the incredible crew that God has placed in our lives to get us this far. How often have we fallen and had a friend there to pick us up? How often have we felt defeated and a friend gave us a hug? What I learned today is that it's not about me, it's about us. I can't run my race alone, I need the crew that God has given me. We all need people. We all need relationships. Too often I forget this and fail to say thank you to the "crew" that got me this far.

So this blog is for you. Thank you, for not giving up on me. Thank you for supporting my crazy dreams and visions. Thank you for loving me when I screw everything up. Thank you for being my family, my best friends, my "crew". I love you all and I can't wait to run the rest of this race called life with you.

As we run this race together let us remember that the goal is just ahead, so press on toward the mark of our high calling. Let us run the race in faith and together accomplish something that is bigger than ourselves.

Excuse me mister

I think this pretty much somes it up, Which mister are you? Which mister am i?

Written by: Harper/Plunier
Performed by: Ben Harper

excuse me mr. do you have the time or are you so important that it stands still for you,
excuse me mr. lend me your ear or are you not only blind but do you not hear
excuse me mr. isn't that your oil in the sea and the pollution in the air mr. whose could that be

excuse me mr. but i'm a mister too and you're givin' mr. a bad name mr. like you, so i'm taking the mr. from out in front of your name cause it's a mr. like you that puts the rest of us to shame, it's a mr. like you that puts the rest of us to shame,
and i've seen enough to know that i've seen too much

excuse me mr. can't you see the children dying you say that you can't help them mr. you're not even trying, excuse me mr. take a look around mr. just look up and you will see it's comin' down,

excuse me mr. but i'm a mister too and you're givin' mr. a bad name mr. like you so i'm taking the mr. from out in front of your name, cause it's a mr. like you that puts the rest of us to shame it's a mr. like you that puts the rest of us to shame, and i've seen enough to know that i've seen too much

so mr. when you're rattling on heaven's gate let me tell you mr. by then it is too late cause mr. when you get there they don't ask how much you saved all they'll want to know, mr. is what you gave

excuse me mr. but i'm a mister too and you're givin' mr. a bad name mr. like you so i'm taking the mr. from out in front of your name cause it's a mr. like you that puts the rest of us to shame it's a mr. like you that puts the rest of us to shame

What is church

Recently I was speaking with a good friend about his dream to plant a church/ministry in New York city, since his dream is seemingly the same as mine just opposite coasts, I was more apt to listen closely. He made the statement that he wanted to plant a church in the city that truly lived out the church 6 days a week, and on the 7th day he didn't care where they went to worship.

I must admit that this idea resonates deep in my heart of hearts but at first this idea struck me as strange, why would you plant a church with no visible numbers to report? Why would you submit yourself to such hardwork and arduous labor without being able to write a prayer letter detailing the size of your services or the size of your sanctuary? With no tangible results how will anyone know what is going on? This is the mindset of the church today, a mindset that must change if the kingdom is to be increased.

It was with this mindset that caused me to turn away from ministry just a few short years ago. The american church was no longer a 24/7 lifestyle but rather a Sunday morning gathering of the merging of "ME" generations. Church was no longer the body of Christ, going, doing, and showing the love of Christ, but rather an establishment of self centered egotists that needs to feel better about themselves. The church was no longer our ministry but our business.

My last stop before coming to World Help was as Youth Pastor of a prominent church in VA. I came in with the idea of making a difference, of encouraging todays youth in the love of Jesus. But that all changed one day when the pastor called me into his office and sat me down to tell me that this "ministry" must be run as a business. Believing the lie of corporate america the church had sunken to an all time low. We were more concerned with the bottom line, than who was living under the bridge. As a young pastor I took this in stride. I conformed to that mindset and built a very large youth group. But ultimately I failed, as did the pastor and the majority of the church because we failed to be the church the other 6 days of the week.

It was with this great defeat that I resigned my position. Not only as youth pastor, but vowing to never serve in the church again. How can I serve Jesus when he is a nothing more than a business. When did Jesus become a corporation?

