"Messy" Lives

I was reading through a familiar passage of scripture (Matthew 8) and it was one of those times where God met me in a very unique way (probably because I was intentional about slowing down to listen to God and pray. I novel idea I know...maybe I should do this more often). In Matthew 8 there are several short stories and I appreciate what God was speaking to my heart. Here is one thing that resonated with me:

In the first section, there is the story about a leprous man who approached Jesus...begging him (he fell at Jesus's knees) to cure him from his illness. Most of you know the perils of leprosy during this time so I won't labor you with all the details. However, this illness affected the individual's appearance as well as his social status. A leper was forbidden to live with the rest of society.

If you're like me, being sick is miserable...but being sick and alone is torture. I NEED someone to rub my back, assure me I won't die, etc. I cannot overstate how pathetic I am when I am sick....my wife can testify. Therefore, I cannot imagine how miserable a leper was. Even if I didn't have someone to rub my back, whisper encouraging words, etc. I would be ok knowing that in a couple days I would be back to normal. Lepers didn't have this hope...they were in a perpetual cycle of misery.

Can you begin to see why this individual fell at Jesus's feet?

The compassion that Jesus shows is remarkable and is often easily overlooked. Of course Jesus heals the man, but the manner in which he does it is lost to 21st century readers. We aren't told all the details like how long this individual had been affected by this disease, but we can assume that it was a long time considering the desperateness of the plea. Jesus, being the Rabbi that he was, could have passed right by and rebuked him because he was not doing what the Jewish custom required him to do, which is announce to those around him that he was "unclean." This would let others know they needed to avoid him, lest they too become infected with the disease.

Jesus doesn't rebuke him, he doesn't pass by him...he heals him and he does it by touching him! There's no telling how long this individual had gone without human contact. The point I find remarkable is that Jesus is not afraid to involve himself and minister to "messy" people. He doesn't separate himself from the outsiders, but openly loves and welcomes them.

This caused me to reflect on how well I am doing in this area. Am I involving myself in lives that are messy or do I avoid them at all costs? How you doing? Do you only interact with those who are "clean?" If so, how can we see the transforming power of God (like this leperous man) if we are? We can't.

I believe God is calling us (the Church, the body of Christ) to involve ourselves in lives that are unclean and messy....so that we can see lives radically transformed by the power of Jesus.

The Gospel? Part 3

Bock goes on in his book and addresses the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. He states that the act of baptism focuses on the individual response to the gospel whereas the Lord's Supper focuses on how God formed a community through the gospel. Again the stress of Bock is to illustrate that the gospel is more than the removal of sin.

The Gospel is also about breaking down barriers...barriers that stood against us and God and barriers against each other. The good news of Jesus Christ is that God is forming a new community. The Lord's Supper and Baptism are not meant to be done in solemnity and isolation, but in a community. God is saving individuals (so there is an aspect of individualism in Christianity), but God is saving individuals so that they make up a new community that is meant to share life with him and reflect his fame and glory to the rest of the world.

The Gospel? Part 2

I apologize to my three readers for my brief absence. My family and I went off the grid to camp. In the first chapter of Bock's book he begins by asking us to see the gospel as more than merely the forgiveness of sins. It's not as though it's not true or insignificant, but he wants to illustrate that the gospel is much more than God forgiving or acquiring our sins. In fact, he argues that the forgiveness of sins is a means to something far greater, namely the restoration of a lost relationship with the living and true God.

This is in fact a major component to our Gospel. Our sins are a huge deal because it separates us from God. However, God didn't solve our sin problem in order to leave us spiritual orphans. He solved our sin problem and then gives us his Holy Spirit in order that 1.) we may have an intimate relationship with him and 2.) empower us to actually walk in a manner that is pleasing to him. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we are actually impotent or unable to obey and know God.

I assure you, people do not seek God, obey God, know God, etc. on their own. We need God to pursue us and do something within us...and this is what the Holy Spirit does. He enters our lives and begins to transform us into what God intended us to be. Bock states it a little more eloquently when he says, "Here is the Creator God reaching down to touch a rebellious people's heart through a sacrifice that He himself brings, so that those He created may experience the life they were originally designed to live--a life in harmony with creation because it is in accord with the Creator. The gospel is not about a death but a death that leads many into life."

