It is amazing to me the impact that a baby boy who was born about 2000 years ago had on the earth.
No matter, what you believe about Jesus, it is undeniable that he has changed the world.
This year people in China will exchange gifts and sing songs. People in India will attend Christmas events around the nation. People throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, and even here in the States will all celebrate. Many may not even know they are celebrating the Savior's birth - yet they still celebrate. The impact of Jesus is amazing.
Who could have imagined this when He was killed on a cross? At that time he had a handful of close followers, and a mixed reputation. Who could have even comprehended the impact he would have on billions of people?
Jesus is amazing.
Merry Christmas.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
I Hate All Your Show and Pretense --God
There is a song called 'Instead of a Show' written by Jon Foreman. It is direct, convicting, and I imagine to a lot of people, controversial ... just the kind of thing I like. The theme is that God hates all your shows, pretense, and noisy hymns. Instead, he desires justice and righteous living.
I have often wondered about it. It sounds right, but I wasn't quite sure about the 'hate' word. Does God really hate all the things he commanded us to do like gather together, celebrate, sing, and have festivals? Then I found it in the Bible.
So there it is ... When we make following God all about attending a worship service, we have completely missed the point, and He hates it.
The tragic thing is that our first response to this passage is to think we need to fix our shows. We think we need to make them more flat, boring, and uninspiring, or do away with them completely. (Everyone knows that boring is more authentic, right?)
I guess in some ways this is accurate. If we're not following God, cancelling the show is probably the best thing we could do. However, if we want to address the core issue, we need to look at what God tells Amos in verse 24 - following God should be about justice and righteous living. The 'show' is intended to flow out of that.
Festivals and assemblies were commanded by God - we should not do away with them, but they must become a celebration of our justice and righteousness rather than take the place of it.
I confess, that too many times I make following God all about participating in the shows rather than doing justice and living righteously. I don't think I'm alone in this regard. Americans as a whole are on a dangerous path. Think about it. When we hear the word 'church', we automatically think 'a meeting on Sunday'. We measure our spirituality based on attendance. We feel good about ourselves for just showing up (particularly if we sing something heart-felt while we're there). This is exactly what God hates.
I have often wondered about it. It sounds right, but I wasn't quite sure about the 'hate' word. Does God really hate all the things he commanded us to do like gather together, celebrate, sing, and have festivals? Then I found it in the Bible.
Amos 5
21 “I hate all your show and pretense— the hypocrisy of
your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. 22 I will not accept your
burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your
choice peace offerings. 23 Away with your noisy hymns of
praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24
Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous
living.
So there it is ... When we make following God all about attending a worship service, we have completely missed the point, and He hates it.
The tragic thing is that our first response to this passage is to think we need to fix our shows. We think we need to make them more flat, boring, and uninspiring, or do away with them completely. (Everyone knows that boring is more authentic, right?)
I guess in some ways this is accurate. If we're not following God, cancelling the show is probably the best thing we could do. However, if we want to address the core issue, we need to look at what God tells Amos in verse 24 - following God should be about justice and righteous living. The 'show' is intended to flow out of that.
Festivals and assemblies were commanded by God - we should not do away with them, but they must become a celebration of our justice and righteousness rather than take the place of it.
I confess, that too many times I make following God all about participating in the shows rather than doing justice and living righteously. I don't think I'm alone in this regard. Americans as a whole are on a dangerous path. Think about it. When we hear the word 'church', we automatically think 'a meeting on Sunday'. We measure our spirituality based on attendance. We feel good about ourselves for just showing up (particularly if we sing something heart-felt while we're there). This is exactly what God hates.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Church, Death, and Multiplication
What would happen if local church institutions were willing to add dying and multiplying to their mission?
I stumbled on this article today. It details some of the recent events in China between large unregistered churches and the government.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091210/ap_on_re_as/as_china_mega_church
Here is the crazy thing. Although it sounds like this is bad for the church, I believe that government actions like this are precisely the reason the church is thriving in China.
Think about it. The government just broke up a 50,000 person church. So what will be the likely result? It will result in an energized and supremely dedicated group of tens of thousands that will now likely form hundreds or thousands of new individual churches.
In 5 years, many of these new churches if not most will likely have doubled or tripled in size. If the large church were left alone, it is highly doubtful that it would experience this type of growth.
Jesus knew this and explained over and over again that the kingdom would grow through multiplication. We in the church tend to forget this when left to our own decisions.
I have often heard it said that a church is 'organic' and that organic things grow so a church should be focused on growth. However, this is a very incomplete and somewhat dangerous thought, particularly when applied to a single local church institution. In addition to growing, organic things also multiply and on an individual level, they die. While everything in our world is busy living, dying, and multiplying, the local church is busy trying to exist and grow - and losing ground in the process.
So think about it ... What would happen if local church institutions were willing to add dying and multiplying to their mission?
I stumbled on this article today. It details some of the recent events in China between large unregistered churches and the government.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091210/ap_on_re_as/as_china_mega_church
Here is the crazy thing. Although it sounds like this is bad for the church, I believe that government actions like this are precisely the reason the church is thriving in China.
Think about it. The government just broke up a 50,000 person church. So what will be the likely result? It will result in an energized and supremely dedicated group of tens of thousands that will now likely form hundreds or thousands of new individual churches.
In 5 years, many of these new churches if not most will likely have doubled or tripled in size. If the large church were left alone, it is highly doubtful that it would experience this type of growth.
Jesus knew this and explained over and over again that the kingdom would grow through multiplication. We in the church tend to forget this when left to our own decisions.
I have often heard it said that a church is 'organic' and that organic things grow so a church should be focused on growth. However, this is a very incomplete and somewhat dangerous thought, particularly when applied to a single local church institution. In addition to growing, organic things also multiply and on an individual level, they die. While everything in our world is busy living, dying, and multiplying, the local church is busy trying to exist and grow - and losing ground in the process.
So think about it ... What would happen if local church institutions were willing to add dying and multiplying to their mission?
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Start of Something Big in India
I apologize that it has taken this long to update you on what happened with the Pastors Conference in India. I know many of you were praying for it consistently, and I am very excited to report that your prayers were answered.
For those of you who don't know, we kicked off our church planting strategy during my recent trip to India. We have a dream to facilitate the finish of the spread of the Gospel in the Visak district. To us, this looks like a home in every village where people are regularly gathering together to follow Jesus.
Our first challenge is to find some core leaders. We started that process by holding a Pastor's Conference where we taught the 'First Steps' church planting training developed by E3 Partners. In a few months, we will follow-up and see if anyone is implementing what they learned. When we find the 'doers', we will have our core leaders.
I was praying for 50 pastors to attend, but more than 200 pastors showed up. We focused our teaching on the barriers to multiplication. This was a tough message with the pastors. We told them that the Gospel would not spread in this area as long as they tried to maintain control. The church could not center on their salary, their people, and their building. It had to change from an institution with them in the lead to a movement with them playing a part.
The Spirit of God is an interesting thing. There are a handful of times in my life where I truly felt that I was a part of something much bigger than myself - where it was almost as if it wasn't me doing the work. This was one of those times. I can't describe what happened under that tent in India, but God showed up. We delivered a tough message, but the pastors felt the presence of God and were excited about the teaching. How humbling that I even got to be a part of it!!
We counted commitments, and tallied up the numbers. They were very significant, but all that pales in comparison to the fact that God's Spirit was evident. The truth is that I don't know if 100 people will follow through or 2 people will. Number are important, but can often be misleading. For this reason, I am not near as excited about the numbers as I am about the presence of the Spirit of God. That presence confirms that we are working with Him, and if we are working with Him, some good things are just around the corner.
Thanks to all of you who prayed while I was gone. Your prayers were answered. Wouldn't it be cool if this was the beginning of a church planting movement in Visak ...
a movement where nobody knows who we are or what sparked it
a movement where churches were not concerned with authority, denomination, or money, but instead with the love of Jesus and of people
a movement that sees poverty lessen, orphans and widows cared for
a movement where the followers of Jesus multiply exponentially in the area
a movement where isolated villages who have never heard that any God or any person cares about them, hear that for the first time
This will be cool!
For those of you who don't know, we kicked off our church planting strategy during my recent trip to India. We have a dream to facilitate the finish of the spread of the Gospel in the Visak district. To us, this looks like a home in every village where people are regularly gathering together to follow Jesus.
Our first challenge is to find some core leaders. We started that process by holding a Pastor's Conference where we taught the 'First Steps' church planting training developed by E3 Partners. In a few months, we will follow-up and see if anyone is implementing what they learned. When we find the 'doers', we will have our core leaders.
I was praying for 50 pastors to attend, but more than 200 pastors showed up. We focused our teaching on the barriers to multiplication. This was a tough message with the pastors. We told them that the Gospel would not spread in this area as long as they tried to maintain control. The church could not center on their salary, their people, and their building. It had to change from an institution with them in the lead to a movement with them playing a part.
The Spirit of God is an interesting thing. There are a handful of times in my life where I truly felt that I was a part of something much bigger than myself - where it was almost as if it wasn't me doing the work. This was one of those times. I can't describe what happened under that tent in India, but God showed up. We delivered a tough message, but the pastors felt the presence of God and were excited about the teaching. How humbling that I even got to be a part of it!!
We counted commitments, and tallied up the numbers. They were very significant, but all that pales in comparison to the fact that God's Spirit was evident. The truth is that I don't know if 100 people will follow through or 2 people will. Number are important, but can often be misleading. For this reason, I am not near as excited about the numbers as I am about the presence of the Spirit of God. That presence confirms that we are working with Him, and if we are working with Him, some good things are just around the corner.
Thanks to all of you who prayed while I was gone. Your prayers were answered. Wouldn't it be cool if this was the beginning of a church planting movement in Visak ...
a movement where nobody knows who we are or what sparked it
a movement where churches were not concerned with authority, denomination, or money, but instead with the love of Jesus and of people
a movement that sees poverty lessen, orphans and widows cared for
a movement where the followers of Jesus multiply exponentially in the area
a movement where isolated villages who have never heard that any God or any person cares about them, hear that for the first time
This will be cool!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Pornography Addiction
I was pulling some stats together for a group I'm speaking with tonight ... listen to this:
It is interesting that even though we as Christians know that following Jesus is about forgiveness, we quickly equate our self-worth to appearing to be a good person rather than actually becoming one. The beautiful thing about the forgiveness Jesus provides is that it should give us the ability to face our sins honestly - and in the process to be changed. We should not have to pretend! So why do we?
If more than 50% of men struggle with pornography now, that means almost every man has at some point in their life - particularly the younger crowd who has grown up with porn only an anonymous mouse click away. Practically everybody is struggling or has struggled!
So what are you doing to be honest about this issue? Are you honest with anyone?
And for Parents ...
If you have teen children who have access to unfiltered internet at home or at a friends house, they HAVE VIEWED pornography. You do not have to wonder about it! The stats say 90% ... and that includes those 8 years old! They have viewed it. It has happened. Are you speaking with them about it? If you have never spoken with them about it, it is not their fault that they don't know how to deal with it.
I hope this isn't overly direct or harsh. It is something I feel passionate about. We believers, seem to be quick to protest these things publicly or politically, but very slow to address them in our own life. Let's start with us ... and we start by talking about it.
- In a 2002 meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers two thirds of the lawyers present said that pornography played a large role in more than half of their divorce cases ... and that it was almost non-existent only 7 to 8 years earlier.
- 53% of Christian men consume pornography
- 90% of 8-16 year old children have viewed porn online ... yes 90%
It is interesting that even though we as Christians know that following Jesus is about forgiveness, we quickly equate our self-worth to appearing to be a good person rather than actually becoming one. The beautiful thing about the forgiveness Jesus provides is that it should give us the ability to face our sins honestly - and in the process to be changed. We should not have to pretend! So why do we?
If more than 50% of men struggle with pornography now, that means almost every man has at some point in their life - particularly the younger crowd who has grown up with porn only an anonymous mouse click away. Practically everybody is struggling or has struggled!
So what are you doing to be honest about this issue? Are you honest with anyone?
And for Parents ...
If you have teen children who have access to unfiltered internet at home or at a friends house, they HAVE VIEWED pornography. You do not have to wonder about it! The stats say 90% ... and that includes those 8 years old! They have viewed it. It has happened. Are you speaking with them about it? If you have never spoken with them about it, it is not their fault that they don't know how to deal with it.
I hope this isn't overly direct or harsh. It is something I feel passionate about. We believers, seem to be quick to protest these things publicly or politically, but very slow to address them in our own life. Let's start with us ... and we start by talking about it.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
A Girl Named Durga Bhavani
A couple years ago our family decided to sponsor a child in India. Honestly, I didn't give much thought to it at the time. It just seemed like the right thing to do. For just over $30 dollars per month we could provide food, housing, and safety for a street child in India. Why wouldn't we do that?
After we signed up, we received a picture of our girl, and we learned that her name was Durga Bhavani. We put her picture on our refrigerator, but the magnitude of what we were doing never sank in to me. Outside of a sentence prayer while grabbing something out of the fridge, I really didn't give her much thought.
Then I met her and she became real to me.
One night, the leaders at the orphanage prepared a campfire for us. I'm not entirely sure why as it was over 80 degrees outside, but it did provide a nice backdrop, as we sat in chairs and listened to a couple members of our team play guitar and lead us in worship. I was enjoying the moment of rest and relaxation when I looked across from me and saw another member of our team with a child on his lap. I thought, I wonder if Bhavani would like that?
One of the things I love about Bhavani is that she is always respectful, yet always available. Many of the kids would bum rush us for hugs and photos every time we stepped out of the little cottage we were staying in, but not Bhavani - she waited. She always waited for me to come towards her, but amazingly every time I stepped off the small porch, she was there - and usually she had brought friends to introduce to me.