Then I thought back to Matthew 21 and realized that Jesus himself fought against the incorporation of the church. At that moment something changed inside that has since become a fire that cannot be put out. We as true friends of Jesus must in every way, shape, and form be the church daily regardless of where we attend on Sunday. The church, the true church, the body of Christ must be more concerned with the hurting and sick than we are with the size of building or the beauty of the baptistry. We must focus more attention to the homeless than the price tag on our sound equipment. How can we knowingly refuse to feed someone so that we can increase the already to loud decibel level on stage? How can we turn away a single mother of four simply because we don't agree with her lifestyle? How can we say to the person that is living in sin that we have achieved this higher level of spiritual righteousness that excludes them from our company? Especially when we have no concept of true Christlike love.

I have friends around the country that are living as the true church. They are loving in ways that I cannot comprehend. They are doing things that the church for so long has stayed away from for self righteous reasoning.

It is because of these friends that my mind, more importantly my heart, has changed. Being the church is more important than a Sunday morning service. Sure we'll probably have one in Portland. Yes I hope it grows. But my prayer is that our leadership never get bigger than Jesus. That we never let our human greed defeat our desire to meet human need. And that we look nothing like the "money changers" of old, but rather the True church of Jesus Christ.

What would it look like if we all took a step back from the business of ministry and allowed ourselves to see the need of humanity? What would it look like if we took a step back from our own self righteousness and saw our own need for Christ's love? I dare say the church would not look like corporate america.

The days of Corporate Church are coming to an end, let us together engage culture as Friends of Jesus rather than hiding in our temples as Pharisees.