Therefore, forgiveness of sins is a huge deal, but the gospel isn't merely about forgiveness. The point of forgiveness is to demonstrate that there is a huge chasm or barrier that stands between God and mankind and God solved that issue through his Son and by giving us His Spirit so that we can know and obey Him.

The Gospel?

I am starting to read a book by Darrell Bock that is entitled, "Recovering the Real Lost Gospel: Reclaiming the Gospel as Good News." I'm excited to read this book because it describes how a lot of churches are have lost what the Gospel truly is....or only present part of what the Gospel entails.

Bock states the Gospel can often times be presented as a therapeutic call where God is there to help us become a better person or more prosperous. Other times the Gospel is only presented as a spiritual transaction--whereby Jesus seems to take our moral debts from us (e.g. sins). There are other presentations of the Gospel that have to deal with politics and liberation from oppression. In other words, Jesus came to deliver mankind from oppression, slavery, etc.

What is the Gospel?

Clearly, Bock believes the cross (e.g. Jesus dying for our sins and raising from the dead) is central to Christianity. In fact, he believes the cross is the hub of the Gospel. But he believes that the Gospels entails much more than just the forgiveness of sins. On what this is...stay tuned.

Who's Laughing Now?!

So, the infamous toe injury is back! I know what you're thinking...I had another whooper didn't I? Well, it might come as a surprise, but I didn't have a Whopper. So, I thought I'd do some investigating on this mysterious toe pain. My new self-diagnosis is gout. Don't roll your eyes or mock me. I know what you're thinking. A lot of great people in our human history have had gout...so why wouldn't I? If I recall from my elementary days...Mr. Benjamin Franklin had the gout. I would like to add that the great website of wikipedia also informed me that gout effects the big toe...in the exact joint that is giving me pain.

Here's the kicker...I was talking to my mother-in-law and she informed me that her father has gout and it's triggered by things he eats. Guess what's one of them?! A Whopper!!! That's right...who's laughing now?! Well, actually she didn't say a Whopper, but she did say, "red meat" and unless Burger King is false advertising (which is entirely possible) the Whopper is in the red meat camp! Once I get some good insurance (Sept 1), I'll be making my way to a doctor to confirm my online medical diagnosis.

If any of you has a mysterious medical problem, feel free to email me and I'll be sure to help you out.

The Bachelorette

I don't know how many of you watch (or are willing to admit they watch) the TV show, The Bachelorette. I have been meaning to post a comment on this show the last couple days, but have been sidetracked by our move across country. I have to say that The Bachelorette is an awful show. I wish I could say that when I say, "it's awful" that I am making a crack at all reality shows. I'm not....even though I wish I was! I'm one of those saps that can shamefully admit that I like a handful of reality shows and even some other shows that are popular amongst the ladies (i.e. Glee). I'm sure I lost a few blog readers after that comment. Who am I kidding? I only have three followers...nobody reads my blog!

Back to my main point...the Bachelorette is awful because I refuse to believe that is how we should find love or enter into a relationship. I couldn't fathom being a guy or girl that simply gives their heart away to ONE individual who goes around "test driving" a bunch of different people. There's a reason these relationships don't work...it's built on fantasy and make believe. I can see why people get frustrated with reality shows...it's not based on reality. It makes for some good drama and some great gossip, but in actuality it destroys a lot of people's hearts. God did create us to enter relationships that way. Yet how many people give their hearts away like these people?

Travel

Jen and I just made a 32+ hr. road trip across country. All I can say is, "Wow. God Bless all those truckers!" I'm not sure how they do it day in and day out. That's brutal. Now I see why most truckers aren't slim and trim. All you can do to pass your time is eat crappy food. I think the healthiest thing I ate on the trip was beef jerky.

Reflections on Mark 4:1-8

As I read through the familiar parable of the sower, it is interesting to think that we all fall into one of Jesus's soil categories. What kind of soil am I? What kind of soil are you? Am I placing myself in an environment where the maximum amount of growth can happen? That's definitely one of Jesus's point. Seeds don't grow well on hard paths, rocky places, and spots where there is shallow soil. This type of environment is not conducive for a plant to take its roots deep and become steadfast and secure.

As I was talking with a buddy it"s interesting to see that there are a great number of people who place themselves in a pretty healthy environment and yet they still remain stunted. They simply don't grow and blossom. They do not reach the zenith of God's potential. What's up with that?