When I was sitting by the fire, it was no different. As soon as I turned my head I saw her standing right behind me with several of her friends. I motioned for her to come over and lifted her up on my lap. She smiled.
After a few minutes had passed, I began to wonder if she was doing this out of obligation. I didn't want her to feel forced to stay there if she preferred to go play with her friends so I moved my arm which was wrapped around her so she could get up. As soon as I did it, she looked up at me, grabbed my arm and wrapped it back around her. I felt tears welling up in me - the fire, the worship, the music, and a little girl who just wanted to be held was almost to much for me.
As we sang a little more, I noticed her wiping a tear from her eyes. I thought to myself. I bet she has never been held like this. I bet she has never had someone hold on to her for 15 minutes before. What an incredible blessing to be able to provide for a child, and now to hold her.
Bhavani is tough - she doesn't like to show emotion. She didn't want me to see the tears. At 8 years old, she has already experienced the death of her father, and the attempted suicide of her mother - who tried to burn herself alive. She knows the tragedy of life, but maybe for a few minutes on this night, she was able to experience the joy of life. Maybe this will help her to always know that there is someone who cares, and more importantly, that there is a God who cares.
I don't know when I will see Bhavani again. I don't know what God has in store for her. All I know is that I now love her. She is no longer just a child on our refrigerator. She has moved from my refrigerator into my heart. That $30 a month is now going to my girl instead of some girl, I am now praying for my girl, instead of a girl. I feel so fortunate to be involved!
I expected my first post after returning from India would talk about the Pastor's conference, and it was amazing, but I think maybe a more amazing thing happened in my heart and in Bhavani's. I won't get to see her often, but she knows she has a dad - and I get the privilege and blessing and honor of being that dad ... all for just $30 a month. What an amazing blessing!
If you are interested in sponsoring a child check out www.onelifechild.org.
After we signed up, we received a picture of our girl, and we learned that her name was Durga Bhavani. We put her picture on our refrigerator, but the magnitude of what we were doing never sank in to me. Outside of a sentence prayer while grabbing something out of the fridge, I really didn't give her much thought.
Then I met her and she became real to me.
One night, the leaders at the orphanage prepared a campfire for us. I'm not entirely sure why as it was over 80 degrees outside, but it did provide a nice backdrop, as we sat in chairs and listened to a couple members of our team play guitar and lead us in worship. I was enjoying the moment of rest and relaxation when I looked across from me and saw another member of our team with a child on his lap. I thought, I wonder if Bhavani would like that?
One of the things I love about Bhavani is that she is always respectful, yet always available. Many of the kids would bum rush us for hugs and photos every time we stepped out of the little cottage we were staying in, but not Bhavani - she waited. She always waited for me to come towards her, but amazingly every time I stepped off the small porch, she was there - and usually she had brought friends to introduce to me.
When I was sitting by the fire, it was no different. As soon as I turned my head I saw her standing right behind me with several of her friends. I motioned for her to come over and lifted her up on my lap. She smiled.
After a few minutes had passed, I began to wonder if she was doing this out of obligation. I didn't want her to feel forced to stay there if she preferred to go play with her friends so I moved my arm which was wrapped around her so she could get up. As soon as I did it, she looked up at me, grabbed my arm and wrapped it back around her. I felt tears welling up in me - the fire, the worship, the music, and a little girl who just wanted to be held was almost to much for me.
As we sang a little more, I noticed her wiping a tear from her eyes. I thought to myself. I bet she has never been held like this. I bet she has never had someone hold on to her for 15 minutes before. What an incredible blessing to be able to provide for a child, and now to hold her.
Bhavani is tough - she doesn't like to show emotion. She didn't want me to see the tears. At 8 years old, she has already experienced the death of her father, and the attempted suicide of her mother - who tried to burn herself alive. She knows the tragedy of life, but maybe for a few minutes on this night, she was able to experience the joy of life. Maybe this will help her to always know that there is someone who cares, and more importantly, that there is a God who cares.
I don't know when I will see Bhavani again. I don't know what God has in store for her. All I know is that I now love her. She is no longer just a child on our refrigerator. She has moved from my refrigerator into my heart. That $30 a month is now going to my girl instead of some girl, I am now praying for my girl, instead of a girl. I feel so fortunate to be involved!
I expected my first post after returning from India would talk about the Pastor's conference, and it was amazing, but I think maybe a more amazing thing happened in my heart and in Bhavani's. I won't get to see her often, but she knows she has a dad - and I get the privilege and blessing and honor of being that dad ... all for just $30 a month. What an amazing blessing!
If you are interested in sponsoring a child check out www.onelifechild.org.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Lepers and Aids victims
Thanks so much for your prayers for K.C. I spoke with him last night and he sounded great. Their travel went very smoothly and everyone was pumped and ready for the youth conference. He said that our little girl we sponser at the children's home was attached to him every second. I am so glad that she can feel a little bit of what it is like to have a family.
While we are sleeping tonight the team will be spending the day with the lepers and the women with HIV/Aids. That is always a very emotional but very spiritually rewarding day. The lepers have so much joy despite their situation. They are true examples of the joy that comes from a very real relationship with Christ.
Please continue to lift up the pastors conference. It will be the last two days of their trip, and we want it to be thoroughly covered in prayer.
Here are today's requests:
While we are sleeping tonight the team will be spending the day with the lepers and the women with HIV/Aids. That is always a very emotional but very spiritually rewarding day. The lepers have so much joy despite their situation. They are true examples of the joy that comes from a very real relationship with Christ.
Please continue to lift up the pastors conference. It will be the last two days of their trip, and we want it to be thoroughly covered in prayer.
Here are today's requests:
Saturday, October 24 Acts 17:11
- Pray that God would be preparing the hearts of the Indian people to receive the message from these pastors with obedience and great joy upon their return home.
- Pray for time with Raja, who we at WFC hope to be our point person in India , to understand his passion and what God is asking him to do in relation to church-planting.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Arriving at New Life
An update on K.C.'s India trip
In 5 hours K.C. and his team will be arriving at their final destination- New Life Children's Home, Visak, India. After 25 hours of traveling by air, a short night of sleep, 1 more hour of air travel and 2 hours drive I am sure they will be tired but ready for the amazing greeting that visitors get when they arrive there. Hundreds of children dance and sing and clap for you as they drape flowers over your neck and welcome your hugs and kisses. It is an experience you never forget!
I'm not sure what their schedule is for today, but I am sure it will be jam packed. Tomorrow they will be holding a youth conference for 1500 high school/college aged kids. Pray that the students would have open and obedient hearts to what God's Spirit will speak to them through the team. K.C. will be speaking on life change.
Below are today's prayer requests for the pastor's conference.
Friday, October 23 IIJohn 1:6
Pray that God would give the pastors at the conference a passionate vision for planting new churches and that they would respond in obedience.
Pray for a spirit of teamwork, camaraderie, and unity of purpose among the pastors. Competition and envy to be laid aside.
In 5 hours K.C. and his team will be arriving at their final destination- New Life Children's Home, Visak, India. After 25 hours of traveling by air, a short night of sleep, 1 more hour of air travel and 2 hours drive I am sure they will be tired but ready for the amazing greeting that visitors get when they arrive there. Hundreds of children dance and sing and clap for you as they drape flowers over your neck and welcome your hugs and kisses. It is an experience you never forget!
I'm not sure what their schedule is for today, but I am sure it will be jam packed. Tomorrow they will be holding a youth conference for 1500 high school/college aged kids. Pray that the students would have open and obedient hearts to what God's Spirit will speak to them through the team. K.C. will be speaking on life change.
Below are today's prayer requests for the pastor's conference.
Friday, October 23 IIJohn 1:6
Pray that God would give the pastors at the conference a passionate vision for planting new churches and that they would respond in obedience.
Pray for a spirit of teamwork, camaraderie, and unity of purpose among the pastors. Competition and envy to be laid aside.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Off to India
Today I'm on my way to India. I will be traveling to New Life Orphanage near Visak, Andhra Pradesh, India. The last time I traveled to India was almost three years ago. I remember sitting in a room there praying and dreaming with members of our church about starting a new orphanage in India. In only a few short years, we now have over 160 children living at New Life Children's Home. 160 children now have food to eat and people to care for them. Praise God! I will be staying on the land we have purchased as a permanent home for these children. It only has temporary structures for the children right now, but I can't wait to see it.
On this trip, we have a new dream. We are praying and dreaming about the beginning of a church planting movement - a movement of simple churches that reproduce themselves to finish the spread of the Gospel in the area. It is a big dream! We will kick it off by training 200 pastors how to start simple churches that multiply. We will be asking them to in turn teach many more people these principles. Our hope is that the training will quickly spread to several thousand people who will all be working together to start thousands of small, simple, multiplying churches.
This will require a lot of prayer!
Will you pray for me and our dream? Although I don't understand it, I believe with all my heart that prayer matters. Michelle will update my blog with selected requests for each day. Thank you for partnering with me in seeing the spread of the Gospel around the world!
Psalm 67:1-7 (Living Bible) O God in mercy bless us; let your face beam with joy as you look down at us. Send us around the world with the news of your saving power and your eternal plan for all mankind. How everyone throughout the earth will praise the Lord! How glad the nations will be, singing for joy because you are their King and will give true justice to their people! Praise God, O world! May all the peoples of the earth give thanks to you. For the earth has yielded abundant harvests. God, even our own God, will bless us. And peoples from remotest lands will worship him.
On this trip, we have a new dream. We are praying and dreaming about the beginning of a church planting movement - a movement of simple churches that reproduce themselves to finish the spread of the Gospel in the area. It is a big dream! We will kick it off by training 200 pastors how to start simple churches that multiply. We will be asking them to in turn teach many more people these principles. Our hope is that the training will quickly spread to several thousand people who will all be working together to start thousands of small, simple, multiplying churches.
This will require a lot of prayer!
Will you pray for me and our dream? Although I don't understand it, I believe with all my heart that prayer matters. Michelle will update my blog with selected requests for each day. Thank you for partnering with me in seeing the spread of the Gospel around the world!
Psalm 67:1-7 (Living Bible) O God in mercy bless us; let your face beam with joy as you look down at us. Send us around the world with the news of your saving power and your eternal plan for all mankind. How everyone throughout the earth will praise the Lord! How glad the nations will be, singing for joy because you are their King and will give true justice to their people! Praise God, O world! May all the peoples of the earth give thanks to you. For the earth has yielded abundant harvests. God, even our own God, will bless us. And peoples from remotest lands will worship him.
Prayer requests for today:
· Our team members are: Schaun Colin, Jason Mills, KC Allen, Mike Viser, Troy Kennedy, Allen Crone and Bob Gettemy. Pray for each person’s health, and for the strength and power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish all that needs to be accomplished according to God’s plan.
· Pray that nothing would prevent whom God has chosen for the pastor's conference from attending and receiving all that He has in store for them.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Leaving for India in 2 days
Hey everyone,
I can't believe the time is finally here. I leave for India on Wednesday morning. 3 plane flights and 25 hours or so later I'll be in India ready for a short night in a hotel. In the morning, it is just 1 short flight and a 2 hour drive to get to New Life Children's home. Please pray for us. 5 of us are going from Westside, and we are meeting a couple more people from Thailand there.
Together we will be hosting a youth conference and a pastor's conference, as well as dedicating water wells in some remote villages, and loving on the 160 kids at New Life children's home.
We are expecting 1500 high school and college age people to attend a youth conference on Saturday. We will be sharing the Gospel with them, and I will be closing our time together with a 30 minute talk on 'How to change your life'. Please pray for that!
We are expecting 200 local pastors for a 2-day pastors' conference. I will be opening and closing each session so altogether, I will be speaking about 2 hours each day. I'm definitely not use to that so please pray that I would speak clearly and say what God wants me to say.
Each of the 200 pastors will be given 2 extra copies of the material so they can go back to their local area and re-teach the lessons. I'm praying that thousands will hear about these simple steps to church planting and as a result that thousands of new home-churches will be started. Please pray with me!
We're teaching them these 6 steps to church planting:
I can't believe the time is finally here. I leave for India on Wednesday morning. 3 plane flights and 25 hours or so later I'll be in India ready for a short night in a hotel. In the morning, it is just 1 short flight and a 2 hour drive to get to New Life Children's home. Please pray for us. 5 of us are going from Westside, and we are meeting a couple more people from Thailand there.
Together we will be hosting a youth conference and a pastor's conference, as well as dedicating water wells in some remote villages, and loving on the 160 kids at New Life children's home.
We are expecting 1500 high school and college age people to attend a youth conference on Saturday. We will be sharing the Gospel with them, and I will be closing our time together with a 30 minute talk on 'How to change your life'. Please pray for that!
We are expecting 200 local pastors for a 2-day pastors' conference. I will be opening and closing each session so altogether, I will be speaking about 2 hours each day. I'm definitely not use to that so please pray that I would speak clearly and say what God wants me to say.
Each of the 200 pastors will be given 2 extra copies of the material so they can go back to their local area and re-teach the lessons. I'm praying that thousands will hear about these simple steps to church planting and as a result that thousands of new home-churches will be started. Please pray with me!
We're teaching them these 6 steps to church planting:
- Pray
- Evangelize
- Disciple
- Gather Together (Church)
- Develop Leaders
- Multiply
Also, please pray for my family while I am away. I will miss them!