A fresh look from a really cool guy

Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast by Bono

If you're wondering what I'm doing here, at a prayer breakfast, well, so am I. I'm certainly not here as a man of the cloth, unless that cloth is leather. It's certainly not because I'm a rock star. Which leaves one possible explanation: I'm here because I've got a messianic complex.Yes, it's true. And for anyone who knows me, it's hardly a revelation.Well, I'm the first to admit that there's something unnatural...something unseemly...about rock stars mounting the pulpit and preaching at presidents, and then disappearing to their villas in the south of France. Talk about a fish out of water. It was weird enough when Jesse Helms showed up at a U2 concert...but this is really weird, isn't it?You know, one of the things I love about this country is its separation of church and state. Although I have to say: in inviting me here, both church and state have been separated from something else completely: their mind.Mr. President, are you sure about this?It's very humbling and I will try to keep my homily brief. But be warned - I'm Irish.I'd like to talk about the laws of man, here in this city where those laws are written. And I'd like to talk about higher laws. It would be great to assume that the one serves the other; that the laws of man serve these higher laws...but of course, they don't always. And I presume that, in a sense, is why you're here.I presume the reason for this gathering is that all of us here - Muslims, Jews, Christians - all are searching our souls for how to better serve our family, our community, our nation, our God.I know I am. Searching, I mean. And that, I suppose, is what led me here, too.Yes, it's odd, having a rock star here - but maybe it's odder for me than for you. You see, I avoided religious people most of my life. Maybe it had something to do with having a father who was Protestant and a mother who was Catholic in a country where the line between the two was, quite literally, a battle line. Where the line between church and state was...well, a little blurry, and hard to see.I remember how my mother would bring us to chapel on Sundays... and my father used to wait outside. One of the things that I picked up from my father and my mother was the sense that religion often gets in the way of God.For me, at least, it got in the way. Seeing what religious people, in the name of God, did to my native land...and in this country, seeing God's second-hand car salesmen on the cable TV channels, offering indulgences for cash...in fact, all over the world, seeing the self-righteousness roll down like a mighty stream from certain corners of the religious establishment...I must confess, I changed the channel. I wanted my MTV.Even though I was a believer.Perhaps because I was a believer.I was cynical...not about God, but about God's politics. (There you are, Jim.)Then, in 1997, a couple of eccentric, septuagenarian British Christians went and ruined my shtick - my reproachfulness. They did it by describing the millennium, the year 2000, as a Jubilee year, as an opportunity to cancel the chronic debts of the world's poorest people. They had the audacity to renew the Lord's call - and were joined by Pope John Paul II, who, from an Irish half-Catholic's point of view, may have had a more direct line to the Almighty.'Jubilee' - why 'Jubilee'?What was this year of Jubilee, this year of our Lord's favor?I'd always read the scriptures, even the obscure stuff. There it was in Leviticus (25:35)...'If your brother becomes poor,' the scriptures say, 'and cannot maintain himself...you shall maintain him.... You shall not lend him your money at interest, not give him your food for profit.'It is such an important idea, Jubilee, that Jesus begins his ministry with this. Jesus is a young man, he's met with the rabbis, impressed everyone, people are talking. The elders say, he's a clever guy, this Jesus, but he hasn't done much...yet. He hasn't spoken in public before...When he does, is first words are from Isaiah: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,' he says, 'because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.' And Jesus proclaims the year of the Lord's favour, the year of Jubilee (Luke 4:18).What he was really talking about was an era of grace - and we're still in it.So fast-forward 2,000 years. That same thought, grace, was made incarnate - in a movement of all kinds of people. It wasn't a bless-me club... it wasn't a holy huddle. These religious guys were willing to get out in the streets, get their boots dirty, wave the placards, follow their convictions with actions...making it really hard for people like me to keep their distance. It was amazing. I almost started to like these church people.But then my cynicism got another helping hand.It was what Colin Powell, a five-star general, called the greatest W.M.D. of them all: a tiny little virus called AIDS. And the religious community, in large part, missed it. The ones that didn't miss it could only see it as divine retribution for bad behaviour. Even on children...even [though the] fastest growing group of HIV infections were married, faithful women.Aha, there they go again! I thought to myself judgmentalism is back!But in truth, I was wrong again. The church was slow but the church got busy on this the leprosy of our age.Love was on the move.Mercy was on the move.God was on the move.Moving people of all kinds to work with others they had never met, never would have cared to meet...conservative church groups hanging out with spokesmen for the gay community, all singing off the same hymn sheet on AIDS...soccer moms and quarterbacks...hip-hop stars and country stars. This is what happens when God gets on the move: crazy stuff happens!Popes were seen wearing sunglasses!Jesse Helms was seen with a ghetto blaster!Crazy stuff. Evidence of the spirit.It was breathtaking. Literally. It stopped the world in its tracks.When churches started demonstrating on debt, governments listened - and acted. When churches starting organising, petitioning, and even - that most unholy of acts today, God forbid, lobbying...on AIDS and global health, governments listened - and acted.I'm here today in all humility to say: you changed minds; you changed policy; you changed the world.Look, whatever thoughts you have about God, who He is or if He exists, most will agree that if there is a God, He has a special place for the poor. In fact, the poor are where God lives.Check Judaism. Check Islam. Check pretty much anyone.I mean, God may well be with us in our mansions on the hill. I hope so. He may well be with us as in all manner of controversial stuff. Maybe, maybe not. But the one thing we can all agree, all faiths and ideologies, is that God is with the vulnerable and poor.God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them. "If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom with become like midday and the Lord will continually guide you and satisfy your desire in scorched places."It's not a coincidence that in the scriptures, poverty is mentioned more than 2,100 times. It's not an accident. That's a lot of air time, 2,100 mentions. (You know, the only time Christ is judgmental is on the subject of the poor.) 