I think it is fair to say that just because you are connected to a church does not mean you are becoming all that God created you to be. Connecting with a church community does not mean you are growing and experiencing life change. You might meet others who are...and you might live vicariously through them. I would say this is where most of us live. We live Christianity through others. God is not pleased with parroting Christians! Christians who mimic and use the language of other Christians. We have these types of Christians in spades. I have been one of them and it's easy for me to slip back into that type of Christianity. It's grotesque and not what God wants for us.

God longs to work in our lives, but there is an initiative and responsibility on our part. Holiness or our becoming more like Jesus does not happen by accident. It takes time and discipline. We need to pursue God in prayer and his revealed word and ask him to show himself to us and radically change us. We need to pour ourselves out and serve others. We need to live in a community that encourages these things as well.

I'm Hurt

Ok, so I woke up last night with a pretty severe pain in my big toe (I've been waking up with a lot of pain lately). I'm not going to lie, I'm befuddled as to why my toe hurts so bad. Have you gotten hurt and have no idea how it happened? If you're like me, you start to come up with some pretty bizarre ideas on how it may have happened.

As I laid in bed wondering why my toe hurt, I tried to replay the day and recall if I fell or kicked something. Quickly moving past that I had no earthy idea how I got injured, I started to wonder if I got mysteriously bit by a spider or some insect during the night. Too tired to turn on the light, I decided to wait until morning if that were the case. Morning arrived and I discovered the pain did not seem to be from a deadly insect or spider...at least there seems to be no visible signs of a bit mark. Then my mind started to play tricks on you. I went from a spider bite to...I ate a Burger King whopper before bed. Maybe the whopper did something funky to my toe. This was the first time I've had a whopper in years...a coincidence that my left big toe is throbbing? I'm not quite sure.

Finally, I came to terms that my toe pangs are mostly likely not from a whopper and I started to wonder if I had cancer of the foot. Could I be dying and this is merely the early signs of my disease? I suppose this is a possibility (although not very probable....at least I hope not). Jen said it could be arthritis. I refuse to believe I am old enough to suffer from arthritis. I'll go with the whopper before arthritis! My new diagnosis is sleep walking. Although I know of no instances of this occuring in my past (in other words I don't have any stories from Jen or from friends and family), maybe I got up during the night and kicked something. Who knows? It's a mystery.

Mark 4:1-8

As I prepare for the second part of my I.C.E (Invest, Connect, Empower) talk tomorrow, I am struck by the mysterious nature of "connection." Connecting people to one another (e.g. community) and to the Church seems to be both intentional and organic. In other words, there is no set formula on how this takes place. I fully believe we have to be strategic, but at the same time I know God is the one who has to establish and make sure they take root.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus seems to address this issue. The farmer is intentional about scattering the seed and he recognizes that there needs to be the right environment if the seed is going to grow and flourish. Yet the farmer really doesn't have any control over the process. The only control he seems to have is that he needs to put the seed in the best possible environment (e.g. a place where there is good soil).

My prayer is that I will be an individual who is intentional about cultivating an environment for my wife, children, and friends where they can connect well with others and with God. I know I am not ultimately responsible for their growth, but I feel like I am responsible about placing them in the best possible environment.

Connection

I visited a nearby church this evening (because I have a paper that I have to complete for a summer class) and the message was on "Connection." I was excited to find out it was on this topic since this is precisely what I will be speaking on this Sunday. The speaker's main point when it comes to connection was: God works by his Spirit through his people.

I couldn't agree more, God uses his people to reach others. The Church is God's MO for reaching the world. He has no only means. He has chosen to use his Church to reach people who are far from him. The only problem I had with the talk was how self-focused it was. Her point (repeatedly stated) was that they need to come together and connect as a family. She wanted connection, but she didn't really want them to connect with those outside the church (at least it seemed that way).

As an outsider looking in, I could tell that this church really loved each other, there seemed to be a lot connection and love present, yet at the same time I noticed that this wouldn't be a very comfortable place for someone who wasn't connected to their church. There was a connection, but no connection. I can say that because not one individual greet me or introduced themselves to me. I could have introduced myself to someone, but honestly I didn't think it was my job as an outsider. Now, I didn't walk to my car crying (partly because I have a group I am connected to), but what if I was an individual starving for connection and I decided to try a church? It would probably be the last time I tried one...at least this one.

This was a little disheartening. Although I agree that there is something unique about Christian community. It's is beneficial and helpful 0n a lot of different levels, but if our Christian community never reaches outward then it never reaches God's full potential. People are hurting for community...Christians need to connect with them. Are you willing?

