www.equalsharing.com
Sunday, September 18, 2011
The Greatest
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Saturday, September 17, 2011
Commitment and Blessing
I begin writing this as I am preparing myself to to preach (tomorrow) and to preside at a wedding (today). Part of the message the Lord has for us tomorrow was shared on this blog back on September 8 - see "I Will, With God's Help." I'm being called by God challenge our people to a deeper and more public commitment to the ministry of Crossroads Community Church.
The Lord gave me the confidence to do this as I listened to Pastor Larry Johnson as he spoke at the Youth Encounter commissioning two weeks ago. His notes are available for download as a pdf at this link. I plan, like Larry did, to use the blessings of marriage as an analogy to the blessings of other commitments that God calls us to make.
Tomorrow we'll begin the message portion of worship with a reading from Matthew 20, the one where God (pictured by a landowner) gives the same "wages" to workers no matter if they work twelve hours or one.
This produces a problem when it comes to encouraging believers to "get to work" on what God wants done in this world. If every desperate believer in Jesus is going to get the same reward, what's the incentive to actually do God's will? Yes, there is the danger that we won't ever get around to doing what God wants done (see Matthew 25 for some warnings about that), but there are also some blessings we'll miss out on if we wait too long.
God wants us to get on the way of blessing as soon as possible, for our sake, and for the good of others--for the salvation and healing of so many who do not yet know our Lord. And the way we can get on that way of blessing and to say on that way is through commitment through God's commitment and ours.
[At this point in my message I'll share some of what I wrote back on Sep. 8. about God's amazing commitment to us and the blessings beyond number that brings to the world.]
It's not easy to make or keep (honest) commitments, but when we do, we reap the benefits (see Romans 5:3-5 and James 1:2-4) as do those we serve.
To use a bus driving analogy, my commitment to drive on Monday through Friday provides structure and builds character in my life, and it also gets the kids where they need to go. If I just drove when I felt like it, kids would be stranded some days.
Or, when we are raising children, it takes commitment and follow through! How terrible when parents are ruled by their feelings in regard to their children! Having our own children, or having foster children or adopted children, that is a wonderful example of commitment, as we stick in there to for their sakes. But, as we do, we experience blessing ourselves.
The blessing to us personally actually comes from the fact that making and keeping commitments is not easy. Whether it's marriage, raising children or even committing to a particular group of believers like Crossroads, some of the blessing comes because of the suffering and the trials we face as we stay together and pray together.
I've often compared staying together to a rock polisher, a mechanism that keeps us bouncing off one another, getting our rough edges honed off. As we hang in there, or here, with others, this bouncing off one another's personalities hurts sometimes, but that, in time, and with lots of prayer and forgiveness, produces strength of character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us. Go back and read Romans 5:3-5 and James 1:2-4 once more.
Making commitments to one another is a way to grow spiritually. If you want to grow closer to God, pray that he will lead you to a commitment that pleases him. Don't just go with the flow! If we avoid making commitments, if we just go with how we feel at the time, if we just "get out" when the going gets tough, we will not grow spiritually. If we simply stick around when we feel like it, we will not become mature and able to reproduce, that is, to make other disciples of Jesus as he has commanded us to do.
But there's another blessing that comes with commitment. This is one that my pastor friend Larry Johnson didn't touch on two weeks ago. I was reminded of it as I read what Mike Bradley wrote recently in his blog. In a piece entitled "Don't Underestimate the Power of Presence and Encouragement." He spoke there about the Old Testament story about David and Jonathan:
This week several of us were gathered at a home in Dassel along with two staff members of the North Heights - Community of Hope group that we're part of. If you were here last week you heard a message by the senior pastor of those churches--you can listen to it on our website's "worship" page. As we were at that Dassel home, one of the pastors from those churches looked me straight in the eye and said, "We want you to know that we are here for Crossroads. We're committed to this relationship. We're not just going to let you go."
That was very encouraging. It was a much needed word at the time. All of us at the table, I think, felt a sense of confidence rising in us as we heard this word of promise. I've felt that many times in the past few months as we've been growing into relationship with this North Heights - Community of Hope group, and with the whole Alliance of Renewal Churches. And it's an encouragement we will share with one another as we are willing to step into commitments to local churches, to local churches like ours.
If you have not made a commitment to a local church, now would be a time to pray about doing that. For your sake, and for the sake of the others, like me, you will encourage by doing so. I believe your commitment will be a blessing. And through making that commitment, and through keeping it, you, and your church, will grow.
There are several ways you can commit to the ministry at Crossroads.