I look forward to reporting back all that God does. Thank you for praying!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Many Lives Hidden in One Christ
"For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." Colossians 3:3-4
I recently read this verse and was drawn to the fact that when Paul says 'your real life', he is talking to everyone who reads or hears his words, but, when Paul says 'Christ', he means the one, singular Christ. So Paul is saying that many individual lives are hidden in the singular Christ.
It happens again in the next phrase - "when Christ, who is your life". Christ is my life and is also the lives of many other people, yet He is one. This means I am not only individually hidden in Christ, but I am part of a whole that is ALL hidden with Christ. God sees ONE Christ and we are all included.
This changes everything.
When I choose to follow Jesus, I give up my right to make my mark in this world. As believers, we all combine to make just one mark - the mark of Christ. There is amazing freedom in this for me because my mark can look like a mess on its own, but within the whole body of Christ it is made beautiful. I can stop trying to make sense of all the bad choices I made that turned out right, and all the good choices I made that turned out wrong. I can stop attributing every bad thing that happens in my life to the punishment of God and every good thing to the blessing of God. I can stop wondering why Hugh Hefner is rich, and why I am ... well ... not so rich. I can take the good and the bad together and know that it will all work together alongside the lives of other believers to form the mark of Christ on the world. My mark, both the good and the bad, is hidden with Christ's. This is grace!
I can now hear Paul say "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" and know he is not talking about my individual life. He is talking about all of us - together! Our work will be carried on to completion. Christ's work will be completed and I am a part of it. This is real hope which is very different from the false hope that my individual life is somehow guaranteed to work out good.
This should be obvious. We all have seen people die at tragic times. God doesn't say - 'ok, your work is complete', and then send a serial killer after you. Death is tragic and painful, and it always will be, but our hope is this: 'the good work that was started in us' will go on. I can rest in that. I don't have to be an all-star; I can just be me.
So rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn. Feel free to see the great things in life as incredible acts of grace and the horrible things in life as great tragedies. Understand that the people who die in a great earthquake, or when planes crash into skyscrapers do not die because they are better or worse than us. They die because life and death happens. And in the midst of life and death, we all get to make a choice to hide our living and our dying, our victory and our tragedy, within the victorious mark of Christ or to have it stand on its own. It is a choice to determine if you will find your life by losing it, or if you will attempt to gain the whole world, and in doing so, lose your soul.
I recently read this verse and was drawn to the fact that when Paul says 'your real life', he is talking to everyone who reads or hears his words, but, when Paul says 'Christ', he means the one, singular Christ. So Paul is saying that many individual lives are hidden in the singular Christ.
It happens again in the next phrase - "when Christ, who is your life". Christ is my life and is also the lives of many other people, yet He is one. This means I am not only individually hidden in Christ, but I am part of a whole that is ALL hidden with Christ. God sees ONE Christ and we are all included.
This changes everything.
When I choose to follow Jesus, I give up my right to make my mark in this world. As believers, we all combine to make just one mark - the mark of Christ. There is amazing freedom in this for me because my mark can look like a mess on its own, but within the whole body of Christ it is made beautiful. I can stop trying to make sense of all the bad choices I made that turned out right, and all the good choices I made that turned out wrong. I can stop attributing every bad thing that happens in my life to the punishment of God and every good thing to the blessing of God. I can stop wondering why Hugh Hefner is rich, and why I am ... well ... not so rich. I can take the good and the bad together and know that it will all work together alongside the lives of other believers to form the mark of Christ on the world. My mark, both the good and the bad, is hidden with Christ's. This is grace!
I can now hear Paul say "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" and know he is not talking about my individual life. He is talking about all of us - together! Our work will be carried on to completion. Christ's work will be completed and I am a part of it. This is real hope which is very different from the false hope that my individual life is somehow guaranteed to work out good.
This should be obvious. We all have seen people die at tragic times. God doesn't say - 'ok, your work is complete', and then send a serial killer after you. Death is tragic and painful, and it always will be, but our hope is this: 'the good work that was started in us' will go on. I can rest in that. I don't have to be an all-star; I can just be me.
So rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn. Feel free to see the great things in life as incredible acts of grace and the horrible things in life as great tragedies. Understand that the people who die in a great earthquake, or when planes crash into skyscrapers do not die because they are better or worse than us. They die because life and death happens. And in the midst of life and death, we all get to make a choice to hide our living and our dying, our victory and our tragedy, within the victorious mark of Christ or to have it stand on its own. It is a choice to determine if you will find your life by losing it, or if you will attempt to gain the whole world, and in doing so, lose your soul.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
V - I - M
I wanted to pass on something that has been very helpful to me over the last several years. It is a framework for change from my favorite author, Dallas Willard. The idea is that change requires:
Vision
Intention
Means
I love this because it is simple enough to remember. Whether it is the AA 12 steps, or any other number of methods for change, they can all be boiled down to these three things. This idea applies to both personal and organizational change. In fact, there is a book coming out called 'Switch' written by MBA types that looks at change. I heard the authors speak at the Willow Leadership Summit, and guess what? After all their research they came up with a metaphor that when you look at it, is just restating these three points.
So here are the points:
Vision - we must have an idea of a preferred future. We must admit we are not where we want to be, and then figure out where it is we want to go. The metaphor used by the authors of 'Switch' refers to this part as the 'Rider' on an elephant. It is the brains, the logical part of ourselves that thinks about where we should go.
Intention - we must actually intend to obtain the preferred future. In my opinion, this is where change almost always gets stuck. We never actually make choices to get us to change because we never really intend to do it. We just 'try harder'. At the Leadership Summit this was referred to as the 'Elephant'. It is the emotional, finicky, hard-to-get-moving part of us. At some point, we must get the elephant in us to actually want to move rather than just telling it to 'try harder'.
Means - we must know how to do go about achieving the change we want. The Bible gives us excellent tips here in the spiritual disciplines like solitude, reflection, prayer, Bible reading, confession, and real relationships. However, we in the church too often get confused and view these as the end goals rather than the means. We must realize that reading the Bible every day means nothing, if I'm not using it to change me. The whole idea of spiritual disciplines is not to appear spiritual, but to use them to lead us to where we want to go, or to who we want to become. In 'Switch' this was referred to as the 'Path'. In the metaphor, we must clear the path to make it easy for the Elephant to move across it.
So there you have it. If you get a handle on Vision (the rider), Intention (the elephant), and Means (the pathway) you can change. Simple, right?
Vision
Intention
Means
I love this because it is simple enough to remember. Whether it is the AA 12 steps, or any other number of methods for change, they can all be boiled down to these three things. This idea applies to both personal and organizational change. In fact, there is a book coming out called 'Switch' written by MBA types that looks at change. I heard the authors speak at the Willow Leadership Summit, and guess what? After all their research they came up with a metaphor that when you look at it, is just restating these three points.
So here are the points:
Vision - we must have an idea of a preferred future. We must admit we are not where we want to be, and then figure out where it is we want to go. The metaphor used by the authors of 'Switch' refers to this part as the 'Rider' on an elephant. It is the brains, the logical part of ourselves that thinks about where we should go.
Intention - we must actually intend to obtain the preferred future. In my opinion, this is where change almost always gets stuck. We never actually make choices to get us to change because we never really intend to do it. We just 'try harder'. At the Leadership Summit this was referred to as the 'Elephant'. It is the emotional, finicky, hard-to-get-moving part of us. At some point, we must get the elephant in us to actually want to move rather than just telling it to 'try harder'.
Means - we must know how to do go about achieving the change we want. The Bible gives us excellent tips here in the spiritual disciplines like solitude, reflection, prayer, Bible reading, confession, and real relationships. However, we in the church too often get confused and view these as the end goals rather than the means. We must realize that reading the Bible every day means nothing, if I'm not using it to change me. The whole idea of spiritual disciplines is not to appear spiritual, but to use them to lead us to where we want to go, or to who we want to become. In 'Switch' this was referred to as the 'Path'. In the metaphor, we must clear the path to make it easy for the Elephant to move across it.
So there you have it. If you get a handle on Vision (the rider), Intention (the elephant), and Means (the pathway) you can change. Simple, right?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Downward Mobility
Read about this concept at lunch today in "Organic Leadership" by Neil Cole, and thought it was good enough to share.
A good leader shows downward mobility - meaning the longer a person is in a position of leadership, the less an organization should be dependent upon him or her.
I like it! Now - I only have to apply it. That's more difficult.
Any thoughts?
A good leader shows downward mobility - meaning the longer a person is in a position of leadership, the less an organization should be dependent upon him or her.
I like it! Now - I only have to apply it. That's more difficult.
Any thoughts?
Friday, September 4, 2009
My troubles with Sunday Services
Here are two questions I have been thinking about lately:
Here is my ranking of things I feel have been most effective for my own spiritual growth:
- What have been the most effective things in my life that God has used to grow me spiritually?
- Does that match my current priorities?
Here is my ranking of things I feel have been most effective for my own spiritual growth:
- Taking big steps of faith to serve Jesus.
- Giving of myself to help others move closer to Jesus
- Giving of myself to help others in times of need (poor, homeless, etc.)
- My personal times of prayer and reflection
- Attending retreats and conferences that present a lot of information at once, and allow for time to process it.
- Reading good books.
- Spending time with a small group of people being accountable and developing real relationships.
- Attending other weekly Bible studies or teaching times where a sermon or talk is presented.
- Attending Sunday services.
The very disturbing part to me is that I think I have tended to prioritize these things in my life in reverse order! So I am asking myself, why am I prioritizing going to church on Sunday morning over helping people in need? Shouldn't I be willing to skip Sunday morning if it would give me time to do one of the things higher on my list? Am I really that much of a slave to tradition?
What about you? In your life, do your priorities match up with what helps you grow?
Disclaimer: In my mind, Sunday morning service DOES NOT equal church. I consider almost all of these things to be done in the context of 'church'. I am not saying that I need to ditch the church.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
I don't (and can't) know everything ... but I want to.
I'm reading the book of Job this week and it's got me thinking ... no matter how much I enjoy trying to figure things out, sometimes things are just not figure-out-able. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to what happens in life. Sometimes a perfect strategy doesn't work, and other times an imperfect one works. The only certainty is that there is always more going on than we can possibly understand or comprehend.
This is a struggle for me!
I had a conversation with a good friend about a year ago. He was going through a very difficult separation with his spouse and I asked him what he had learned through it all that I could apply to helping other people in that situation. His words have stuck with me. His advice was to realize that 'you just don't know ... and you just can't know'. He meant that it is impossible to understand all that has gone on in someones life - in their childhood, in their marriage, in their children's lives, in the deepest part of their heart. Life is deep and difficult and complex. It doesn't always fit into a logic puzzle.
Did I mention that this is a struggle for me?!
Most of the book of Job is a conversation between Job and his friends. If you haven't read it in a while it goes something like this.
Job: Life Stinks.
Friends: Your life does stink, you should think about trying (fill in the blank).
Job: You don't get it. If I was in your place, I might be saying the same thing as you, but you truly don't understand.
Friends: Grrrrrr.
Job: Life Stinks.
(Repeat)
Job's friends don't say anything illogical or technically wrong, yet they are completely wrong!
So my lesson learned is this: I need to approach people knowing with 100% certainty that I don't know everything, and that I can't know everything. Even more than that, I need to approach them knowing that they know more than I do. This is rough for someone who lives his life in the techy world where everything has a right answer, 2+2 always equals 4, and someone always knows more than someone else.
Wow ... that's a lot for me to work on!
This is a struggle for me!
I had a conversation with a good friend about a year ago. He was going through a very difficult separation with his spouse and I asked him what he had learned through it all that I could apply to helping other people in that situation. His words have stuck with me. His advice was to realize that 'you just don't know ... and you just can't know'. He meant that it is impossible to understand all that has gone on in someones life - in their childhood, in their marriage, in their children's lives, in the deepest part of their heart. Life is deep and difficult and complex. It doesn't always fit into a logic puzzle.
Did I mention that this is a struggle for me?!
Most of the book of Job is a conversation between Job and his friends. If you haven't read it in a while it goes something like this.
Job: Life Stinks.
Friends: Your life does stink, you should think about trying (fill in the blank).
Job: You don't get it. If I was in your place, I might be saying the same thing as you, but you truly don't understand.
Friends: Grrrrrr.
Job: Life Stinks.
(Repeat)
Job's friends don't say anything illogical or technically wrong, yet they are completely wrong!
So my lesson learned is this: I need to approach people knowing with 100% certainty that I don't know everything, and that I can't know everything. Even more than that, I need to approach them knowing that they know more than I do. This is rough for someone who lives his life in the techy world where everything has a right answer, 2+2 always equals 4, and someone always knows more than someone else.
Wow ... that's a lot for me to work on!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Why is getting out of the way so hard?
REVISION: After rereading this post, I think it came across as a bit harsh. It is not suppose to be some super criticism of our pastors. They deserve better than that. It is as much as anything a criticism of me. I consider myself to be in the church leader category even though I am unpaid. I normally think of being more effective as increasing my influence rather than equipping others. It's a problem for me. I think it's also possible, that the church does better than business at this, but I just notice it more in the church. Just wanted to clarify that.
Everything I am reading lately seems to come back to the point that a leader needs to equip people and then get out of the way. Yet, in my experience, few leaders or organizations actually do this - particularly in church world. When was the last time you heard of a pastor equipping another member of the church to be a pastor, and then getting out of the way. When was the last time you heard of a church equipping another church and then getting out of the way. I know it happens, but my experience says it is very rare. Why? Why do we insist on staying in control?
I think it comes down to a few things:
Everything I am reading lately seems to come back to the point that a leader needs to equip people and then get out of the way. Yet, in my experience, few leaders or organizations actually do this - particularly in church world. When was the last time you heard of a pastor equipping another member of the church to be a pastor, and then getting out of the way. When was the last time you heard of a church equipping another church and then getting out of the way. I know it happens, but my experience says it is very rare. Why? Why do we insist on staying in control?