The Big 5

Here are some of the tips I talked about on Sunday to help people "Invest" in a relationship. I prefaced all this with a much needed statement. When we "Invest" in people we are inviting people into our lives, not the church. We're not looking to produce door-to-door evangelists, we are looking to challenge and equip people to invite people into your life because we believe community is where transformation can really happen .

Here are some things that may help...

1. Walk, Don't Wave

Waving is a nice gesture, but no meaningful relationship comes from a wave. When you see your neighbor take out the trash, why don't you walk over and have a conversation with them instead of giving a wave.

2. Find Common Ground

In other words, look for a connecting point that resonates with you. If you love sports and you see someone wearing a team you like or dislike, ask questions, tease them about how your team is better, etc.

3. Get their Contact Info (Facebook, cell number for texting, Twitter, email, etc.)

Don't be creepy about this! If you're part of a network (school, parks, sports, etc.) and you know you will see this individual again, you don't have to ask for their digits the first time you meet, but if you have a great conversation with someone and you know you probably won't see them again...you gotta get their information. What's the worst that can happen? They won't want to be your friend...I've had plenty of experience with that...it's not that traumatic.

4. Invite them to a Social Event

Once you get their contact information (which I hope is legitimate), make sure you invite them to something low-key and fun. Go grab a coffee or beer, go to sporting or park event, invite them to play video games if that's your thing. It doesn't really matter what it is as long as it is low-key and fun (and appropriate).

5. Don't Do This Alone!!

Do something fun with someone else you know. Don't feel like you have to do this by yourself. It's easier to meet others in a group...plus it models this lifestyle to those you bring with you.

Invest

Yesterday, I started our series entitled, I.C.E. This is a series that is designed to challenge and equip our church to become intentional about pursuing people, especially those outside the Church. I talked about how this is not something that was intended to bring discomfort, but merely what followers of Jesus do. Did not Jesus actively pursue people, especially those who were far from him? He most certainly did. Yet, why is this so hard...and SOOO uncomfortable for us? I don't have all the answers for this question, but one thing I do know. Jesus did not mandate us to pursue people to make us miserable. In other words, it is not as though he likes to see us squirm and this was a good way to bring this about.

Rather, I think the very opposite is true. He knows something profound...we were created to be relational. Just as our God is a relational God (both with himself and with us), he created us to be in relationships with him as well as with others. Relationships are for our benefit and joy! This might be the reason we think hermits are weird. It's abnormal to live in isolation. Not only that, this is why solitary confinement is a punishment. We don't want to be alone, we want to be relationships with others...it's life-giving.

Therefore, even though it may be uncomfortable for us to pursue and initiate relationships with people, it really is for our joy and benefit. Think about the relationships you are the closest with, whether romantically or platonic, all of them share the same common denominator....someone took a risk and put themselves out there and something great came from it. When we live like this on a more frequent basis, the possibility of reaching people for Jesus and becoming greater friends along the way are endless.

Thankful

I've spent the last week in Minnesota spending time with family and interviewing with a few different churches within the Twin Cities and central Minnesota region. Even though it's a semi-stressful time since I'm not exactly sure what the future holds for us all, I am deeply thankful to have a wife who is sympathetic and encouraging and two energized kids that are a lot of fun to be around. Although I wish I had a job in the bag awaiting me when I arrive, I know that God loves me and cares for me and has never lets us down the past. He has constantly provided for us and I have no reason to think that he won't continue with his perfect track record. All I know is that I'd rather be jobless and walking with God and enjoying my family, then secure and coming home to a miserable, unhappy wife and kids that don't want anything to do with me. There are scores in both camps.

Off the Grid

So, I spent the last two days with my family and in-laws at the family cabin. Being the city-slicker that I am, it was quite the experience. The cabin is absolutely beautiful. It's tucked back deep in the woods out in the middle of nowhere....and I mean nowhere. Even though there was no running water, electricity, plumbing, etc. It was a very enjoyable weekend. The outhouse was the scariest part, but I have to admit that it was very well maintained....well as much as an outhouse can be maintained!

The next closest town is called Hackensack, MN...population 285! We went in town for the firework show. Yes, if you can believe it, they had a firework show and everyone in Hackensack showed up for it. It was quite the spectacle, especially when I went to the bathroom and some gentleman who had a little too much to drink decided to barf in both the urinal and the sink! Glad he didn't spew on me.