After you've experienced the ministry here, and after you've prayed and asked all the questions you need to ask, you can become a Crossroads partner. You do that simply by signing the partnership commitment that you'll find in the church's front room. (You can see it on our website's "about us" page, in the paragraph that begins "Our members are ministry partners who...).
Or, whether or not you're ready to sign the partnership agreement, you can commit to something else through this church--you can take the step of deciding to come to prayer on a Wednesday evening--it's the "deciding" to come that constitutes the commitment. Or you can sign up for the upcoming retreat, or you can say that you will serve with our children or youth or in another capacity.
You can say, yes, count me in, or, yes, I admit it, saying "I am a leader. I am important! (At least to someone, at least in some small way.) I'll quit pretending it doesn't matter what I do, what I say, what I decide."
Taking a step of faith, to say "Yes, I will, with God's help," taking that step will help you grow, and you, and others, will be blessed.
www.equalsharing.com
The Lord gave me the confidence to do this as I listened to Pastor Larry Johnson as he spoke at the Youth Encounter commissioning two weeks ago. His notes are available for download as a pdf at this link. I plan, like Larry did, to use the blessings of marriage as an analogy to the blessings of other commitments that God calls us to make.
Tomorrow we'll begin the message portion of worship with a reading from Matthew 20, the one where God (pictured by a landowner) gives the same "wages" to workers no matter if they work twelve hours or one.
This produces a problem when it comes to encouraging believers to "get to work" on what God wants done in this world. If every desperate believer in Jesus is going to get the same reward, what's the incentive to actually do God's will? Yes, there is the danger that we won't ever get around to doing what God wants done (see Matthew 25 for some warnings about that), but there are also some blessings we'll miss out on if we wait too long.
God wants us to get on the way of blessing as soon as possible, for our sake, and for the good of others--for the salvation and healing of so many who do not yet know our Lord. And the way we can get on that way of blessing and to say on that way is through commitment through God's commitment and ours.
[At this point in my message I'll share some of what I wrote back on Sep. 8. about God's amazing commitment to us and the blessings beyond number that brings to the world.]
It's not easy to make or keep (honest) commitments, but when we do, we reap the benefits (see Romans 5:3-5 and James 1:2-4) as do those we serve.
To use a bus driving analogy, my commitment to drive on Monday through Friday provides structure and builds character in my life, and it also gets the kids where they need to go. If I just drove when I felt like it, kids would be stranded some days.
Or, when we are raising children, it takes commitment and follow through! How terrible when parents are ruled by their feelings in regard to their children! Having our own children, or having foster children or adopted children, that is a wonderful example of commitment, as we stick in there to for their sakes. But, as we do, we experience blessing ourselves.
The blessing to us personally actually comes from the fact that making and keeping commitments is not easy. Whether it's marriage, raising children or even committing to a particular group of believers like Crossroads, some of the blessing comes because of the suffering and the trials we face as we stay together and pray together.
I've often compared staying together to a rock polisher, a mechanism that keeps us bouncing off one another, getting our rough edges honed off. As we hang in there, or here, with others, this bouncing off one another's personalities hurts sometimes, but that, in time, and with lots of prayer and forgiveness, produces strength of character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us. Go back and read Romans 5:3-5 and James 1:2-4 once more.
Making commitments to one another is a way to grow spiritually. If you want to grow closer to God, pray that he will lead you to a commitment that pleases him. Don't just go with the flow! If we avoid making commitments, if we just go with how we feel at the time, if we just "get out" when the going gets tough, we will not grow spiritually. If we simply stick around when we feel like it, we will not become mature and able to reproduce, that is, to make other disciples of Jesus as he has commanded us to do.
But there's another blessing that comes with commitment. This is one that my pastor friend Larry Johnson didn't touch on two weeks ago. I was reminded of it as I read what Mike Bradley wrote recently in his blog. In a piece entitled "Don't Underestimate the Power of Presence and Encouragement." He spoke there about the Old Testament story about David and Jonathan:
"....In 1 Samuel 23... In verse 13 and following we have the story of [future king] David and his men hiding in the wilderness, [reigning king] Saul hot on their trail. David receives word Saul is searching for him in order to kill him.Jonathan has made a commitment to BE there with David. He has said, "You can count on me." This gives great comfort and wonderful peace.
"Then, as I read verses 16 and 17, Holy Spirit caught my attention. These verses tell us something that on the surface might not seem all that important or exciting. It is the simple story of Jonathan coming to be with David. It is a short story of the power of presence and encouragement...
"David is in a place where he needs courage; and Jonathan comes to be present with him and to give him that word. In verse 17 we read Jonathan’s words of encouragement to David: '"Don’t be afraid," Jonathan reassured him, "My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware"' (1 Sam 23:17, NLT).