I think it comes down to a few things:
- Our dreams aren't big enough
- We selfishly want the credit
- We pridefully think we are more important than we are
- We never stop to think about the power of multiplication
Here are two examples to think about:
Person 1 - Jesus
- Dreams of spreading the Kingdom of God to all people
- Constantly attributes everything he does to the Father, and is willing to live without a home, suffer, and voluntarily lay down his power
- Although in reality it really is all dependent on him, he only concentrates on a few, and then voluntarily gets out of the way after only a few short years of ministry.
- He constantly told stories about multiplication (parable of the harvest, parable of the mustard seed, parable of the yeast, etc.)
Person 2 - Many church leaders
- Dreams of increasing their influence often by gathering a really big group together weekly to listen to him/her. (This isn't done out of bad intentions, but out of an intention to help people's lives in the process)
- Attributes a lot of success to his/her own good ideas and strategy. Talks about suffering a lot, but too often is talking about stuff that happens to them rather than voluntary sacrifice.
- Really wants to stay in control. Wants to make sure people continue to listen to him so that he can convince them to believe all the little things that he/she believes. Sometimes he truly believes this is the way to help someone.
- Sees resources as a limitation because he doesn't understand multiplication. For example, he uses almost all (or more than) the church's resources to build a bigger building, not realizing that they've just built a bigger ceiling on growth. (I'm not saying all buildings are bad, just that if we are serious about church happening 'outside the building' then the building should not be the constraint.)
An interesting comparison, huh? Unfortunately I too often look like the 2nd person. Lord, help me be a leader that equips people to surpass me. Give me big dreams, and help me understand that growth centered on me, will never be big enough to accomplish those dreams. Help me to know that as long as I am the center of the plan, I am also the limitation. Amen.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Old Journal Entry - Living in forgiveness
I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to live life as a forgiven person. This reality should influence our approach to everything. I came across an old journal of mine that I wrote while in China. It is a prayer I wrote while meditating on Psalm 51. It meant something to me today when I found it so maybe it will mean something to you too.
Dated 1/21/05
Psalm 51
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite spirit You will not despise."
"You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place."
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
My sins are great, God. Selfishness invades me. I can do little without expecting something in return. My thoughts often wander to power and lust. Yet at least I know enough, or am at least scared enough not to act these out. You desire more! You desire to transform my inmost place, my soul.
I long to live fully from the heart. Help me to see clearly the lies of the evil one. You are the reason I can be transformed. You forgive; You save. You desire faith - faith that believes You, faith that can transform me, faith that results in brokenness at my inability to follow you fully. Restore me.
Give me a free life - a life that is free to trust my heart because my heart is Your heart. Then you will be glorified in me! A sacrifice was used to restore man's relationship with you. In order to restore our relationship, you don't require more outward actions, but an inner contrite heart.
It is true that you require obedience, movement, and passion, but these can not be faked. They must come from the core, from a pure heart. Father, I have lost my brokenness here, forgive me. In my obedience I have become hard-hearted and prideful. The things I do for you are either because I can't live without them (like my time with You) or because I am supposed to do them (it's my job). While this is good, I want to do them because of who I am ... who I have become in You.
I can think of no better thing than a truly transformed heart living out of free passion. You will do this in me, but first I must desire it, and I must be broken over my lack of it. Through brokenness comes forgiveness and transformation. Help me to see fully who You are, Father, that I might also see who I am. This will result in brokenness, gratitude, salvation, and power. Praise You God, for what you will do in me. May you be glorified.
Dated 1/21/05
Psalm 51
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite spirit You will not despise."
"You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place."
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
My sins are great, God. Selfishness invades me. I can do little without expecting something in return. My thoughts often wander to power and lust. Yet at least I know enough, or am at least scared enough not to act these out. You desire more! You desire to transform my inmost place, my soul.
I long to live fully from the heart. Help me to see clearly the lies of the evil one. You are the reason I can be transformed. You forgive; You save. You desire faith - faith that believes You, faith that can transform me, faith that results in brokenness at my inability to follow you fully. Restore me.
Give me a free life - a life that is free to trust my heart because my heart is Your heart. Then you will be glorified in me! A sacrifice was used to restore man's relationship with you. In order to restore our relationship, you don't require more outward actions, but an inner contrite heart.
It is true that you require obedience, movement, and passion, but these can not be faked. They must come from the core, from a pure heart. Father, I have lost my brokenness here, forgive me. In my obedience I have become hard-hearted and prideful. The things I do for you are either because I can't live without them (like my time with You) or because I am supposed to do them (it's my job). While this is good, I want to do them because of who I am ... who I have become in You.
I can think of no better thing than a truly transformed heart living out of free passion. You will do this in me, but first I must desire it, and I must be broken over my lack of it. Through brokenness comes forgiveness and transformation. Help me to see fully who You are, Father, that I might also see who I am. This will result in brokenness, gratitude, salvation, and power. Praise You God, for what you will do in me. May you be glorified.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Favorite Quotes from the Leadership Summit
I had a great time at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit on Thursday and Friday. I now have much more to think about, to apply, and to talk endlessly to my wife about. (She loves it - although she will deny that). On top of that, our church won an award for work with HIV/AIDs in South Africa, India, and Thailand. The really cool part is that the award came with money to put into our work there!
Here are some of my favorite points:
"Success is a self-correcting phenomena." - Gary Hammel
We must stay humble during success so that we keep reaching out for new ideas, and don't let everything get stale why we look on with overconfident denial. In our connected, and fast changing world, if we depend only on our own ideas or position, we will get left behind. We must change at least as fast as the world around us.
"It's easy to confuse motion and progress." - David Gergen
We need to become reflective practitioners - constantly evaluating and learning what is effective.
"There are two ways to be your own savior: immorality and morality ... we must not only confess our wrong-doing, but also the wrong reasons for our right-doing" - Tim Keller
If we want the Father's stuff rather than the Father, we will be spiritually dead. This applies both to trying to grab the Father's stuff on our own (immorality) or trying to do everything right to earn the Father's stuff (morality).
"Start speaking to hearts instead of pounding on wills" -Tim Keller
"Your job is to equip members, not just add staff." - Harvey Carey (speaking to the church)
YES!! IMHO, most churches spend far too little time on equipping members to do the work.
Here are some of my favorite points:
"Success is a self-correcting phenomena." - Gary Hammel
We must stay humble during success so that we keep reaching out for new ideas, and don't let everything get stale why we look on with overconfident denial. In our connected, and fast changing world, if we depend only on our own ideas or position, we will get left behind. We must change at least as fast as the world around us.
"It's easy to confuse motion and progress." - David Gergen
We need to become reflective practitioners - constantly evaluating and learning what is effective.
"There are two ways to be your own savior: immorality and morality ... we must not only confess our wrong-doing, but also the wrong reasons for our right-doing" - Tim Keller
If we want the Father's stuff rather than the Father, we will be spiritually dead. This applies both to trying to grab the Father's stuff on our own (immorality) or trying to do everything right to earn the Father's stuff (morality).
"Start speaking to hearts instead of pounding on wills" -Tim Keller
"Your job is to equip members, not just add staff." - Harvey Carey (speaking to the church)
YES!! IMHO, most churches spend far too little time on equipping members to do the work.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
I have to chime in on Healthcare
I've decided to chime in on the healthcare debate because I know that everyone is anxiously awaiting my uneducated opinion. Yes, I really don't know what I'm talking about here, but that doesn't stop me from having an opinion (just like most of you).
Healthcare is a tough one because no matter how you do it or how much money you throw at it, in the end, everyone dies - and nobody wants to die. The ideal situation, where everyone gets the latest treatments with the best doctors for free is just not possible. This makes healthcare choices not so much about right and wrong as about bad and a little bit better than bad. That is a tough sell, because 'a little bit better than bad' can still be picked apart and criticized even though it is better than the alternatives.
So here are my thoughts:
I think the plan needs to be universal (required for everyone). A person can opt out only if they have other health insurance.
We need a plan where people have to pay a percentage of the bill so that we, the consumers, put price pressure on the system and make wise choices on how often we visit the doctor, what tests we have run, etc.. I don't trust insurance companies to do it well, and I don't trust the government to do it well either. (I'm still upset about a tv show I saw many months ago where wealthy elderly people were going to the doctor weekly at government expense just because they needed someone to talk to. If they got two visits a year, and then had to pay 50% after that, I don't think they would do it as much. )
I kind of like the idea that the percentage you pay is based on income. (The richer you are, the higher percentage of the total cost of services you pay). This view treats healthcare more as a fundamental right, than a privilege or reward for working hard. I think I agree with that view.
One final thing ... I have no idea how we should pay for it!
Healthcare is a tough one because no matter how you do it or how much money you throw at it, in the end, everyone dies - and nobody wants to die. The ideal situation, where everyone gets the latest treatments with the best doctors for free is just not possible. This makes healthcare choices not so much about right and wrong as about bad and a little bit better than bad. That is a tough sell, because 'a little bit better than bad' can still be picked apart and criticized even though it is better than the alternatives.
So here are my thoughts:
- People need healthcare insurance. I mean everybody. If you don't have it, you are just trusting that if something really bad happens to you, everybody else will chip in and pay for it. That's not a good system.
- It's ridiculous that if you are not on a group plan and you have health problems, you are out of luck. It will be this way as long as the system is based on the profit of insurance companies. These companies have no incentive to do anything different. Competition is fine and good, but it won't fix the fundamental problem that insurance companies don't want to compete for the people who are already sick!
- Another problem in my mind is that we don't have any price competition with the medical care itself. When was the last time you chose anything medically related based on price. We generally don't even think about it.
- Everyone that is afraid of government involvement (and rightfully so) needs to realize that the government is already involved. It's called Medicare. Don't you think that all the private insurance companies are basing what they cover on what Medicare covers? So right now, you have de facto control by the government over your health care, like it or not.
I think the plan needs to be universal (required for everyone). A person can opt out only if they have other health insurance.
We need a plan where people have to pay a percentage of the bill so that we, the consumers, put price pressure on the system and make wise choices on how often we visit the doctor, what tests we have run, etc.. I don't trust insurance companies to do it well, and I don't trust the government to do it well either. (I'm still upset about a tv show I saw many months ago where wealthy elderly people were going to the doctor weekly at government expense just because they needed someone to talk to. If they got two visits a year, and then had to pay 50% after that, I don't think they would do it as much. )
I kind of like the idea that the percentage you pay is based on income. (The richer you are, the higher percentage of the total cost of services you pay). This view treats healthcare more as a fundamental right, than a privilege or reward for working hard. I think I agree with that view.
One final thing ... I have no idea how we should pay for it!
Friday, July 24, 2009
What is 'Freedom from sin'?
Lately I've been thinking about this whole idea of 'freedom from sin'. I'm not sure I've ever understood it before, but I'm getting there now.
The problem is that Paul tells us in Romans we have it, but a cursory look at our lives tells us we don't. I'm not perfect, and don't really see any way I ever will be. And by the way, you're not either. So what in the world is Paul talking about when he says we as Believers are free from sin?
This question led me to a fundamental error in the way I view the world. Even though the Bible clearly teaches that we are in the middle of a battle, I generally view my life as at peace. This causes big problems, because freedom means very different things in the context of peace versus the context of war.
Think about it like this. In a peaceful context, freedom of the USA from another nation means that the USA would do exactly what they want to do when they want to do it. However, in a context of being attacked, freedom means something very different. It means they continue to fight the battle. The USA is likely being harmed by the other nation, and is likely not doing exactly what they want to do when they want to do it ... but as long as they are still fighting, they are still free.
At peace, freedom is marked by the alignment of heart or will, and action. At war, freedom is marked by a fight.
In the same way: in a peaceful context, freedom from sin means that I would do exactly what I want when I want. My heart or will, and my actions would align. I would be perfect. However, when I'm being attacked, freedom from sin means that I continue to fight. I am likely being harmed by the attack, and I am likely not doing exactly what I want to do when I want to do it ... but as long as I am still fighting, I am free.
When Paul says 'we are free from sin' and at the same time says 'I do what I do not want to do, and what I want to do, I don't do', he is not trying to confuse us. When we believe in Jesus, and yet continue to sin, we do not need to feel that our theology contradicts our experience. While we are on earth, fighting against our adversary (the devil), our freedom results in a fight. When we get to heaven, and have no adversary, our freedom will result in perfection.
The problem is that Paul tells us in Romans we have it, but a cursory look at our lives tells us we don't. I'm not perfect, and don't really see any way I ever will be. And by the way, you're not either. So what in the world is Paul talking about when he says we as Believers are free from sin?
This question led me to a fundamental error in the way I view the world. Even though the Bible clearly teaches that we are in the middle of a battle, I generally view my life as at peace. This causes big problems, because freedom means very different things in the context of peace versus the context of war.
Think about it like this. In a peaceful context, freedom of the USA from another nation means that the USA would do exactly what they want to do when they want to do it. However, in a context of being attacked, freedom means something very different. It means they continue to fight the battle. The USA is likely being harmed by the other nation, and is likely not doing exactly what they want to do when they want to do it ... but as long as they are still fighting, they are still free.
At peace, freedom is marked by the alignment of heart or will, and action. At war, freedom is marked by a fight.
In the same way: in a peaceful context, freedom from sin means that I would do exactly what I want when I want. My heart or will, and my actions would align. I would be perfect. However, when I'm being attacked, freedom from sin means that I continue to fight. I am likely being harmed by the attack, and I am likely not doing exactly what I want to do when I want to do it ... but as long as I am still fighting, I am free.