I am also pleased to write that I am quite the fisherman too. I don't want to brag, but some things just need to be shared. I caught several fish. It shouldn't matter that the fish I caught were oversized sardines with Ben's plastic batman fishing pole. I was just pleased I was catching something. Normally, I don't catch anything so I'd rather throw back minnows than sit there and be mocked by the smarter fish. Great memories and great times with family! Can you ask for anything better?

Evangelicalism

Even though all mainline Protestant churches (Presbyterian, Lutheran, etc.) would be considered “evangelical” under the main umbrella of Christianity. However, in order to simplify the massive amount of global churches that exist there have been attempts to discuss what it means to be evangelical. Typically (according to our professor), if a church has started after within the last 100 (that’s not charismatic) would be considered evangelical.

Another interesting fact about Evangelical churches is that Evangelicals typically desire a renewal in an area that is dying or dead. For example, the Methodist Church would be considered evangelical because this denomination arose from the work of John and Charles Wesley. John Wesley (like Martin Luther and others before him) had no intention of starting a new denomination, but to simply renew or restore the denomination he was involved with (Anglicanism). Wesley simply wanted to renew Anglicanism, it just so happened that his movement and teaching caught fire and a lot individuals began to follow him...this in turn produced Methodism.

On another side note that pertains to this issue is another visible picture on how certain evangelical denominations formed. If you remove the Pope from the Catholic Church you have the Anglican church, if you remove the archbishop from the Anglican Church you have the Methodist Church. All these churches "do" church in a lot similar manners, but the polity of the church looks different.

Christendom vs. Missional

I enjoyed the portion of class when our professor talked about the state of the church both in the US and overseas. He was speaking about things that was really resonating with me and what I have experienced in ministry the last couple years in California. The reality is that we are ministering in a post-Christendom context. Our professor defined "Christendom" as a Christianity that expected individuals to come to them. In other words, "Christendom" is a Christianity is that attempts to be attractional. It's a Christianity that does fancy things in order to attract outsiders (e.g. those who don't go to church). I hate to break it to a lot of churches that hip worship bands, fancy lights, fog machines, etc. don't bring people who don't go to church through the church doors.

This is not to say that these things are wrong. For example, I think it's important for churches to have good, quality bands for those who go to church. My point (which was confirmed by the professor) is that people who don't go to church are not attracted to church by these types of things. It's like asking a straight person to go and hang out at a gay bar or a P.E.T.A. advocate to to dine at a steak restaurant. They don't go to the bar or restaurant because they aren't interested or attracted to that type of atmosphere. The same is true of unchurched individuals. They aren't interested in church and so an "attractional" approach to reach these people isn't working (it's borderline futile).

What's working (speaking of experience) is when Christians engage (and this is what I mean by missional) the places that are attractional to the unchurched. This could be parks, sports clubs, mommy groups, fitness centers, coffee shops, bars, etc. Once you get involved with a "network" you start to form relationships with those who are "regulars." Then friendships (e.g. trust) will naturally occur with those who are unchurched and the door to talk about Jesus and the Church begins to open. What you find more often than not is that people are spiritual, but don't want their spirituality to be institutionalized. I wish I had time to share the stories I have experienced the last three years (you can hear some of these stories on July 10th....another shameless plug for my I.C.E series).

Protestant Mainline Churches

The mainline Protestant church I want to write about today is the Anglican Church (known as Episcopalianism in the US). This church has an interesting inception. How so? Well, King Henry VIII decided that he really didn't care for his wife anymore (apparently she was pretty unruly and was unwilling to bare him a son) and so King Henry wanted to divorce her. Come to find out, the Pope wouldn't grant his request (which didn't make Henry very happy), so he decided he would leave the Catholic Church and create his own church, the Church of England (e.g. Anglicanism)!

This may not sound like a big deal to you, but at this time church and state were one. You didn't have one without the other. In other words, you get kicked out (excommunicated) of church then you were kicked out of your town/society. But since Henry was a powerful man, he decided he'd make a power play and create a church and make his own rules....rules where it was permissible for him to get rid of his wives (he was married several times) whenever he wanted. I find it ironic that the Anglican Church (a Christian Protestant Church) was formed by a pretty scandalous, sinful act.

I.C.E.