This week several of us were gathered at a home in Dassel along with two staff members of the North Heights - Community of Hope group that we're part of. If you were here last week you heard a message by the senior pastor of those churches--you can listen to it on our website's "worship" page. As we were at that Dassel home, one of the pastors from those churches looked me straight in the eye and said, "We want you to know that we are here for Crossroads. We're committed to this relationship. We're not just going to let you go."
That was very encouraging. It was a much needed word at the time. All of us at the table, I think, felt a sense of confidence rising in us as we heard this word of promise. I've felt that many times in the past few months as we've been growing into relationship with this North Heights - Community of Hope group, and with the whole Alliance of Renewal Churches. And it's an encouragement we will share with one another as we are willing to step into commitments to local churches, to local churches like ours.
If you have not made a commitment to a local church, now would be a time to pray about doing that. For your sake, and for the sake of the others, like me, you will encourage by doing so. I believe your commitment will be a blessing. And through making that commitment, and through keeping it, you, and your church, will grow.
There are several ways you can commit to the ministry at Crossroads.
After you've experienced the ministry here, and after you've prayed and asked all the questions you need to ask, you can become a Crossroads partner. You do that simply by signing the partnership commitment that you'll find in the church's front room. (You can see it on our website's "about us" page, in the paragraph that begins "Our members are ministry partners who...).
Or, whether or not you're ready to sign the partnership agreement, you can commit to something else through this church--you can take the step of deciding to come to prayer on a Wednesday evening--it's the "deciding" to come that constitutes the commitment. Or you can sign up for the upcoming retreat, or you can say that you will serve with our children or youth or in another capacity.
You can say, yes, count me in, or, yes, I admit it, saying "I am a leader. I am important! (At least to someone, at least in some small way.) I'll quit pretending it doesn't matter what I do, what I say, what I decide."
Taking a step of faith, to say "Yes, I will, with God's help," taking that step will help you grow, and you, and others, will be blessed.
www.equalsharing.com
Friday, September 16, 2011
Unnecessary Resistance
Last night at huddle* we were challenged to consider how the power of God in and through our lives is encountering resistance.
As I've been praying through this since I find that there are two kinds of resistance, (1) unnecessary resistance, that is, ways in which God's power (see Ephesians 3, especially verse 20) is burned up unnecessarily, and (2) God's purposeful use of power, which is intended to make things happen.
Some of the things God wants us to be directing his power toward may resist Him too, but those purposes are not unnecessary. I think what God wants us to do is to examine the ways in which his power is dissipated unnecessarily so it can be properly directed toward overcoming the resistance HE chooses.
A bus driving analogy: one could consider the children on the bus to be "resistance" because they add weight to the vehicle (and, at times, stress on the driver!), but removing them so the bus can move more freely would sort of defeat the purpose of the bus. What we want to do is remove the excess baggage and friction etc. That's the "unnecessary resistance," not the kids.
More about this later. I just wanted to get this thought written down.
--------------------
*A "huddle" is a group of 8-10 Christians who meet regularly. Marcus Haug is leading Crossroads first huddle. We have met three times so far. For more see Huddle Logistics.
www.equalsharing.com
As I've been praying through this since I find that there are two kinds of resistance, (1) unnecessary resistance, that is, ways in which God's power (see Ephesians 3, especially verse 20) is burned up unnecessarily, and (2) God's purposeful use of power, which is intended to make things happen.
Some of the things God wants us to be directing his power toward may resist Him too, but those purposes are not unnecessary. I think what God wants us to do is to examine the ways in which his power is dissipated unnecessarily so it can be properly directed toward overcoming the resistance HE chooses.
A bus driving analogy: one could consider the children on the bus to be "resistance" because they add weight to the vehicle (and, at times, stress on the driver!), but removing them so the bus can move more freely would sort of defeat the purpose of the bus. What we want to do is remove the excess baggage and friction etc. That's the "unnecessary resistance," not the kids.
More about this later. I just wanted to get this thought written down.
--------------------
*A "huddle" is a group of 8-10 Christians who meet regularly. Marcus Haug is leading Crossroads first huddle. We have met three times so far. For more see Huddle Logistics.
www.equalsharing.com
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Friendly, Firm, Fair
I hope my last post (I Get It Now) didn't make anyone think that the kids on my bus are a problem! They're not! I'm getting to know them and, the more I get to know them, the better I like them. Kids have energy and creativity, they are excited to express their individuality (especially in the afternoon) but, honestly, they are truly blessings to me.
I am very glad to have this job. When I wrote the post yesterday I was thinking about the huge responsibility I have in driving this 40 foot vehicle with 50+ young people on board. There are skills involved that no one really knows school bus drivers need to have, until you actually drive. But the time with the kids makes up for the challenges. They are gifts of God! Each one!