When Paul says 'we are free from sin' and at the same time says 'I do what I do not want to do, and what I want to do, I don't do', he is not trying to confuse us. When we believe in Jesus, and yet continue to sin, we do not need to feel that our theology contradicts our experience. While we are on earth, fighting against our adversary (the devil), our freedom results in a fight. When we get to heaven, and have no adversary, our freedom will result in perfection.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Lord's Prayer
Acts is getting boring ... Paul is so predictable: share in the synagogue, share in other spiritual places, make tents, heal people, see many join 'The Way', almost get killed, leave because of persecution, come back to encourage believers, constantly mentor new leaders, and then repeat.
So I'm moving on for a day to another thought ... a thought about where Jesus might have said something that ties it all together, some words where he might have given us some condensed view on how to orient our life. My mind drifted to the Lord's prayer, and the more I thought about it the more it made sense. I've always viewed it as instructions on how to pray, but never taken it to the next step. If it is how we should pray, it would also logically be how we should orient our lives before God. Our communicating with God should be a reflection of real life ... not just pretty words.
In short, the prayer orients life this way: 1) God's nature, 2) God's purpose, 3) Our nature, 4) Our purpose. The order is important. If you skip steps by putting our purpose before his or our nature before his, life doesn't make sense. Also, if we put purpose before nature, we get screwed up. But, in this brilliant order, everything makes sense.
So here it goes ...
First, God's nature:
Our Father who art in heaven ...
We must start with the fact that God exists, that he was before us, that he lives in the heavens which are the air around us. His presence is here, as near to us as the air we breathe and the sky we look at. If we don't know this, there is no use in moving on.
Hallowed be thy name ...
Second we must know that God's nature is to be glorified. Life does not make sense unless we realize it is all about God. Everything is about his honor, his name, his glory. This seems contradictory to a loving God at first, until you realize 'who else would you want God to be all about?'. Being primarily concerned with His own glory is the most loving thing he could do for us, because He is himself love.
Then God's Mission:
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven ...
His mission is to expand his kingdom (the place where what He wants done is done) in the lives of men and women. It is to see men and women transformed into the people he designed them to be, and at the same time to see this transformation spread across the face of the earth to people everywhere.
All of that and we just now get to us! Our Nature:
Give us this day our daily bread ...
Just as God's nature is to be self-sufficient and glorified. Our nature is to be dependent. We are very needy. It is so clear that life can not possibly be about us. We also see that physical needs matter on this earth.
And forgive us our trespasses ...
Just as we are dependent physically on food. We are dependent spiritually on God's forgiveness. It is interesting that our spiritual nature is summed up by forgiveness. We so easily want to turn that into something else.
And finally, our purpose:
As we forgive those who trespass against us ...
We finally get to our mission. Our first mission is to take the love and forgiveness of God and to join in His mission by expanding where his will is done. We do this by showing love and forgiveness to others.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ...
The rest of our mission ... to be transformed individually and corporately into His will - to be delivered from evil.
So that's it. I don't know if it will help you, but it has helped me. Jesus was so simple. When we are confused, we can go back to this, pray it, but more than that, we can use it to reorient our life step by step to the orientation that matches with the way things really are.
So I'm moving on for a day to another thought ... a thought about where Jesus might have said something that ties it all together, some words where he might have given us some condensed view on how to orient our life. My mind drifted to the Lord's prayer, and the more I thought about it the more it made sense. I've always viewed it as instructions on how to pray, but never taken it to the next step. If it is how we should pray, it would also logically be how we should orient our lives before God. Our communicating with God should be a reflection of real life ... not just pretty words.
In short, the prayer orients life this way: 1) God's nature, 2) God's purpose, 3) Our nature, 4) Our purpose. The order is important. If you skip steps by putting our purpose before his or our nature before his, life doesn't make sense. Also, if we put purpose before nature, we get screwed up. But, in this brilliant order, everything makes sense.
So here it goes ...
First, God's nature:
Our Father who art in heaven ...
We must start with the fact that God exists, that he was before us, that he lives in the heavens which are the air around us. His presence is here, as near to us as the air we breathe and the sky we look at. If we don't know this, there is no use in moving on.
Hallowed be thy name ...
Second we must know that God's nature is to be glorified. Life does not make sense unless we realize it is all about God. Everything is about his honor, his name, his glory. This seems contradictory to a loving God at first, until you realize 'who else would you want God to be all about?'. Being primarily concerned with His own glory is the most loving thing he could do for us, because He is himself love.
Then God's Mission:
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven ...
His mission is to expand his kingdom (the place where what He wants done is done) in the lives of men and women. It is to see men and women transformed into the people he designed them to be, and at the same time to see this transformation spread across the face of the earth to people everywhere.
All of that and we just now get to us! Our Nature:
Give us this day our daily bread ...
Just as God's nature is to be self-sufficient and glorified. Our nature is to be dependent. We are very needy. It is so clear that life can not possibly be about us. We also see that physical needs matter on this earth.
And forgive us our trespasses ...
Just as we are dependent physically on food. We are dependent spiritually on God's forgiveness. It is interesting that our spiritual nature is summed up by forgiveness. We so easily want to turn that into something else.
And finally, our purpose:
As we forgive those who trespass against us ...
We finally get to our mission. Our first mission is to take the love and forgiveness of God and to join in His mission by expanding where his will is done. We do this by showing love and forgiveness to others.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ...
The rest of our mission ... to be transformed individually and corporately into His will - to be delivered from evil.
So that's it. I don't know if it will help you, but it has helped me. Jesus was so simple. When we are confused, we can go back to this, pray it, but more than that, we can use it to reorient our life step by step to the orientation that matches with the way things really are.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Ralph Winters on culture and faith
I came across this quote by Ralph Winter while surfing the net.
"One of the most important functions of the missionary movement is to continually rescue the faith itself from becoming lost through institutional and cultural evolution and absorption.... That process of trying to make our faith understandable cross-culturally has in many different but vital ways pumped back into the home church a constantly renewed sense of what is, and what is not the [gospel]... Unless we become as serious about rediscovering the true faith in contrast to the assumptions of our own culture, we will trumpet an uncertain sound wherever else we go"
This is the most significant thing that I experienced personally while living overseas. Like it or not, our faith and our culture get very intertwined and we begin to confuse the two. Look no further than all the people out there who confuse patriotism (the desire for success and prosperity for the USA) with following Jesus (the desire to see 'His will be done'). Living in a different culture (even for a short time) reveals what is foundational and what is cultural. (BTW. the US is not foundational to the gospel. It's not even in the Bible. :) ) If you have not travelled internationally on a trip where you get to interact with the local people and with God, you should. Careful though, it will mess you up (in a good way). You will never be the same!
"One of the most important functions of the missionary movement is to continually rescue the faith itself from becoming lost through institutional and cultural evolution and absorption.... That process of trying to make our faith understandable cross-culturally has in many different but vital ways pumped back into the home church a constantly renewed sense of what is, and what is not the [gospel]... Unless we become as serious about rediscovering the true faith in contrast to the assumptions of our own culture, we will trumpet an uncertain sound wherever else we go"
This is the most significant thing that I experienced personally while living overseas. Like it or not, our faith and our culture get very intertwined and we begin to confuse the two. Look no further than all the people out there who confuse patriotism (the desire for success and prosperity for the USA) with following Jesus (the desire to see 'His will be done'). Living in a different culture (even for a short time) reveals what is foundational and what is cultural. (BTW. the US is not foundational to the gospel. It's not even in the Bible. :) ) If you have not travelled internationally on a trip where you get to interact with the local people and with God, you should. Careful though, it will mess you up (in a good way). You will never be the same!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Back from Vacation and Acts Chapter 17
I'm back from vacation and it was great. We drove 3000 miles and saw some of the most beautiful sites anywhere in the world. On top of that, I got to wake up everyday and spend it with my wife and kids which is always a treat. Here's what happened: Kansas driving, Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods, Royal Gorge, boring drive to Albuquerque, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Meteor Crater, on to Phoenix to see my dad and stepmom (and various cats and dogs), swimming, dinner with aunt and uncle, golf with my wife (shot a 83!), the Phoenix zoo, Rainforest Cafe, naps, more golf (only a 96 this time), train park, Scottsdale shopping, PF Changs, more swimming, family dinner, Sedona, ice cream with Kelly Ripa and family (kind of), Grand Canyon, and then the very long drive home. I loved all of it.
Now that I'm back, we're moving on to Acts 17 - Thessolonica, Berea and Athens.
Paul's Entrance Strategy:
It's the same as before - in all three places Paul starts at the synagogue. Verse 2 even explicitly recognizes that this is a pattern. In Athens he also tries out going to the places of philosophical and/or religious conversation.
Gospel Presentation:
This is my favorite part of the chapter. We get a glimpse of how Paul shares the Gospel in two different settings - first, in a synagogue in Thessolonica, and second, in a meeting of philosophers in Athens. We can learn a lot from how Paul approaches each situation. In both cases he uses the religious background of his audience to share the Gospel. In the synagogue he 'reasons with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.' With the philosophers, he does not use scripture. He instead starts with their religious experience and builds off of it. He talks about their altar, and their poetry. He begins the Gospel with God and creation, not with Jesus. He gets to Jesus in the end, but as he has done in previous chapters, he just mentions Him and His resurrection then waits for them to ask for more. In both cases his message is very God centered and not people centered. He does not appeal to selfish, personal, individual needs.
This is so much different than what many in the church demonstrate today. There is no 'altar call'. There is no 'sinner's prayer' there is no promise of individual prosperity. We see that the way we share about Jesus with an Atheist, a Buddhist, a Hindu, a Muslim, a Chinese person, an Indian person, a European person should be DIFFERENT. And sometimes it may be best not to quote scripture (gasp!).
Leadership Development:
Silas and Timothy are able to stay in Berea and carry on the work on their own. Paul is clearly investing into these two men.
Out of his control:
Persecution is everywhere. This is maybe the dominant theme in Acts so far - that persecution comes and mostly sparks expansion rather than hinders it.
Results:
New leaders gain experience and begin to do some things on their own.
There are new believers left in every location.
Now that I'm back, we're moving on to Acts 17 - Thessolonica, Berea and Athens.
Paul's Entrance Strategy:
It's the same as before - in all three places Paul starts at the synagogue. Verse 2 even explicitly recognizes that this is a pattern. In Athens he also tries out going to the places of philosophical and/or religious conversation.
Gospel Presentation:
This is my favorite part of the chapter. We get a glimpse of how Paul shares the Gospel in two different settings - first, in a synagogue in Thessolonica, and second, in a meeting of philosophers in Athens. We can learn a lot from how Paul approaches each situation. In both cases he uses the religious background of his audience to share the Gospel. In the synagogue he 'reasons with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.' With the philosophers, he does not use scripture. He instead starts with their religious experience and builds off of it. He talks about their altar, and their poetry. He begins the Gospel with God and creation, not with Jesus. He gets to Jesus in the end, but as he has done in previous chapters, he just mentions Him and His resurrection then waits for them to ask for more. In both cases his message is very God centered and not people centered. He does not appeal to selfish, personal, individual needs.
This is so much different than what many in the church demonstrate today. There is no 'altar call'. There is no 'sinner's prayer' there is no promise of individual prosperity. We see that the way we share about Jesus with an Atheist, a Buddhist, a Hindu, a Muslim, a Chinese person, an Indian person, a European person should be DIFFERENT. And sometimes it may be best not to quote scripture (gasp!).
Leadership Development:
Silas and Timothy are able to stay in Berea and carry on the work on their own. Paul is clearly investing into these two men.
Out of his control:
Persecution is everywhere. This is maybe the dominant theme in Acts so far - that persecution comes and mostly sparks expansion rather than hinders it.
Results:
New leaders gain experience and begin to do some things on their own.
There are new believers left in every location.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Looking in Acts - Chapter 16
First, I have to say that Acts Chapter 16 is a great chapter! There is a lot going on here and a lot to learn from. Paul again reveals his entry and gospel strategy. He always seems to either share the Gospel at a 'spiritual' location or as the result of a miraculous event. We see entire households believing together which indicates the involvement of non-believers and new-believers in reaching their family. We see baptism happening quickly after belief with no stated prerequisites other than belief.
I wonder what would happen if the American church did a better job of challenging people who are thinking about following Jesus with sharing with their family up front. There is power in groups and in positive peer pressure. Imagine a family beginning with Christ together!
I also wonder what would happen if we emphasized Baptism more and if it was done asap after belief by the person who led the new believer to Christ. I believe Baptism is at it's core a confession of faith. Being that, it seems to lack some meaning if done months or years later by a pastor you may have never met before, or if done just to meet a church membership stipulation. Baptism should not be about joining an organization, but rather should be about identifying with a movement and a person (Jesus Christ) It is a good thing for a new believer to realize that faith requires immediate obedience, even if obedience is something as seamingly silly as letting a good friend dunk you under water!
So here are the details:
Strategy for entry, gospel, discipleship, church formation, and leadership multiplication:
Leadership Multiplication: vs 1-5 the finding of Timothy. Paul decides to take Timothy with him. This is really the first sign of leadership multiplication - the selection of a key leader to come along.
Entry Strategy: vs 6-10 Once again, Paul only goes where God is calling. He relies on the Spirit of God. It is important to me that he is constantly trying new things, and then relying on the Spirit. In this case, the Spirit blocks his ideas in order to call him to a new place. (Macedonia) Paul obeys immediately.
Entry Strategy: vs 13 Once again, Paul starts by going to a 'spiritual' place and talking to the people there.
Gospel Presentation: Lydia hears and believes.