I am excited to teach on my last series at Ridgeline Community Church in a few weeks. It's a three part series that aims to challenge and equip "Ridgers" to actively pursue those who are far from God. I.C.E. is an acronym that stands for "Invest", "Connect", and "Empower." As I spent a few minutes preparing for my first message with Gavin, it caused me to go down memory lane and relive some of the relational stories that have happened the last couple years. It truly is incredible what God has done through the power of the Gospel. It's going to be an exciting time to tell a bunch of stories where God has grabbed hold of lives and transformed them forever. You'll want to hear some of the crazy ways God draws people to himself. Series starts July 10th!! You'll be able to access my messages under the "Media" tab.

Catholic Liturgy

I thought it was interesting to find out that prior to Vatican II (1962-65) the presiding priest of a parish used to perform the Mass in Latin and his back faced the congregation. This was intended to be a visible sign that illustrated that the priest was a mediator between God and the people. No one (well, unless you knew Latin) knew what the priest was saying during the Mass, they (those attending) simply trusted that the priest was saying the right things before God.

However, after Vatican II things radically changed within the Catholic Church. Mass was now spoken in the native language of the people. The priest began to face the congregation and he began a new role that involved teaching as well as fostering formation so that the congregation can be used within the community.

An Unpleasant Night

I woke up last night around 3 a.m. with some severe stomach pains. It was bad...I wanted to die and was concerned I might (remember I am a hypochondriac). I'll spare you all the details, but I'll just say that the porcelain god received an abundant fragrant offering (that was probably too far and will get a call or text from my wife saying that was inappropriate. Therefore, I apologize if that offends you).

What caused this horrible experience you may be asking? I'll tell you...I was invited over to one of our really good friends' house, Ira and Karen Hindrawinata. They wanted to treat me to my first real authentic Asian cuisine. We had vietnamese egg rolls with some mystery stuff within it (Karen told me what it was, but a lot of it I had never heard of before), crab with cream cheese ragoons (amazing!!), wanton soup (which made me feel like Po from Kung Fu Panda because it had dumplings in it like the movie. I kept saying, "You are free to eat" to their kids, but they didn't seem to get my joke....so sad. I thought it was really funny.), etc.

There were some dipping sauces involved as well, and all I can say is that there was one dipping sauce that had no earthly business being in a house. It reeked...the only description I can give it is "smelly feet." I was warned not to smell it, but to eat it. Well, I'm sorry, for me the smell of something goes hand and hand with the taste. I know of few things that smell bad, but actually taste good...sauerkraut might be the only exception (and to be honest I kind of like the smell)!

I really think it was this sauce that was the catalyst to my stomach pangs! I texted Karen and Ira this morning and let them know I survived their ploy to kill me. It would that more than two tiny Asians to take this white man out! Karen made fun of me (actually mocked me and my stomach) and then decided to text, "If you're climbing up the ladder and you hear something splatter....diarrhea....when you're walking down the hall and you hear something fall...diarrhea!" REAL MATURE Karen. I almost died!

Roman Catholic Church

One of the things that I appreciate about the Catholic Church is that it was (and still typically "is") a church that wanted to reach and minister to the poor. It's encouraging to see that wherever there is poor and injustice in the world, the Catholic Church is typically there. Mother Theresa is a great example of this.

However, one of the shocking quotes I wrote from class is "The Catholic Church chose the poor, but the poor chose Pentecostalism." The reality is is that today the Catholic Church is declining at a significant pace. However, the Catholic Church is growing when it has flexed and allowed for different expressions (typically Pentecostal expressions). Typically, the Catholic Church is highly formalized and structured and do not like to change their traditions. If you don't think this is the case all one has to do is think about Martin Luther and what a stink he caused in the 16th century!

FYI

I guess I could have mentioned that some of the things I am blogging about (and will be until the end of next week) is for one of my summer classes. If you're bored by my Orthodox Church moments or confused as to why I have been posting comment about it...it's for class and...I get class participation points! I wanna be a good lil student. :)

T.A. if you are reading this post...I'm not insinuating that the context of this class is boring (this is intended to be a kiss up comment). Isn't that what good lil student do too?!

Remaining Thoughts on the Orthodox Church

Orthodox Church Pros (or things I find interesting):

• Stresses the deity of all three persons within the Trinity. I think a lot of Protestant churches merely stress the deity of Jesus. We seldom talk about the Trinity in the Church (If you don't believe me...when's the last time you heard a sermon/talk on the Trinity?).