That doesn't mean it's all calm. The school district has rules in place that young people, to various degrees, like to challenge. The rules are good and the school administrators do an excellent job of being a "team" with us drivers. We can, and do, call on them often to help us in our work and in our relationships with these kids.
When I was done with my route today, I stopped in briefly at the weekly prayer meeting that the local pastors have each Wednesday. After a couple errands, I came home and have been listening to public radio, as I often do. This morning there happens to be a discussion on the air about "school discipline." (Click that link to listen to it later.) The speakers, Ross Greene and Michael Thompson think of proper behavior as a skill that needs to be learned. Consistent bad behavior, they say, can be, perhaps, explained and dealt with as a "learning disability.." It's important, they say, not to get into power struggles with these kids. Forming relationships with the kids and targeting strategies toward these young people is needed more than punishment.
As I think of the many young people I've known and cared about down through the years, and as I think of the kids I'm getting to know on my bus, it seems to me that there is truth to what they say. I don't think Proverbs 13:24 means that we need to use corporeal punishment. I think it means that some sort of intervention is needed, that we must be firm, and that it's huge mistake to just let kids do whatever they want. (I've never used a "rod" on my kids.) But neither I didn't just step aside and let kids run my home or my life. Thanks to the firm and fair rules and the back up of the administration in my school district, I won't let the troubled kids run the bus either. I'll seek to build relationships with them all.
www.equalsharing.com
I am very glad to have this job. When I wrote the post yesterday I was thinking about the huge responsibility I have in driving this 40 foot vehicle with 50+ young people on board. There are skills involved that no one really knows school bus drivers need to have, until you actually drive. But the time with the kids makes up for the challenges. They are gifts of God! Each one!
That doesn't mean it's all calm. The school district has rules in place that young people, to various degrees, like to challenge. The rules are good and the school administrators do an excellent job of being a "team" with us drivers. We can, and do, call on them often to help us in our work and in our relationships with these kids.
When I was done with my route today, I stopped in briefly at the weekly prayer meeting that the local pastors have each Wednesday. After a couple errands, I came home and have been listening to public radio, as I often do. This morning there happens to be a discussion on the air about "school discipline." (Click that link to listen to it later.) The speakers, Ross Greene and Michael Thompson think of proper behavior as a skill that needs to be learned. Consistent bad behavior, they say, can be, perhaps, explained and dealt with as a "learning disability.." It's important, they say, not to get into power struggles with these kids. Forming relationships with the kids and targeting strategies toward these young people is needed more than punishment.
As I think of the many young people I've known and cared about down through the years, and as I think of the kids I'm getting to know on my bus, it seems to me that there is truth to what they say. I don't think Proverbs 13:24 means that we need to use corporeal punishment. I think it means that some sort of intervention is needed, that we must be firm, and that it's huge mistake to just let kids do whatever they want. (I've never used a "rod" on my kids.) But neither I didn't just step aside and let kids run my home or my life. Thanks to the firm and fair rules and the back up of the administration in my school district, I won't let the troubled kids run the bus either. I'll seek to build relationships with them all.
www.equalsharing.com
Monday, September 12, 2011
I Get It Now
 |
| from http://www.shoecomics.com/comics.php?sel_dt=011707 |
At our meeting before school started, this comic was handed out to the bus drivers. Now that I've driven for five days, I get it. Click on the comic to see the punch line. Some things you only appreciate when you are actually "doing it." Please pray for me and for all school bus drivers on the road today!
www.equalsharing.com
Saturday, September 10, 2011
You and I
You and I, we don't need to be alone. Whatever the situation, whatever the sorrow, whatever the pain, the Lord wants to give us to each other, to be companions and comrades and co-belligerents in spiritual warfare, to stand or sit together in the darkness and point one another to the light that sometimes seems tiny, to the light that will, on one glorious day not too long from now, break through and flood this broken world. Jesus, acquainted with sorrows, still marked with the scars of his suffering--Jesus will reign! No sorrow, no sin, no confusion, no pain, NOTHING will overcome that love. And, honestly, nothing will overcome it today.
To know we're not alone, to know we're not alone even "only with God"... to know that we need to be honest. The Holy Spirit longs for us to be really real with one another, to not hide our sorrow or brokenness away in a dark corner, to shatter the fake strongholds, to come out, to stop pretending that we're always okay. There's nothing more lonely than living a lie... and those lying façades don't only make you or me feel alone, they also keep others in the dark. They think we're doing just fine.
God is calling you and I to honest living. I am praying that Crossroads can be a place for honesty. The same goes for this blog I call "equal sharing." Let's be real together. Let's rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. And let's BE those people who dare to rejoice or weep, as the case may be.