'As you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me' (Matthew 25:40). As I say, good news to the poor.Here's some good news for the president. After 9/11 we were told America would have no time for the world's poor. America would be taken up with its own problems of safety. And it's true these are dangerous times, but America has not drawn the blinds and double-locked the doors.In fact, you have doubled aid to Africa. You have tripled funding for global health. Mr. President, your emergency plan for AIDS relief and support for the Global Fund - you and Congress - have put 700,000 people onto life-saving anti-retroviral drugs and provided 8 million bed nets to protect children from malaria.Outstanding human achievements. Counterintuitive. Historic. Be very, very proud.But here's the bad news. From charity to justice, the good news is yet to come. There is much more to do. There's a gigantic chasm between the scale of the emergency and the scale of the response.And finally, it's not about charity after all, is it? It's about justice.Let me repeat that: It's not about charity, it's about justice.And that's too bad.Because you're good at charity. Americans, like the Irish, are good at it. We like to give, and we give a lot, even those who can't afford it.But justice is a higher standard. Africa makes a fool of our idea of justice; it makes a farce of our idea of equality. It mocks our pieties, it doubts our concern, it questions our commitment.Sixty-five hundred Africans are still dying every day of a preventable, treatable disease, for lack of drugs we can buy at any drug store. This is not about charity, this is about justice and equality.Because there's no way we can look at what's happening in Africa and, if we're honest, conclude that deep down, we really accept that Africans are equal to us. Anywhere else in the world, we wouldn't accept it. Look at what happened in South East Asia with the tsunami. 150,000 lives lost to that misnomer of all misnomers, "mother nature." In Africa, 150,000 lives are lost every month. A tsunami every month. And it's a completely avoidable catastrophe.It's annoying but justice and equality are mates. Aren't they? Justice always wants to hang out with equality. And equality is a real pain.You know, think of those Jewish sheep-herders going to meet the Pharaoh, mud on their shoes, and the Pharaoh says, "Equal?" A preposterous idea: rich and poor are equal? And they say, "Yeah, 'equal,' that's what it says here in this book. We're all made in the image of God."And eventually the Pharaoh says, "OK, I can accept that. I can accept the Jews - but not the blacks.""Not the women. Not the gays. Not the Irish. No way, man."So on we go with our journey of equality.On we go in the pursuit of justice.We hear that call in the ONE Campaign, a growing movement of more than 2 million Americans...Left and Right together... united in the belief that where you live should no longer determine whether you live.We hear that call even more powerfully today, as we mourn the loss of Coretta Scott King - mother of a movement for equality, one that changed the world but is only just getting started. These issues are as alive as they ever were; they just change shape and cross the seas.Preventing the poorest of the poor from selling their products while we sing the virtues of the free market...that's a justice issue. Holding children to ransom for the debts of their grandparents...that's a justice issue. Withholding life-saving medicines out of deference to the Office of Patents...that's a justice issue.And while the law is what we say it is, God is not silent on the subject.That's why I say there's the law of the land¿. And then there is a higher standard. There's the law of the land, and we can hire experts to write them so they benefit us, so the laws say it's OK to protect our agriculture but it's not OK for African farmers to do the same, to earn a living?As the laws of man are written, that's what they say.God will not accept that.Mine won't, at least. Will yours?[ pause]I close this morning on...very...thin...ice.This is a dangerous idea I've put on the table: my God vs. your God, their God vs. our God...vs. no God. It is very easy, in these times, to see religion as a force for division rather than unity.And this is a town - Washington - that knows something of division.But the reason I am here, and the reason I keep coming back to Washington, is because this is a town that is proving it can come together on behalf of what the scriptures call the least of these.This is not a Republican idea. It is not a Democratic idea. It is not even, with all due respect, an American idea. Nor it is unique to any one faith.'Do to others as you would have them do to you' (Luke 6:30). Jesus says that.'Righteousness is this: that one should...give away wealth out of love for him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for the emancipation of the captives.' The Koran says that (2.177).Thus sayeth the Lord: 'Bring the homeless poor into the house, when you see the naked, cover him, then your light will break out like the dawn and your recovery will speedily spring fourth, then your Lord will be your rear guard.' The Jewish scripture says that. Isaiah 58 again.That is a powerful incentive: 'The Lord will watch your back.' Sounds like a good deal to me, right now.A number of years ago, I met a wise man who changed my life. In countless ways, large and small, I was always seeking the Lord's blessing. I was saying, you know, I have a new song, look after it¿. I have a family, please look after them¿. I have this crazy idea...And this wise man said: stop.He said, stop asking God to bless what you're doing.Get involved in what God is doing - because it's already blessed.Well, God, as I said, is with the poor. That, I believe, is what God is doing.And that is what he's calling us to do.I was amazed when I first got to this country and I learned how much some churchgoers tithe. Up to 10% of the family budget. Well, how does that compare with the federal budget, the budget for the entire American family? How much of that goes to the poorest people in the world? Less than 1%.Mr. President, Congress, people of faith, people of America:I want to suggest to you today that you see the flow of effective foreign assistance as tithing.... Which, to be truly meaningful, will mean an additional 1% of the federal budget tithed to the poor.What is 1%?1% is not merely a number on a balance sheet.1% is the girl in Africa who gets to go to school, thanks to you. 1% is the AIDS patient who gets her medicine, thanks to you. 1% is the African entrepreneur who can start a small family business thanks to you. 1% is not redecorating presidential palaces or money flowing down a rat hole. This 1% is digging waterholes to provide clean water.1% is a new partnership with Africa, not paternalism toward Africa, where increased assistance flows toward improved governance and initiatives with proven track records and away from boondoggles and white elephants of every description.America gives less than 1% now. We're asking for an extra 1% to change the world. to transform millions of lives - but not just that and I say this to the military men now - to transform the way that they see us.1% is national security, enlightened economic self-interest, and a better, safer world rolled into one. Sounds to me that in this town of deals and compromises, 1% is the best bargain around.These goals - clean water for all; school for every child; medicine for the afflicted, an end to extreme and senseless poverty - these are not just any goals; they are the Millennium Development goals, which this country supports. And they are more than that. They are the Beatitudes for a globalised world.Now, I'm very lucky. I don't have to sit on any budget committees. And I certainly don't have to sit where you do, Mr. President. I don't have to make the tough choices.But I can tell you this:To give 1% more is right. It's smart. And it's blessed.There is a continent - Africa - being consumed by flames.I truly believe that when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for three things: the war on terror, the digital revolution, and what we did - or did not to - to put the fire out in Africa.History, like God, is watching what we do.Thank you. Thank you, America, and God bless you all.