• The Orthodox Church stresses the love God has for humanity and how he wants a relationships with us. They really believe God loves the world and Jesus came to bring us into a closer relationship with God (I don't like the idea they don't really talk about sin or our need to be justified).

• Unity within the church. You don't see trivial church splits in their given country. Typically they won't join another Orthodox Church from another country, but I believe this is due more to language barrier.

• The use of icons to draw people into worship. I think it's fascinating that they use images (e.g. paintings) to help draw people into worship. They aren't "worshipping" the images, but rather using the image to help usher them into God's presence.

• Worship is participatory and experiential. Orthodox services don't have a sermon or message. This is bizarre to me, but they use music and sacraments in ways that really get the congregation involved. In other words, they aren't coming to church to be entertained or to be spectators. They are actively involved. I dig that.

• The ability to dialogue with other faith groups. The Orthodox church leaders regularly meet with other religious leaders of different faiths. They don't separate themselves or have a fortress mindset. They regular dialogue with other religious traditions and discuss religious/spiritual issues.

• The stress of community and how it should manifest Trinitarian love. Their community has a purpose. They aren't gathering together to chill or have "fellowship." They gather together to serve and to display God's Trinitarian love with one another and to those they are serving.

• There is not “rulebook” or “handbook” in the Orthodox tradition. In other words, change can occur without hermeneutical gymnastics (i.e. reinterpreting certain biblical texts). For example, if a woman feels inclined to lead or start a ministry group of some sort. The leaders would get together and discuss/decide whether or not they would like to permit the request. In other words, the Orthodox tradition is not as rigid or formalized as other religious traditions (e.g. Roman Catholic Church).

Hypochondriac?

Since our house sold so quickly, I have been staying at my buddy, Gavin's house while I finish up my M.Div and my ministry responsibilities. I woke up to Gavin knocking on the door. He came into my room to let me know that he had to bail from our morning meeting where I have been going over a book study with him and some other guys. Apparently, Gavin has a staph infection in his upper lip. I would never had pinpointed that diagnosis. I thought it looked like he got sucker punched from his wife, Nicole. In fact, I'm still not convinced that isn't the case.

He calls me later and tells me how contagious it is (it was in fact staph), but then goes on to "reassure" me that I'm ok...just after he described how rare this strand probably is and how the doctor kept telling him how lucky he is that he caught it this quickly. After I get off the phone, I started to wonder if I have it already. I think I do...my kidneys kind of hurt, I'm coughing (oh wait, I've been coughing since Feb.) and I noticed that when I try to touch my toes, my hamstrings seem to ache more than usually (not sure why I thought this would be an indicator of staph)!

In all seriousness, the mind is pretty crazy isn't it? I don't think I have staph...I pray I don't. BUT just the mention of it can almost drive your mind wild. Make fun of me all you want...but I'm sure you do the same. Don't you?

Reflections on Eastern Orthodoxy

As we spent the whole lecture addressing the history and the theology of the Orthodox tradition, there was some fascinating portions about this specific Christian tradition. The portion that stuck out most to me was the number of orthodox believers there are worldwide. Apparently, there are well over a hundred million orthodox Christians outside the US. For instance, I believe our professor stated that there are approximately 125 million Russian orthodox Christians. Yet less than 7% go to church on a monthly basis. Over and over, the professor talked about how Romania, Ukraine, Belarus, Serbia, etc. had millions of individuals who claim to be orthodox Christians (some countries 80-90% claimed to be Christian), but none of these areas had a high percentage of church attendance (always between 2-5%). In other words, virtually none of them are experiencing a vibrant relationship with God (I think I can say this with authority since they aren't partaking or participating in the sacraments).

What does this say about the state of the Church? Apparently, Americans are not the only ones who think the Church is not a vital aspect for one's spirituality. Or maybe it would be more correct to state that Americans are simply riding in the wake of what is already prevalent in the east.

I have to say that I am pretty dissatisfied and saddened with nominal Christianity. I guess I struggle with how this is acceptable. Where in scripture do we see discipleship as an option? Jesus seems to make it clear that the cost to follow him is high. Yet discipleship seems to be optional, not only amongst Americans, but from other orthodox Christians worldwide.