It's time to let one another in. It's time to give up the false front. It's time to come, with two or three or a dozen others--it's time to give up the desperate and wearying attempts to hold the transforming power of God at arms length. Let go and let God! And let your brothers and sisters see you! Stop fighting so hard by yourself! Let God be God and let others be brothers (and sisters). When you and I do that, in Jesus' name, the Holy Spirit comes in... and His presence, soon or later, will bring REAL joy. Then songs and praises will be as real as tears.
That's the kind of church God is calling Crossroads to be. A place where you and I don't need to be alone.
P.S. ... For a bit more in the same vein, take a look at the video you'll find at Where You Can Be You.
(Pastor Bryan Lowe turned me on to this topic today. See "Rainy Day People" and submit a comment if you dare. I did. I appreciate Pastor Bryan so much. He is one of the most courageous people I know.)
www.equalsharing.com
To know we're not alone, to know we're not alone even "only with God"... to know that we need to be honest. The Holy Spirit longs for us to be really real with one another, to not hide our sorrow or brokenness away in a dark corner, to shatter the fake strongholds, to come out, to stop pretending that we're always okay. There's nothing more lonely than living a lie... and those lying façades don't only make you or me feel alone, they also keep others in the dark. They think we're doing just fine.
God is calling you and I to honest living. I am praying that Crossroads can be a place for honesty. The same goes for this blog I call "equal sharing." Let's be real together. Let's rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. And let's BE those people who dare to rejoice or weep, as the case may be.
It's time to let one another in. It's time to give up the false front. It's time to come, with two or three or a dozen others--it's time to give up the desperate and wearying attempts to hold the transforming power of God at arms length. Let go and let God! And let your brothers and sisters see you! Stop fighting so hard by yourself! Let God be God and let others be brothers (and sisters). When you and I do that, in Jesus' name, the Holy Spirit comes in... and His presence, soon or later, will bring REAL joy. Then songs and praises will be as real as tears.
That's the kind of church God is calling Crossroads to be. A place where you and I don't need to be alone.
P.S. ... For a bit more in the same vein, take a look at the video you'll find at Where You Can Be You.
(Pastor Bryan Lowe turned me on to this topic today. See "Rainy Day People" and submit a comment if you dare. I did. I appreciate Pastor Bryan so much. He is one of the most courageous people I know.)
www.equalsharing.com
Friday, September 9, 2011
Good to be Known
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.The bus I'm driving these days has a digital video recorder in it. Today I had the eerie experience of sitting in my supervisor's office watching what had occurred in the bus over the previous two or three days. I knew the recorder was there, but had forgotten it, I guess, so it was a strange sensation to see what had gone on behind my head while I had been busy driving. And lots goes on! More than I know.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot grasp it.
Early this morning the Bible verses above came to mind, given to me, I believe, by the Holy Spirit. Watching the video recording made me think of how God is watching over all of us with such love, seeing everything and hearing everything and still loving us, even when we are doing what is not pleasing in his sight.
Oh! how He loves us! (Even though he knows us!) Because God knows with such love, he came himself, in person, straight into our dysfunctional world, to take upon us all the sin HE knows (far more than what WE know), so He could save us from ourselves. For that reason, and for many others, it is good to be known-- good to be known by the One God!
Let yourself know that He knows!
It is so good!
www.equalsharing.com
Thursday, September 8, 2011
I Will, With God's Help
Life has changed. I've started my regular bus route--getting up before 5:30 five days a week, getting home at 8:30 or 9, then turning around to go back to the Dassel bus barn at 2:45 or so for the afternoon run, home here about 4:30. There's a lot to learn--making sure the bus isn't too early or late, learning the kids names and personalities, and getting to know the orderly ways that the buses unload and load at the schools.
I've made the bus driving commitment for the 2011-2012 school year alongside my commitment to Crossroads Community Church. It's a big commitment. The new schedule cuts down the flexibility of my daily life. I've always been busy--I'm almost never bored--but still, already on the third day of driving bus #38 I can see that things have changed.
Commitments are good things. There is, first of all, the commitment God makes to his creation. God continues to sustain and bless us with sunrises each day, with sunshine and rain and snow, and by giving us each breath and each heartbeat. This morning I so much enjoyed seeing the wildlife--two young deer running on a trail alongside the road, staying with the bus for quite awhile. Beautiful. And birds beginning to flock together.
Each season that goes by is a clear sign of God's commitment to us--and we who have had God's love poured into our hearts get a little taste of how much God is committed to us as we are not willing to just "let go" of those who suffer. Deep inside we know, from God's point of view, we are not replaceable. God loves all that he has made and he does not change.