Forgotten Children 

Never Forget

Every night over 40,000 children, some as young as 5 years old, leave their villages to take refuge in the towns of Northern Uganda ... these are Uganda's "forgotten children."

Thousands of boys and girls, carrying only a small mat to sleep on, walk as far as 8 miles each way in order to escape abduction, rape, and violent attacks by Ugandan rebels. Most of these children end up sleeping on the streets. The fortunate ones may find places to sleep in courtyards and in the churches. But, nearly 14,000 of these children find refuge each night in Gulu. The local people call them the "night commuters."

The world has turned its head at this ugly tragedy, the church has turned it's back.

I am reminded of just how blind we as American christians are to the plight of peoples outside of our personal realm of comfort. We have hardened our hearts for the poor and the needy. We have desensitized ourselves to the point that we can no longer sense the pain and affliction of others.

God has beckoned believers to live in community, not in royal mansions. He has charged us with the responsibility to care for those around us, whether they are of like faith or not.

Christians have long ago forgotten that being a follower of Christ calls us to lay down every possession and hold nothing back. We are taught in our society to save for a rainy day and to stockpile our wealth, while the God that I serve teaches me to live by faith. In fact we are commanded to sell our possessions and give the proceeds to the poor and needy and to then take up our cross and follow Christ.

Again I ask, what would it look like if we embraced "Life together" instead of this is my life and I'll tithe my 10%. I don't believe God is pleased when he looks at our lives and sees that we are not living the life that we are called to live.

I say all that to say this, if believers, myself included, would live a life of total sacrifice instead of a life of selfish ambition and a greed for wealth, there would be no crisis in Uganda. If we remember the Call of Christ, the Children will not be forgotten.

www.theforgottenchildren.com

May we never forget!!!!

Reckless Abandon

I've wandered lately what it would look like to live with a reckless abandonment for self and begin living for others. I mean to totally live life in a way that leaves no room for selfish ambitions or desires but that is totally consumed with serving Christ and others.

I was looking at a website today, www.evilbible.com, and my heart was broken. I wasn't angered by the content of the website, but by the simple fact that the believers she has come in contact with have all been hypocrites. They have taught love and lived hate, taught obedience and lived the opposite, they talk of abundant joy and live in desolate defeat and depression. I have shown the website to a number of so called believers and I have been thoroughly shocked by their response. Instead of heartfelt grief for this lady they are angered by her dismissal of the bible. When in fact, if they are angered at all it should be at those that claim Christ and live the life of the ultimate hypocrite. Even better they should be angered by their own sinful reaction.

I'm not saying that we as Christians don't slip up and do hypocritical things. None of us are perfect, but we can live a life that is devoted to the pursuit of holiness and a passion for showing the love of Christ.

The dogmatic militant approach of Christianity is no longer an option if we are to impactf today's cultural paradigm shift. I believe that if we are to change the way a culture thinks it will not happen within the walls of the church but on the street where the church shows it's true colors.

As a good friend said recently, some see the change in culture and are afraid of it, some run from it, some fight it, some ignore it, others engage it.

I have found that the only way to engage culture in a relevant way is to abandon self and serve others.

I don't have it all figured out, but I am bound and determined to live my life in such a way others see Jesus in me. Not as some dogmatic religious figure, but as a kind, loving, gentle friend.