Discipleship: Two important things here. First, she believes with her household all at once meaning Paul in some way had her reach out to her household! Who says that discipleship has to start after belief?!! Second, she is baptized immediately. Baptism acts as a first step of obedience, a confession of faith, and a clear mark in the life of Lydia and her family.
Entry, Gospel Presentation: Paul chooses not to leave when the jail is opened miraculously. Seems like a strange decision to me, but he must have sensed a higher purpose. The jailer believes as a result of this miracle.
Discipleship: We see the jailer's household believe in a similar way to Lydia's, and we see immediate baptism. The word immediate is even included in the text.
What was uncontrollable?
Once again, miracles and persecution.
vs 6-10: The calling to Macedonia.
vs 16+: The slavegirl that is healed leading to persecution.
vs 25: The jail is opened.
What was the result?
Lydia and the Jailer and both their households believe. They are baptized. We can guess that they are given some basic teachings, but Paul again leaves early, following a pattern he showed in earlier chapters.
I wonder what would happen if the American church did a better job of challenging people who are thinking about following Jesus with sharing with their family up front. There is power in groups and in positive peer pressure. Imagine a family beginning with Christ together!
I also wonder what would happen if we emphasized Baptism more and if it was done asap after belief by the person who led the new believer to Christ. I believe Baptism is at it's core a confession of faith. Being that, it seems to lack some meaning if done months or years later by a pastor you may have never met before, or if done just to meet a church membership stipulation. Baptism should not be about joining an organization, but rather should be about identifying with a movement and a person (Jesus Christ) It is a good thing for a new believer to realize that faith requires immediate obedience, even if obedience is something as seamingly silly as letting a good friend dunk you under water!
So here are the details:
Strategy for entry, gospel, discipleship, church formation, and leadership multiplication:
Leadership Multiplication: vs 1-5 the finding of Timothy. Paul decides to take Timothy with him. This is really the first sign of leadership multiplication - the selection of a key leader to come along.
Entry Strategy: vs 6-10 Once again, Paul only goes where God is calling. He relies on the Spirit of God. It is important to me that he is constantly trying new things, and then relying on the Spirit. In this case, the Spirit blocks his ideas in order to call him to a new place. (Macedonia) Paul obeys immediately.
Entry Strategy: vs 13 Once again, Paul starts by going to a 'spiritual' place and talking to the people there.
Gospel Presentation: Lydia hears and believes.
Discipleship: Two important things here. First, she believes with her household all at once meaning Paul in some way had her reach out to her household! Who says that discipleship has to start after belief?!! Second, she is baptized immediately. Baptism acts as a first step of obedience, a confession of faith, and a clear mark in the life of Lydia and her family.
Entry, Gospel Presentation: Paul chooses not to leave when the jail is opened miraculously. Seems like a strange decision to me, but he must have sensed a higher purpose. The jailer believes as a result of this miracle.
Discipleship: We see the jailer's household believe in a similar way to Lydia's, and we see immediate baptism. The word immediate is even included in the text.
What was uncontrollable?
Once again, miracles and persecution.
vs 6-10: The calling to Macedonia.
vs 16+: The slavegirl that is healed leading to persecution.
vs 25: The jail is opened.
What was the result?
Lydia and the Jailer and both their households believe. They are baptized. We can guess that they are given some basic teachings, but Paul again leaves early, following a pattern he showed in earlier chapters.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Looking in Acts - Chapter 15
Acts Chapter 15 doesn't really apply to the questions I've been asking because Paul is not on a church planting journey in this chapter. It is really a chapter of conflict, and because of that I think there are some really valuable observations. Here is what I see in the chapter:
1. Those troubling the new believers were existing believers bound by tradition. It should not be this way, but often nothing kills the enthusiasm of a new believer faster than an 'old', supposedly mature believer listing off a bunch of commands.
2. When Jesus is reduced to a set of rules and traditions, we completely miss the point. I think this is why I love cross cultural missions. Our rules and traditions look silly in another culture, and it forces us to focus on the person of Jesus - a person who came to bring something that rules and traditions could not bring - LIFE.
3. Imagine a conversation like this ... "you know, (insert Indian, Chinese, Arabic name here), I'm glad you want to follow Christ, but I need to tell you something ... you know that extra skin down there - chop it off!" That would go over well. Maybe we could even provide a sharp rock like Moses had. Praise God we have baptism as a new symbol!!
4. The apostles, listened, then looked at scripture, then responded. We would do well to follow that pattern.
5. Paul and Barnabas had big conflict and separated for their future journeys. Conflilct happens and God uses it. It's ok to disagree on what's next, and still love Jesus! Why do we always think conflict is bad?
6. Finally, both Paul and Barnabas went back to the churches to strengthen them. So they did leave early on in the church planting process and trusted those churches to God, but that doesn't mean they never went back.
1. Those troubling the new believers were existing believers bound by tradition. It should not be this way, but often nothing kills the enthusiasm of a new believer faster than an 'old', supposedly mature believer listing off a bunch of commands.
2. When Jesus is reduced to a set of rules and traditions, we completely miss the point. I think this is why I love cross cultural missions. Our rules and traditions look silly in another culture, and it forces us to focus on the person of Jesus - a person who came to bring something that rules and traditions could not bring - LIFE.
3. Imagine a conversation like this ... "you know, (insert Indian, Chinese, Arabic name here), I'm glad you want to follow Christ, but I need to tell you something ... you know that extra skin down there - chop it off!" That would go over well. Maybe we could even provide a sharp rock like Moses had. Praise God we have baptism as a new symbol!!
4. The apostles, listened, then looked at scripture, then responded. We would do well to follow that pattern.
5. Paul and Barnabas had big conflict and separated for their future journeys. Conflilct happens and God uses it. It's ok to disagree on what's next, and still love Jesus! Why do we always think conflict is bad?
6. Finally, both Paul and Barnabas went back to the churches to strengthen them. So they did leave early on in the church planting process and trusted those churches to God, but that doesn't mean they never went back.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Looking in Acts - Chapter 14
As I looked at Chapter 14 a few things stand out to me. The miracles and persecution are constant. Paul and Barnabas face persecution boldly, but also run from it when it gets to a certain severity. As a practical matter, Paul returns to each of the places he has been and appoints elders. It is interesting that he did this on his return trips and not initially. Maybe this was to let things settle down, and see who sticks with the faith. He also prays, fasts, and trusts these churches to God. He realizes that God must be sufficient for the new churches. God does not require him to stick around.
What was Paul's plan for entry, gospel presentation, discipleship, church formation, and leadership multiplication?
Entry and Gospel Presentation:
In Iconium, Paul went to the synagogues again to share the Gospel. When persecution came, they decided to stay and speak boldly. When a death threat came, they fled.
In Lystra, Paul tries to talk people out of sacrificing to him. Everything was in upheaval so there doesn't appear to be any strategy here.
Discipleship and Church Formation:
Paul returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch encouraging the believers to overcome hardship. Paul appointed elders for each church. With prayer and fasting committed the churches to the Lord and left.
What happened that was uncontrollable?
In Iconium, both persecution and miracles were not controllable.
In Lystra, God healed a crippled man through Paul.
In Lystra, Paul was stoned and left for dead by people from Iconium.
What were the results?
Many believed, and many opposed. On return trips, churches were formed and elders were appointed.
What was Paul's plan for entry, gospel presentation, discipleship, church formation, and leadership multiplication?
Entry and Gospel Presentation:
In Iconium, Paul went to the synagogues again to share the Gospel. When persecution came, they decided to stay and speak boldly. When a death threat came, they fled.
In Lystra, Paul tries to talk people out of sacrificing to him. Everything was in upheaval so there doesn't appear to be any strategy here.
Discipleship and Church Formation:
Paul returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch encouraging the believers to overcome hardship. Paul appointed elders for each church. With prayer and fasting committed the churches to the Lord and left.
What happened that was uncontrollable?
In Iconium, both persecution and miracles were not controllable.
In Lystra, God healed a crippled man through Paul.
In Lystra, Paul was stoned and left for dead by people from Iconium.
What were the results?
Many believed, and many opposed. On return trips, churches were formed and elders were appointed.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Looking in Acts - Chapter 13
I was challenged a few months back to go through Paul's missionary journeys in the book of Acts (Acts Chapters 13-21) and ask the following questions:
- What was Paul's plan for: Entry to the area, Gospel presentation, Discipleship, Church formation, Leadership multiplication.
- What happened that was uncontrollable?
- What were the results?
I'm hoping that by concentrating on the spread of the early church in Acts, God will bring some key principles to life ... so here we go. It might get a little wordy, but I'm going to try to put the points that stand out to me in bold.
Acts Chapter 13
Paul's plan for entry:
In Cyprus, Paul travels around the entire island, and he goes to the Jewish synagogues. In Psidian Antioch Paul again goes to the synagogue and takes part in the services there. The other interesting thing here is that when the Jews incite persecution and trouble, Paul and Barnabas simply move on. They leave.
Paul's Gospel presentation:
Both in Cyprus and Psidian Antioch, Paul waits until asked to share the full Gospel. In Cyprus he is asked by a proconsul - and after the gospel presentation he curses a sorcerer who is then struck blind. In Psidian Antioch he is asked to come back and teach in the synagogue on the next sabbath.
In Psidian Antioch, we get a detailed version of Paul's Gospel presentation. He uses the past and culture of the people he is speaking to. He speaks very simply about the story of Jesus coming to earth. He proclaims that forgiveness of sins is possible through belief.
Paul's discipleship:
I only see one thing mentioned on this in Chapter 13. Paul moves on from the unresponsive Jews to the responsive Gentiles. He focuses on the people who are responsive.
Paul's church formation, leadership multiplication:
Nothing in here 'bout that.
What happened that was uncontrollable?
The Spirit said 'Go'. People invited him to speak. Persecution came from the sorcerer in Cyprus, and from the Jews in Psidian Antioch. Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit and performed a miracle in blinding the sorcerer. The disciples were filled with joy as they left Psidian Antioch.
What were the results?
In Cyprus, the proconsul believed. In Psidian Antioch, there was excitement in the city. The Gentiles honored the word of the Lord and all who were appointed believed. The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
Personal Thoughts:
Two things stand out to me. First, it is shocking to me that Paul leaves when he does. What missionary in their right mind would just leave with all those new believers there. Why didn't he stay for a few months or a year to teach them? Second, it is interesting to me that in both cases Paul waits for a door to be opened before sharing the full Gospel. I pray that I would have the faith to trust God to leave when it's time to leave, and I pray that I would be entrusted with opportunities to share the forgiveness made possible through Jesus.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
CPM Essentials #8 - #10 - It's all about church
OK, I admit that I'm getting a little lazy in combining all of these points, but it really does make some sense to combine them - and it's a lot faster! The three points here are really all about one central idea - the centrality and sufficiency of the local church.
The three points 1)churches planting churches, 2)rapid multiplication, and 3)healthy churches all lead to the one idea that a small house church is self-sufficient, and therefore can multiply itself without outside help. The small group of believers meeting in a home have everything they need to multiply as they reach out, and they have a vision to do it.
This whole idea of churches being central to planting new churches is what allows both rapid multiplication, and church health.
Rapid multiplication is possible because they are not dependent on raising outside resources (including a formally trained pastor) to plant a church. They don't have to check with another organization or draft a new church constitution. It might be as simple as this - a rural church reaches out to another village, shares their testimony, and some people respond with belief. The church then teaches them to 'do church' in the same manner that they were taught. That new church finds their leaders from within as the existing church teaches and watches. Then walla, you have two churches where there use to be one. And it may have happened in as little as a month. This is rapid multiplication.
Regarding church health, there are a couple points to ponder. First, I believe that just as individual believers begin to find themselves as they focus outward rather than inward (losing one's life in order to find it), so does the church. A church that is focused on spreading the Gospel with a vision of seeing new churches started will likely be more healthy than a church focusing on expanding their own kingdom (size, influence, resources,etc.).
The second point that often comes up is the idea of heresy. Isn't it dangerous to have young churches starting young churches without educated pastors? My answer is yes, just as it was dangerous in the New Testament. Have you read about those messes lately! :) We must realize (as David Watson says) that all churches start out heretical! And this is OK. Think about it. Who starts out with all the answers? We've got churches that have been around a 100 years and can't agree on certain issues (meaning one of them is wrong!), what makes us think that a new church should be perfect?! Churches grow with the Spirit of God, and we must believe that the Spirit is sufficient. If it is not, then we are all in trouble!
If all of this intrigues you and you want to know more, check out David Watson at www.cpmtr.org. He is a man who has lived all of this and seen millions changed.
The three points 1)churches planting churches, 2)rapid multiplication, and 3)healthy churches all lead to the one idea that a small house church is self-sufficient, and therefore can multiply itself without outside help. The small group of believers meeting in a home have everything they need to multiply as they reach out, and they have a vision to do it.
This whole idea of churches being central to planting new churches is what allows both rapid multiplication, and church health.
Rapid multiplication is possible because they are not dependent on raising outside resources (including a formally trained pastor) to plant a church. They don't have to check with another organization or draft a new church constitution. It might be as simple as this - a rural church reaches out to another village, shares their testimony, and some people respond with belief. The church then teaches them to 'do church' in the same manner that they were taught. That new church finds their leaders from within as the existing church teaches and watches. Then walla, you have two churches where there use to be one. And it may have happened in as little as a month. This is rapid multiplication.
Regarding church health, there are a couple points to ponder. First, I believe that just as individual believers begin to find themselves as they focus outward rather than inward (losing one's life in order to find it), so does the church. A church that is focused on spreading the Gospel with a vision of seeing new churches started will likely be more healthy than a church focusing on expanding their own kingdom (size, influence, resources,etc.).