In the Bible, we read over and over again that God cares enough to make promises. He makes promises to his creation in general, and to the human race in particular and to those who have come into a personal relationship with him. Through the life of Jesus we learn that God cares for individuals, even when they fail. It's remarkable that when Jesus said to his disciples "follow me" that he remained faithful to them too! He did not replace them when they disappointed him. He remained faithful to them throughout his ministry and then, when he rose from the dead, he came back to those specific men and women. Only Judas was replaced, but that, sadly, could not be any other way.
In return for his commitment to us, God calls us to make commitments. First, he calls us to love him above all things. Because we human beings are inconsistent in our sinful nature, God calls us to confess our commitment aloud, to say with our lips, "Jesus is Lord." This means we leave behind other options for "kings" or "queens" of our lives. God comes before everything else and he will not share that central place. See "God Won't Cohabit" for more.
But though God's promises and faithfulness to us and our response of commitment to him is and remains the central commitment of our personal lives, and though no one except God has a right to judge that relationship, we are called to make other commitments also.
On Sunday evening Toni and I went to the Youth Encounter commissioning service in Spring Lake Park. Kelly Marie Gilbert, who we at Crossroads heard from in March made a promise to a particular ministry--to be trained and then to serve for one year as a volunteer with a group of young people called "Crossfire."
At the commissioning service, after some exuberant worship, Youth Encounter's president (Pastor Larry Johnson) gave a message on commitment, speaking of the blessings that come to us when we are willing to say "yes" in response to God's call, instead of just coming along with a ministry when we feel like it. I'm hoping to share more of Larry's message here when I get a copy from him.
This is a season for commitments. I believe it's a time for those who have been participating with Crossroads Community Church to prayerfully consider what God is calling them to in connection with this ministry. Larry spoke of the dangers that come when we merely "co-habit" with one another. I came to believe that was a word for this season of our church. Perhaps it is God's word for you in this season of your life too, wherever you may be. Our church is based on partnership--you can read a bit more about that on the "about us" page of our website.
(A follow up to this is at Commitment and Blessing, written Sep. 14.)
www.equalsharing.com
I've made the bus driving commitment for the 2011-2012 school year alongside my commitment to Crossroads Community Church. It's a big commitment. The new schedule cuts down the flexibility of my daily life. I've always been busy--I'm almost never bored--but still, already on the third day of driving bus #38 I can see that things have changed.
Commitments are good things. There is, first of all, the commitment God makes to his creation. God continues to sustain and bless us with sunrises each day, with sunshine and rain and snow, and by giving us each breath and each heartbeat. This morning I so much enjoyed seeing the wildlife--two young deer running on a trail alongside the road, staying with the bus for quite awhile. Beautiful. And birds beginning to flock together.
Each season that goes by is a clear sign of God's commitment to us--and we who have had God's love poured into our hearts get a little taste of how much God is committed to us as we are not willing to just "let go" of those who suffer. Deep inside we know, from God's point of view, we are not replaceable. God loves all that he has made and he does not change.
In the Bible, we read over and over again that God cares enough to make promises. He makes promises to his creation in general, and to the human race in particular and to those who have come into a personal relationship with him. Through the life of Jesus we learn that God cares for individuals, even when they fail. It's remarkable that when Jesus said to his disciples "follow me" that he remained faithful to them too! He did not replace them when they disappointed him. He remained faithful to them throughout his ministry and then, when he rose from the dead, he came back to those specific men and women. Only Judas was replaced, but that, sadly, could not be any other way.
In return for his commitment to us, God calls us to make commitments. First, he calls us to love him above all things. Because we human beings are inconsistent in our sinful nature, God calls us to confess our commitment aloud, to say with our lips, "Jesus is Lord." This means we leave behind other options for "kings" or "queens" of our lives. God comes before everything else and he will not share that central place. See "God Won't Cohabit" for more.
But though God's promises and faithfulness to us and our response of commitment to him is and remains the central commitment of our personal lives, and though no one except God has a right to judge that relationship, we are called to make other commitments also.
On Sunday evening Toni and I went to the Youth Encounter commissioning service in Spring Lake Park. Kelly Marie Gilbert, who we at Crossroads heard from in March made a promise to a particular ministry--to be trained and then to serve for one year as a volunteer with a group of young people called "Crossfire."
At the commissioning service, after some exuberant worship, Youth Encounter's president (Pastor Larry Johnson) gave a message on commitment, speaking of the blessings that come to us when we are willing to say "yes" in response to God's call, instead of just coming along with a ministry when we feel like it. I'm hoping to share more of Larry's message here when I get a copy from him.