Baby Steps

Today I rediscovered a basic truth about the Christian life. I realized that to accomplish a God-sized task, each one of us must begin with "Baby Steps"

Too often in the Christian walk men and women try to run before they even know how to crawl. We realize that God has a calling on our lives and one of two things begins to take place. Both options involve the task of running. One will run to the calling while the other will run away from their calling.

The first person can see the "big picture" Immediately this person races off on their quest to change the world. While this is an incredible attitude to have, there are many obstacles that lie ahead for this dear saint. What we must all realize is that to fulfill God's calling we must rely on God's timing.

I am the first to admit to hearing God's call and trying to run before I've learned to crawl. Today I was in the car for quite a long time and I began to reevaluate where I am in my walk and in what direction I am travelling. It has taken a long time for God to teach me how to stand and today I needed to make sure that my footing was firm before I continued walking. I understand that to move forward in my calling and destiny that I must take baby steps toward my goals, because like a toddler, I have a tendency to fall flat on my face.

I have a desire to GO and PREACH and TEACH and DISCIPLE. But before I can do those things, I must let God's sweet spirit refine my heart so that my intentions are pure and my goals are His goals. My heart must be able to love unconditionally and it must break for people. My spirit must be strong yet kind so that I might lead like Jesus. God has brought me so far, he has carried me for so long. At one point in my life I thought I was ready to run, and run I did. Until I began tripping over my own two feet. And now I realize that if these things are to be fulfilled, and I know they will, I have to be patient and move move like a toddler just beginning to walk.

Instead of running off to complete a God-sized task, the faithful Christian must be willing to undergo God-sized refinement!!!! For it is in the refiner's fire that God's ultimate plan is revealed. Just like a baby learning to walk, we will all fall down numerous times before we can run. But once we are ready and fully trained we will be able to then and only then take off running full steam ahead.

And then there are those that will run as fast as they can away from their divine destiny. Theses people are simply afraid of God wants them to do. But I have realized that true joy can not be found until we turn our eyes away from fear and toward the One that has valiantly conquered fear.

The person that runs away is no different than you and I, they are not necessarilly living in sin. But like most of us they are uninformed to the true beauty of God's glorious calling. We all need to learn the providing and protecting attributes of God. Once a believer can completely trust in God's sovereignty he can then begin to take baby steps in the direction of his calling.

Thus, the two runners are presented with the same question. What will be done with your divine purpose?

Remember BABY STEPS!!!!!!

Why do I worship?

I was asking myself this question today as I talked to a pastor of a rather influential church. Why don't we get it? Why can't people understand the reason we were created? Why can't the church realize it's main function? Why do I worship?

You're probably saying what don't I get? I worship God. That's exactly how I've felt my entire life. God is good, God is great, yada yada yada. But until recently I never grasped the reason for my existence or the reason for creation at all. I know we were all taught that we were created to worship God, that's great but how do we worship? Why do we worship? Why do I worship this God that thought it would be best to create me the way that I am? I know I would have done things differently. But then I'm brought back to reality by the simple fact that I'm not God and God's ways are not my ways and so on. And so why do I worship Him if His ways are not my ways, why don't I worship something that agrees with me, like a boulder?

The entire concept of worship has been so abused by the church in the last century that none of us fully understand, nor ever will understand, it's complete purpose.

I don't want to talk about forms of worship, but rather why we worship. I've come to realize that not one of us will ever worship in the same manner, they may be similar but my heart will never say the same thing as yours.

So why do I worship God? The short answer is that I, alone in my own power, am incapable of worshipping God. Yes I can go through the motions, but that is only because I want to please those around me, hence my worship is people directed rather than God directed. Yes we were created by God to worship God, but because of sin we are entirely incapable of even coming close to acceptable worship.

The only way that I can worship is to be drawn into it by something or someone stronger than myself. This is called the leading the of the Holy Spirit. You see, your job is not to concentrate on the form of worship, your job is to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to live our lives in such a way that everything we do, everything we say is directed by this indwelling. Thus bringing Glory to God, the entire premise of the Bible as stated in the book of Romans. I truly believe that our job as followers of Christ is to simply give up. To give up control of our lives, our thoughts, our actions. Give up everything that was held dear to our old self. Once we give up control, we have no choice but to do that which we are called to do, worship.

So why do I worship? The answer is simple, yet profound. I worship because I have no choice, I can't do anything else. If I live a life of full surrender, everything I do, everything I say, will be done out of worship for my God.

lata

mike