The second point that often comes up is the idea of heresy. Isn't it dangerous to have young churches starting young churches without educated pastors? My answer is yes, just as it was dangerous in the New Testament. Have you read about those messes lately! :) We must realize (as David Watson says) that all churches start out heretical! And this is OK. Think about it. Who starts out with all the answers? We've got churches that have been around a 100 years and can't agree on certain issues (meaning one of them is wrong!), what makes us think that a new church should be perfect?! Churches grow with the Spirit of God, and we must believe that the Spirit is sufficient. If it is not, then we are all in trouble!
If all of this intrigues you and you want to know more, check out David Watson at www.cpmtr.org. He is a man who has lived all of this and seen millions changed.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
CPM Essentials #5-#7 - Remove Resource Constraints
I've been away for a while. In the mean-time I had a great meeting with some of the staff at Westside and our India partners. It was a great day, and we made plans to train the key staff in India when I go in October. As it turns out, they our partners are already doing most of this. We pray God would use us to help them tweak a few things to multiply tens of thousands of believers into a million or more. Will you pray with me that God will make it happen?
The next essential elements of a CPM outlined in Garrison's book are local leadership, lay leadership, and cell churches. These logic behind these elements is easy to understand. They all remove resource constraints - constraints on money to pay leadership, constraints on money to build churches, and constraints outsiders to lead. If the goal is a multiplying movement of churches, we need to make sure that the churches can multiply themselves. Any kind of outside help, while potentially beneficial in the short-term, will destroy any potential for continual multiplication.
One speaker I was listening to, simply said "paid leadership and buildings kill CPM".
Another speaker once said, "I can get a worship band and build a building and get 1000 people to come together and listen to me speak, and every single one of them will leave thinking 'I could never do that!'".
I'm not going to list the many verses here mostly because I'm lazy and don't want to go find them, but these principles are demonstrated throughout the New Testament. House church is everywhere in there, and most leaders where unpaid - particularly the local leaders of a church.
As a side note, this also has interesting leadership development applications. In this model, paid leaders come out of lay-leadership. They reach a point of dedication and effectiveness that causes a group of people to decide to pay them and ask them to serve full-time. Imagine if our churches in the States followed this model. Instead of hiring a pastor search team to search out the seminary grads, we asked people within the church who have demonstrated leadership to step forward. The only church I know of that does it this way is Mosaic in LA. I've heard Erwin McManus (the leader there say) he tells people who are inquiring about jobs "OK, great - move here, find a job to support yourself, and then start volunteering at the church ... we'll see where it goes from there".
We must make things simple. Simple is good!
The next essential elements of a CPM outlined in Garrison's book are local leadership, lay leadership, and cell churches. These logic behind these elements is easy to understand. They all remove resource constraints - constraints on money to pay leadership, constraints on money to build churches, and constraints outsiders to lead. If the goal is a multiplying movement of churches, we need to make sure that the churches can multiply themselves. Any kind of outside help, while potentially beneficial in the short-term, will destroy any potential for continual multiplication.
One speaker I was listening to, simply said "paid leadership and buildings kill CPM".
Another speaker once said, "I can get a worship band and build a building and get 1000 people to come together and listen to me speak, and every single one of them will leave thinking 'I could never do that!'".
I'm not going to list the many verses here mostly because I'm lazy and don't want to go find them, but these principles are demonstrated throughout the New Testament. House church is everywhere in there, and most leaders where unpaid - particularly the local leaders of a church.
As a side note, this also has interesting leadership development applications. In this model, paid leaders come out of lay-leadership. They reach a point of dedication and effectiveness that causes a group of people to decide to pay them and ask them to serve full-time. Imagine if our churches in the States followed this model. Instead of hiring a pastor search team to search out the seminary grads, we asked people within the church who have demonstrated leadership to step forward. The only church I know of that does it this way is Mosaic in LA. I've heard Erwin McManus (the leader there say) he tells people who are inquiring about jobs "OK, great - move here, find a job to support yourself, and then start volunteering at the church ... we'll see where it goes from there".
We must make things simple. Simple is good!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
CPM Essential #4 - Scriptural Authority
Mark 7:6-9
And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! "
The fourth universal element found in CPMs according to David Garrison is Scriptural Authority. Church Planting Movements have a culture where the singular authority is the Word of God and nothing else. We must allow the Holy Spirit to work directly in the hearts of the local people to determine how the Bible is applied in their lives and in their culture.
Those of us who have been believers for a long time often have a first reaction of 'Oh no, what if they get it wrong!' And to this I would say ... what makes us think that we have it entirely right?! The big question here is 'Do we believe the Holy Spirit is sufficient to allow a person to interpret and follow scripture or do they need us too?' Yes, they likely will get some things wrong, but if the Bible is their authority they will grow and change with time ... just like we all have. If we are their authority, that brings a whole host of problems ... including what happens once we leave. If we have been the authority, then often they will look to another person as an authority after we leave and who knows what they will be teaching!!
Of course, I realize that God uses us to teach other people. What I am describing is that our teaching as much as possible should refer directly to scripture and point people directly to scripture. If we don't do it that way, we are bound to bring some of our own traditions into the mix that have potential to stifle a local church planting movement.
It is so tempting for a missionary to say 'This is the way we do it back home'. However, when we do this we often unintentionally set aside the commands of God to observe our own traditions. If we want to keep from passing on our own traditions, the best way to do this is to point people directly to the Word of God.
If they have a question about church leadership, point them to the Bible and let them figure it out. If they have a question about structuring a church meeting, point them to the Bible. If they have a question about their marriage or family relationships, point them to the Bible. If they have questions about money, point them to the Bible. If they have theological questions, point them to the Bible. I think you get the point. :)
And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! "
The fourth universal element found in CPMs according to David Garrison is Scriptural Authority. Church Planting Movements have a culture where the singular authority is the Word of God and nothing else. We must allow the Holy Spirit to work directly in the hearts of the local people to determine how the Bible is applied in their lives and in their culture.
Those of us who have been believers for a long time often have a first reaction of 'Oh no, what if they get it wrong!' And to this I would say ... what makes us think that we have it entirely right?! The big question here is 'Do we believe the Holy Spirit is sufficient to allow a person to interpret and follow scripture or do they need us too?' Yes, they likely will get some things wrong, but if the Bible is their authority they will grow and change with time ... just like we all have. If we are their authority, that brings a whole host of problems ... including what happens once we leave. If we have been the authority, then often they will look to another person as an authority after we leave and who knows what they will be teaching!!
Of course, I realize that God uses us to teach other people. What I am describing is that our teaching as much as possible should refer directly to scripture and point people directly to scripture. If we don't do it that way, we are bound to bring some of our own traditions into the mix that have potential to stifle a local church planting movement.
It is so tempting for a missionary to say 'This is the way we do it back home'. However, when we do this we often unintentionally set aside the commands of God to observe our own traditions. If we want to keep from passing on our own traditions, the best way to do this is to point people directly to the Word of God.
If they have a question about church leadership, point them to the Bible and let them figure it out. If they have a question about structuring a church meeting, point them to the Bible. If they have a question about their marriage or family relationships, point them to the Bible. If they have questions about money, point them to the Bible. If they have theological questions, point them to the Bible. I think you get the point. :)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Summary thought for the day
I thought I'd break out of the monotony of the CPM universal elements to make a short post about CPM as a whole. I read this concept in Alan Hirsch in his book "The Forgotten Ways", and I think it is right on the money.
When you look at broad CPMs like the first century church or the Chinese church of the last several decades, two truths emerge from these movements. First, following Jesus was very hard even to the point of requiring your life. Second, 'doing' church was very simple.
I think the Bible backs this up. Jesus never made following him easy. In fact, he asks very hard things such as requesting that the rich young ruler sell all he owns. The Bible does not make church difficult. In fact, it spends very little time at all describing the organizational specifics of the church. When the church structure is brought up, it is normally reactionary - reacting to something happening within a local church at that time. The Bible spends very little time telling us how to organize a church from scratch.
Here is where things get troubling to me. What do we generally do today? We do the opposite. We make following Jesus very easy, often reducing it to simply praying a prayer. And we make church very complicated. We have denominations, and leadership structures, and positions of authority, and big budgets, and programs, and committees. You almost need an MBA just to start a church these days.
So ... why do you think the number of people actively involved in church has not grown (as a percentage of population) in the US over the last several decades? Maybe this is a part of it.
When you look at broad CPMs like the first century church or the Chinese church of the last several decades, two truths emerge from these movements. First, following Jesus was very hard even to the point of requiring your life. Second, 'doing' church was very simple.
I think the Bible backs this up. Jesus never made following him easy. In fact, he asks very hard things such as requesting that the rich young ruler sell all he owns. The Bible does not make church difficult. In fact, it spends very little time at all describing the organizational specifics of the church. When the church structure is brought up, it is normally reactionary - reacting to something happening within a local church at that time. The Bible spends very little time telling us how to organize a church from scratch.
Here is where things get troubling to me. What do we generally do today? We do the opposite. We make following Jesus very easy, often reducing it to simply praying a prayer. And we make church very complicated. We have denominations, and leadership structures, and positions of authority, and big budgets, and programs, and committees. You almost need an MBA just to start a church these days.
So ... why do you think the number of people actively involved in church has not grown (as a percentage of population) in the US over the last several decades? Maybe this is a part of it.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Intentional Church Planting
The third universal element found in CPMs is intentional church planting. This may appear to be an overly obvious point given that Church Planting Movement is our goal, but it is amazing how quickly we forget that we must have an intentional plan for church. It is insufficient to only do evangelism. A new believer doesn't know what to do next. This idea of church (the coming together of believers to be the visible and physical Christ in the world) is not automatically understood. Meeting together, baptism, communion, giving, outreach, service and other functions of the church all must be taught through the scripture.
What we teach here is very important because it will determine how easy or difficult it will be for churches to multiply. We must be careful not to substitute our tradition for the commands of God, (Mark 7:8) and not to impose extra-biblical requirements on what a church requires. I have read stories of early South American missionary churches floating pipe organs down the Amazon because they were necessary for church!! Imagine the effort required if a second church was needed!! This may seem ridiculous to us today, until we think about all the things we associate with church that we may bring to another culture (keyboards, guitar, large gatherings, buildings, committees, policies and procedures, one speaker/teacher, etc.). None of these traits are bad in and of themselves just like a pipe organ isn't bad, but these characteristics are not necessary and are not scripturally required for church.
Here is one simple model for church that has been effective around the world. There are others, but this does a great job of boiling church down to its simplest form. It uses the acronym POUCH.
P- Participative Bible Study - No prepared sermons, just everyone studying the Bible and bringing their gifts (Ephesians 4:11) to the group.
O - Obedience based - the church is based on action and obedience rather than knowledge and information intake.
U - Unpaid lay leadership - a necessary requirement (and Biblical) in places where church must expand rapidly.
C - Cell (or)
H - House churches - no buildings required here. Again, very similar to the New Testament.
Of course, there are many issues that will come up just as they did with the early church in the book of Acts. When they do, the pattern should be for the local church to go to the scriptures and determine how to handle it.
We could spend an eternity getting into theological discussions of church, leadership, and doctrine, but that's not the point here. The point is to boil church down to it's simplest form and then have a strategy to show new believers how to do it. It won't happen by itself.
What we teach here is very important because it will determine how easy or difficult it will be for churches to multiply. We must be careful not to substitute our tradition for the commands of God, (Mark 7:8) and not to impose extra-biblical requirements on what a church requires. I have read stories of early South American missionary churches floating pipe organs down the Amazon because they were necessary for church!! Imagine the effort required if a second church was needed!! This may seem ridiculous to us today, until we think about all the things we associate with church that we may bring to another culture (keyboards, guitar, large gatherings, buildings, committees, policies and procedures, one speaker/teacher, etc.). None of these traits are bad in and of themselves just like a pipe organ isn't bad, but these characteristics are not necessary and are not scripturally required for church.
Here is one simple model for church that has been effective around the world. There are others, but this does a great job of boiling church down to its simplest form. It uses the acronym POUCH.
P- Participative Bible Study - No prepared sermons, just everyone studying the Bible and bringing their gifts (Ephesians 4:11) to the group.
O - Obedience based - the church is based on action and obedience rather than knowledge and information intake.
U - Unpaid lay leadership - a necessary requirement (and Biblical) in places where church must expand rapidly.
C - Cell (or)
H - House churches - no buildings required here. Again, very similar to the New Testament.
Of course, there are many issues that will come up just as they did with the early church in the book of Acts. When they do, the pattern should be for the local church to go to the scriptures and determine how to handle it.
We could spend an eternity getting into theological discussions of church, leadership, and doctrine, but that's not the point here. The point is to boil church down to it's simplest form and then have a strategy to show new believers how to do it. It won't happen by itself.
Friday, April 17, 2009
CPM Essentials #2 - Broad Seed Sowing
The 2nd CPM element observed in every case study was that the Good News of Jesus was carelessly and broadly shared. Jesus illustrates this for us in the parable of the sower. I put the text of that parable at the bottom of this post if you need a refresher. In my opinion, this parable has more to tell us about spreading the Gospel than any other.
The first thing we see in the parable is a bit counter intuitive. The farmer is spreading seed carelessly - he is spreading it on a path, in thorn bushes, in rocky soil, and in good soil. Why would any farmer do that? A farmer would know not to waste good seed by throwing it on a path! The only reason he might do it is if he was blind and couldn't tell the difference between the path, the thorns, the shallow soil, and the good soil. And this is the point! Jesus is telling us that we need to spread the Gospel carelessly because we aren't able to discern which people are the path, which are the thorns, which are the rocky soil, and which are good soil.