This is a season for commitments. I believe it's a time for those who have been participating with Crossroads Community Church to prayerfully consider what God is calling them to in connection with this ministry. Larry spoke of the dangers that come when we merely "co-habit" with one another. I came to believe that was a word for this season of our church. Perhaps it is God's word for you in this season of your life too, wherever you may be. Our church is based on partnership--you can read a bit more about that on the "about us" page of our website.
Our members are ministry partners who trust Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, accept the Bible as authoritative for faith and life, and believe God is calling us together for this season of our lives to pray, worship, study the scriptures, serve, care for one another and give financially for the ministry and mission of God through Crossroads Community Church of Cokato.If you are a partner, this may be a time for you to consider a more specific commitment. Some of us are unwilling to step out to say "I will, and I ask God to help me." I can understand that! Adding this bus driver commitment alongside of everything else certainly does stretch me! But, for this season, it seems to be the will of God. So I said yes. Perhaps you can say yes too.
(A follow up to this is at Commitment and Blessing, written Sep. 14.)
www.equalsharing.com
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
CrossroadsCokato.com
Just a quick word of encouragement to check out the Crossroads website at crossroadscokato.com. We'll try to keep it updated.
www.equalsharing.com
www.equalsharing.com
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Following Jesus Where You're At
Here are my preparation notes for tomorrow's preaching. I'm thinking of this for a variety of reasons, partly because someone I have cared about and spent time with recently came to a very sad end. I don't know what else to do but go back to scripture and cling to the promises of our Lord.
I love the Bible stories of Jesus and his disciples. I love them because, from a spiritual point of view, they are so deeply connected with the lives of the followers of Jesus who are alive today. I love these stories because they are so honest. They show God at work in the mess of everyday life. These stories show what God can do through the lives of his disciples, through the lives of people like you and me, even when we don't look so good.
It sort of reminds me of First Corinthians 5:17 - 6:13. You can read that at the bottom of this post. That passage speaks of the new creation, that, as Jesus' people, we are new. But even so we live in a broken and sinful world, a world that not only has its effects on other people out there, but also on us, on you and on me. First Corinthians 5:17-6:13 tells us that yes, we are new, and that God is at work in us on behalf of others, but that things do not always go so well. Beginning in verse 4 of First Corinthians 6 it says this in the translation called "The Message."
I have to do that because, as the song "Everlasting" says:
So I love the stories of Jesus and his disciples in the Bible. I love them because guess who gets the glory and the honor and the praise? The disciples? No. It's Jesus. It's Jesus every time.
Yesterday I asked my brother Randy to come and read scripture this morning. Randy, would you come now and read another one of those true and honest stories. As he reads, let's close our eyes and imagine ourselves in the real life situation they were in. They've had an incredible day of being with Jesus. He had just fed thousands of people with a few loaves of bread... this should have shown them that they never had anything to worry about... but they didn't get it... in any case, Jesus now sends them out ahead while he goes alone to pray.
Mark 6:54-56
45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
So who is it that looks good in this story? Is it the disciples? Hardly. Their hearts were still so hard that, when they came to land on the other side of the lake, they were no good at all. But, honestly, did it matter? Did the disciples do the healing work? Were they the ones who the people over there were glad to see? No way. It was all about Jesus. It was NOT about them. And it's not about us either. In fact, when miracles do happen when we pray, when we DO get a chance to participate in God's incredible healing and saving work, there's a bit of danger there.
Turn over with me to Acts chapter 3. Now we don't have time to go through all of this, but you'll see here in Acts 3 that two of Jesus' disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, are going to the temple in Jerusalem at the time of prayer, and they meet a crippled man who asks them for money. They didn't have any money, but they did have Jesus living in them through the Holy Spirit, so, speaking in the name of Jesus, they said, "'Get up and walk!' Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong." He jumped to his feet and went with them into the temple, "walking and leaping and praising God!"
Then look at Acts 3:11 and following:
The miracle stories of the Bible, and the miracles that God does in the world today, they are very good and very precious, and we ought to be seeking and praying for these mighty acts of God to take place among us. But more often than not, we human beings who have found our Savior Jesus and have been filled with God's Holy Spirit, more often than not you and I are going to end up being used in more humble ways. We shouldn't be satisfied with that, and we should keep pursuing great and mighty signs of God's presence among us, but we should not be discouraged when things turn out differently. Because, in the end, it's not about us at all. And God will us ALL THINGS for his glory--even when all we do is to just let someone know something about the Lord, even when all we do is give someone a sign of Jesus' love in a rather small way.
Because, in those circumstances, Jesus is at work too. Right where you are at. Even before everything becomes clear and perfect in your Christian life. What's important is that Jesus shines. Not you. Not me.