Nouwen's "In the Name of Jesus"

I recommend this small book to any Christian leader actively involved within Christian ministry. Nouwen addresses three common temptations (e.g. to be relevant, spectacular, and powerful) that leaders can easily fall prey. The one that recently snagged my soul at this point in my life is the temptation to be spectacular. Nouwen describes how pastors and priest have fallen into individualism within their given ministries. In other words, we feel like if we have anything meaningful to show then it needs to be accomplished by ourselves. Is this not true of most pastors, teachers, and leaders? We constantly strive to be known, original, profound, etc.

I guess I sense the need to be "spectacular" because of the particular season that I am in right now. Even though I am in full-time ministry, my family and are in a transition where we desire to move and be close to family in MN. This means that I am on job hunt and I'm starting to interview with various churches in the Twin Cities area. Is not the point of an interview to show off one's "spectacular" qualities? If not, I definitely feel that way (and I don't think I would be the only one to admit this). When I interview I feel like I have to demonstrate how spectacular I really am and how foolish it would be for them to pass on such as qualified and wonderful person.

It is comforting (at least to me) that even Jesus was tempted to be spectacular. When led into the dessert to be tempted, Satan encouraged Jesus to jump from the temple so that the angels would rescue him. This stunt would amaze the crowds and in turn the people would be compelled to follow him. His popularity would grow leaps and bounds. Yet the purpose of the incarnation was not to be a stunt man, but to unite us to God and others.

Nouwen encourages Christian leaders to resist the individualism of ministry, but to see ministry as a shared responsibility. He talks about how Jesus never sent his disciples out by themselves, but sent them out in pairs. When we are in community with others (and God) we are more inclined to resist the temptation to be spectacular and to confess our inadequacies, frustrations, fears, anxieties, etc.

There is much more I need to muse on concerning this area, but I can take solace in the fact that God knows where I am at. He knows my fear, anxiety, frustrations, confusion, etc. and wants me to confess this to him and to others.

Diversity of Churches

Our class divided up into groups (no more than 4 people) and I had the opportunity to be with a group that had a very diverse background within their church tradition. The most interesting part of the group was when a lady in our group described her church. Her description was spot on match on what our professor talked about the day prior. She is part of a pentecostal church that was planted from the mother church in Hong Kong. When asked if her church was growing, her response was, "it's exploding." A few years ago it had around 300 individuals and now it has over 6,000 people coming on a weekend. Dr. Bolger described how very few churches (in the West) are growing today and if they are growing, they are mostly pentecostal or immigrant churches that have been planted here in the west. I guess our prof knows what he's talking about! :)

Great, Grim, and Hope

I just finished my first lecture in my Church and Mission in a Global Context. The class started off rocking. The professor began the lecture describing how the church needs to rethink how it does church because it is declining at a rapid pace. He described how people claim to be spiritual, however, they are not inclined to come to church. In other words, the church is becoming less vital for one's spirituality. This is precisely what we (Ridgeline Community Church) have experienced within our church plant. We have met several individuals who would consider themselves spiritual but do not see the need for church, nor want to be involved with one. Therefore, we needed to be creative and strategic in how we would integrate them in our community so that they would encounter a transformational God.

The greatness of the class and his statements quickly turned to grim. I started to question why I wanted to continue on in ministry. What's the point? If the church isn't going to survive (or at least thrive) why would I want to commit myself to full-time ministry? Isn't it futile? I wouldn't encourage my son or daughter to pursue a career in an organization that only has a few years left until it eventually fizzles out. That would be silly. I would want to place them in a place where they would succeed and thrive.

BUT our prof didn't want us to leave in despair. I think his point was that the church needs "new expressions" if we are going to reach and connect with those who are far from God. I also need to realize that the mission of the church is not a futile effort. It's not an institution that will fade and pass away, like other worldly companies. Dr. Bolger told us that the church doesn't have a mission, rather it participates in it. God has the mission and the Church is fortunate in that it has the option of participating in God's mission. God loves people and is passionately pursuing those who are far from him. Why would't I want to partner with God and be used to bring others far from him into a vibrant relationship with him? This is why I will continue in ministry. I want to see others (myself included) transformed by the power of the gospel. This is my hope.

Summer Break?

Well, I guess my summer break is already over. I got a 10 days off and this break wasn't like the childhood summers when you were kinda ready (even though you didn't want to admit it) to get back to school to see your buddies (or maybe the girls you were missing). It's back to the grind as I wrap up my last three remaining summer courses. As much as I love academia, I will not be disappointed when this degree is over with.