We generally have a hard time with this principle. We tend to pick out a handful of people we think will be good soil and then we invest in them. When they do not grow, we get frustrated and feel like we failed. Notice that in this story the effectiveness of the seed was not based on the farmer, it was based on the soil. In too many cases, we have simply chosen people who aren't ready to grow, and then seen no results. What would happen if we broadened our sample size from 2 people to 20, and then chose the people to invest in by what we saw happening in their lives? We need to remember that it is not our great planting that makes the plants grow. It is God and the condition of the soil. CPM comes from sharing the story of Jesus broadly, with everyone - not just those who we think might be 'good soil'.
The second thing the parable shows us is that in good soil the seed greatly multiplies itself. In fact, it is natural result for the good soil, and it should be expected. Similarly, it should be the natural result of the Gospel as well. We will get to this more in a later principle. For now, I just want to say that multiplication should be the norm, not the exception.
We must carelessly and broadly share the Gospel and then invest our time in the people who are multiplying. This is the 2nd principle.
Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23
3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear."
18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
The first thing we see in the parable is a bit counter intuitive. The farmer is spreading seed carelessly - he is spreading it on a path, in thorn bushes, in rocky soil, and in good soil. Why would any farmer do that? A farmer would know not to waste good seed by throwing it on a path! The only reason he might do it is if he was blind and couldn't tell the difference between the path, the thorns, the shallow soil, and the good soil. And this is the point! Jesus is telling us that we need to spread the Gospel carelessly because we aren't able to discern which people are the path, which are the thorns, which are the rocky soil, and which are good soil.
We generally have a hard time with this principle. We tend to pick out a handful of people we think will be good soil and then we invest in them. When they do not grow, we get frustrated and feel like we failed. Notice that in this story the effectiveness of the seed was not based on the farmer, it was based on the soil. In too many cases, we have simply chosen people who aren't ready to grow, and then seen no results. What would happen if we broadened our sample size from 2 people to 20, and then chose the people to invest in by what we saw happening in their lives? We need to remember that it is not our great planting that makes the plants grow. It is God and the condition of the soil. CPM comes from sharing the story of Jesus broadly, with everyone - not just those who we think might be 'good soil'.
The second thing the parable shows us is that in good soil the seed greatly multiplies itself. In fact, it is natural result for the good soil, and it should be expected. Similarly, it should be the natural result of the Gospel as well. We will get to this more in a later principle. For now, I just want to say that multiplication should be the norm, not the exception.
We must carelessly and broadly share the Gospel and then invest our time in the people who are multiplying. This is the 2nd principle.
Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23
3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear."
18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
CPM Essentials - #1 Prayer
The first of the CPM Universal Elements is prayer. Prayer is a strange thing and I won't try to claim to understand it. How my prayers can affect the God of the Universe is beyond my understanding. The fact that prayer was found to be an universal element to CPM is not surprising. After all, what missionary would not pray for their work? Of course it was present in every case!! However, the fact that it is not surprising, does not mean that it is not important. If the very Son of God took time here on earth to pray, what makes us think we don't need to?
Several years ago, I was sitting in Thailand eating pineapple and speaking with a man who has dedicated the last 10 years of his life to reaching a people group located in the mountains of western China. There are no known Christians in this group, and nobody outside of the group speaks the language. It was and is a rough job!! He told me that he had recently met with several people who had been involved in a CPM. His main observation was interesting to me. He told me that the common component he observed was not in what each person did, but in the character each person had. He said that these people were all deeply committed to prayer, and that their relationship with God radiated from them. He was struck by the fact that not a single one of them was following a CPM formula; instead, they were following their God.
Prayer doesn't fit nicely into a formula for effectiveness, but it is likely the most important thing we do. Our relationship with God impacts our effectiveness! And prayer directly impacts our relationship with God. We must not forget this. Jesus tells a crazy parable to illustrate prayer - basically insinuating that you can annoy God with your persistence to the point that He gives you what you ask! (As an aside, James reminds us in another passage that we must ask with the correct motives for this to be true ... sorry their won't be a Mercedes for everyone.) Check out what Jesus says:
Luke 11: 5-10
5Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'
7"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness[c] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Several years ago, I was sitting in Thailand eating pineapple and speaking with a man who has dedicated the last 10 years of his life to reaching a people group located in the mountains of western China. There are no known Christians in this group, and nobody outside of the group speaks the language. It was and is a rough job!! He told me that he had recently met with several people who had been involved in a CPM. His main observation was interesting to me. He told me that the common component he observed was not in what each person did, but in the character each person had. He said that these people were all deeply committed to prayer, and that their relationship with God radiated from them. He was struck by the fact that not a single one of them was following a CPM formula; instead, they were following their God.
Prayer doesn't fit nicely into a formula for effectiveness, but it is likely the most important thing we do. Our relationship with God impacts our effectiveness! And prayer directly impacts our relationship with God. We must not forget this. Jesus tells a crazy parable to illustrate prayer - basically insinuating that you can annoy God with your persistence to the point that He gives you what you ask! (As an aside, James reminds us in another passage that we must ask with the correct motives for this to be true ... sorry their won't be a Mercedes for everyone.) Check out what Jesus says:
Luke 11: 5-10
5Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'
7"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness[c] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
CPM Universal Elements
First, a prayer request - two of our local friends in India are planning to come for a visit. We have been planning on using this visit to connect, and develop a common vision. Right now there are some visa issues with them coming to the States. Please pray that these would be worked out!
Back to CPM ...
In the late 1990s a group of missionaries who had been a part of CPMs gathered together to see if they could find any patterns in the way God was working. That meeting produced a number of insights that are summarized in a booklet which you can download at http://churchplantingmovements.com/download.php. The entire booklet is a great read and I highly recommend it.
One of the items discovered, was a list of 10 elements that were common to all CPMs. I would like to spend time writing about each of these universal elements as I believe they are incredibly important to use as guidelines for church planting. For now, I will simply list them:
Back to CPM ...
In the late 1990s a group of missionaries who had been a part of CPMs gathered together to see if they could find any patterns in the way God was working. That meeting produced a number of insights that are summarized in a booklet which you can download at http://churchplantingmovements.com/download.php. The entire booklet is a great read and I highly recommend it.
One of the items discovered, was a list of 10 elements that were common to all CPMs. I would like to spend time writing about each of these universal elements as I believe they are incredibly important to use as guidelines for church planting. For now, I will simply list them:
- Prayer - In the end, a CPM is a work of God, and as with all works of God, it is greatly influenced and propelled by prayer. Prayer works!
- Abundant gospel sowing - the gospel must be shared with large numbers of people without picking or choosing who gets to hear. The story of Jesus must be told.
- Intentional church planting - church is God's plan for this age, but it doesn't happen on it's own. People must be taught how to do church and we must be intentional about starting churches.
- Scriptural authority - The Bible is sufficient as an authoritative guide. The culture of these movements must be one where people look to the Bible for answers - not to missionaries or other resources.
- Local leadership - This seems evident, but if a movement is to exist, it must have local leadership at it's core.
- Lay leadership - This may not seem so intuitive. In a rapidly growing movement, there is not time or resources to formally train and pay leadership. Lay leadership is required or their will be a leadership deficit that will stop all momentum.
- Cell or house churches - This removes the resource constraints of building buildings. There is always a house to meet in - and it's free of charge.
- Churches planting churches - the churches themselves must be the instigators of new churches in order for multiplication to happen. If they are not, then growth will always be linear.
- Rapid reproduction - Americans have a hard time with this. Churches must reproduce rapidly. There is nothing that says it takes years to start a church that multiplies. In reality it can be done in weeks or months. Look at Paul's missionary journeys if you disagree. :)
- Healthy churches - we must have concern for what it is that is multiplying. Healthy churches balance all the purposes and function of the body of Christ. If it is not healthy, it will not last.
I'm planning on diving into these one at a time for the next few weeks. Should be fun. (For me anyway ... may be putting you to sleep!)
Monday, April 6, 2009
Missions and The Kingdom
For a long time in my life, I glossed over the many, many verses in the Bible that refer to the Kingdom of God. I guess I thought that it was always referring to Heaven or some distant place in the future, and as long as I was going there it really didn't matter to me at this point what it was like. 'The kingdom of God is near' never made a lot of sense to me. Why was Jesus saying it was near when it's been 2000 years and it still isn't here?
Then I came across a book titled 'The Divine Conspiracy" by Dallas Willard and the idea of the Kingdom began to come alive to me. I realized that the Kingdom is a present reality just as much as a future one. This new way of looking at things became very important in the way I thought about missions. I came to realize that at it's core, missions is about the present time expansion of the kingdom of God.
So what is a kingdom ...
Very simply, a kingdom is a place where a king rules. The extent of the rule determines the size of the kingdom. Anywhere the king's will is followed is part of the kingdom; anywhere the king's will is not followed, is not part of the kingdom.
Translating this into Christian terms ... the kingdom of God exists where the will of God is done. When Jesus teaches us to pray 'thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven', He is telling us what 'thy kingdom come means.' The second phrase is simply a clarification or restatement of the first. This is the 'missions' portion of the Lord's prayer.
If you think about it, there are really only two ways for the kingdom to come to earth or to expand. First, it can expand in our lives as we become more and more people who do what God wants us to do. Second, it can expand as it enters into the lives of more and more people. This internal and external kingdom expansion is why we are here. This is the good news. It is why Jesus came.
The Significance to Missions ...
I had always felt that the sole purpose of missions was to glorify God. I still believe this to be true, but I had to reconcile it with this idea of missions being defined as Kingdom expansion. John Piper says that missions exists because perfect worship does not. He views missions as the path to extend the worship of the one true God (for the joy of all peoples). If we couple this with the definition of worship given to us by Paul in Romans 12:1 (being a living sacrifice), Piper's statement becomes 'missions exists because perfect, living sacrifice does not'. A living sacrifice is nothing more than a person submitting his or her will to God's will. So I was able to reconcile the two ideas - Romans 12:1 showed me that the goal of worship (or glorifying God) is really one in the same as the goal of God's will being done on earth (or Kingdom expansion).
So when Jesus tells a story and says 'the kingdom of God is like ...', he is often talking missions. When strategizing about missions, we must use a kingdom view, and our main goal must be Kingdom expansion. If we think of any other structure or goal other than the Kingdom of God, we will get bogged down by organizations, rules, and human limitations. If we think in terms of kingdom expansion we can see it expand like yeast through bread or like a mustard seed as it turns into a tree. CPM strategies (which I will describe in future posts) take a Kingdom expansion view and that is why they work.
And I just happened to be reading ...
I just happened to read Luke 11:20 this morning so I'll throw it in free of charge. :) Jesus says "If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you." There is the 'Kingdom' word again. Jesus is saying here that if God's will is entering a person's life and a demon is being driven out, it means the Kingdom has come. He is once again clarifying for us what it means for the Kingdom to come! I'm telling you - once you grasp this concept you will see it everywhere.
Then I came across a book titled 'The Divine Conspiracy" by Dallas Willard and the idea of the Kingdom began to come alive to me. I realized that the Kingdom is a present reality just as much as a future one. This new way of looking at things became very important in the way I thought about missions. I came to realize that at it's core, missions is about the present time expansion of the kingdom of God.
So what is a kingdom ...
Very simply, a kingdom is a place where a king rules. The extent of the rule determines the size of the kingdom. Anywhere the king's will is followed is part of the kingdom; anywhere the king's will is not followed, is not part of the kingdom.
Translating this into Christian terms ... the kingdom of God exists where the will of God is done. When Jesus teaches us to pray 'thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven', He is telling us what 'thy kingdom come means.' The second phrase is simply a clarification or restatement of the first. This is the 'missions' portion of the Lord's prayer.
If you think about it, there are really only two ways for the kingdom to come to earth or to expand. First, it can expand in our lives as we become more and more people who do what God wants us to do. Second, it can expand as it enters into the lives of more and more people. This internal and external kingdom expansion is why we are here. This is the good news. It is why Jesus came.
The Significance to Missions ...
I had always felt that the sole purpose of missions was to glorify God. I still believe this to be true, but I had to reconcile it with this idea of missions being defined as Kingdom expansion. John Piper says that missions exists because perfect worship does not. He views missions as the path to extend the worship of the one true God (for the joy of all peoples). If we couple this with the definition of worship given to us by Paul in Romans 12:1 (being a living sacrifice), Piper's statement becomes 'missions exists because perfect, living sacrifice does not'. A living sacrifice is nothing more than a person submitting his or her will to God's will. So I was able to reconcile the two ideas - Romans 12:1 showed me that the goal of worship (or glorifying God) is really one in the same as the goal of God's will being done on earth (or Kingdom expansion).
So when Jesus tells a story and says 'the kingdom of God is like ...', he is often talking missions. When strategizing about missions, we must use a kingdom view, and our main goal must be Kingdom expansion. If we think of any other structure or goal other than the Kingdom of God, we will get bogged down by organizations, rules, and human limitations. If we think in terms of kingdom expansion we can see it expand like yeast through bread or like a mustard seed as it turns into a tree. CPM strategies (which I will describe in future posts) take a Kingdom expansion view and that is why they work.
And I just happened to be reading ...
I just happened to read Luke 11:20 this morning so I'll throw it in free of charge. :) Jesus says "If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you." There is the 'Kingdom' word again. Jesus is saying here that if God's will is entering a person's life and a demon is being driven out, it means the Kingdom has come. He is once again clarifying for us what it means for the Kingdom to come! I'm telling you - once you grasp this concept you will see it everywhere.
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