[At this point of my message tomorrow, I'm going to ask my son Jon to speak about his experiences in his every day life, helping people to come just a little closer to Jesus, and then we'll pray and encourage one another to do the same.]
-------------------------------
First Corinthians 5:17--6:13
17 ...If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
6:1 As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
www.equalsharing.com
I love the Bible stories of Jesus and his disciples. I love them because, from a spiritual point of view, they are so deeply connected with the lives of the followers of Jesus who are alive today. I love these stories because they are so honest. They show God at work in the mess of everyday life. These stories show what God can do through the lives of his disciples, through the lives of people like you and me, even when we don't look so good.
It sort of reminds me of First Corinthians 5:17 - 6:13. You can read that at the bottom of this post. That passage speaks of the new creation, that, as Jesus' people, we are new. But even so we live in a broken and sinful world, a world that not only has its effects on other people out there, but also on us, on you and on me. First Corinthians 5:17-6:13 tells us that yes, we are new, and that God is at work in us on behalf of others, but that things do not always go so well. Beginning in verse 4 of First Corinthians 6 it says this in the translation called "The Message."
People are watching us as we stay at our post … in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.The life of a follower of Jesus, you see, isn't about us at all. It doesn't really matter what the circumstances of our lives are. We don't look at ourselves and we don't want anyone else to do that either. We look to Jesus, and to him alone.
I have to do that because, as the song "Everlasting" says:
A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains.
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace.
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades.
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame.
(See http://youtu.be/X-afZJ9_TIM.)
So I love the stories of Jesus and his disciples in the Bible. I love them because guess who gets the glory and the honor and the praise? The disciples? No. It's Jesus. It's Jesus every time.
Yesterday I asked my brother Randy to come and read scripture this morning. Randy, would you come now and read another one of those true and honest stories. As he reads, let's close our eyes and imagine ourselves in the real life situation they were in. They've had an incredible day of being with Jesus. He had just fed thousands of people with a few loaves of bread... this should have shown them that they never had anything to worry about... but they didn't get it... in any case, Jesus now sends them out ahead while he goes alone to pray.
Mark 6:54-56
45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
So who is it that looks good in this story? Is it the disciples? Hardly. Their hearts were still so hard that, when they came to land on the other side of the lake, they were no good at all. But, honestly, did it matter? Did the disciples do the healing work? Were they the ones who the people over there were glad to see? No way. It was all about Jesus. It was NOT about them. And it's not about us either. In fact, when miracles do happen when we pray, when we DO get a chance to participate in God's incredible healing and saving work, there's a bit of danger there.
Turn over with me to Acts chapter 3. Now we don't have time to go through all of this, but you'll see here in Acts 3 that two of Jesus' disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, are going to the temple in Jerusalem at the time of prayer, and they meet a crippled man who asks them for money. They didn't have any money, but they did have Jesus living in them through the Holy Spirit, so, speaking in the name of Jesus, they said, "'Get up and walk!' Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong." He jumped to his feet and went with them into the temple, "walking and leaping and praising God!"
Then look at Acts 3:11 and following:
11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.When success comes to Jesus' disciples, whether it's then or now, when we pray and someone is healed, or when we help someone get to know the Lord and they are saved, it's a great thing, but it's also something of a problem because it's so easy then for people to start looking at us instead of at the one we serve, Jesus Christ himself.
The miracle stories of the Bible, and the miracles that God does in the world today, they are very good and very precious, and we ought to be seeking and praying for these mighty acts of God to take place among us. But more often than not, we human beings who have found our Savior Jesus and have been filled with God's Holy Spirit, more often than not you and I are going to end up being used in more humble ways. We shouldn't be satisfied with that, and we should keep pursuing great and mighty signs of God's presence among us, but we should not be discouraged when things turn out differently. Because, in the end, it's not about us at all. And God will us ALL THINGS for his glory--even when all we do is to just let someone know something about the Lord, even when all we do is give someone a sign of Jesus' love in a rather small way.
Because, in those circumstances, Jesus is at work too. Right where you are at. Even before everything becomes clear and perfect in your Christian life. What's important is that Jesus shines. Not you. Not me.
[At this point of my message tomorrow, I'm going to ask my son Jon to speak about his experiences in his every day life, helping people to come just a little closer to Jesus, and then we'll pray and encourage one another to do the same.]
-------------------------------
First Corinthians 5:17--6:13
17 ...If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
6:1 As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
www.equalsharing.com
Friday, September 2, 2011
Send A Missionary (part 3)
 |
| The Garden of Hope In Chiang Mai, Thailand |
Several, even many, from Crossroads have supported her so far, but time is running out. She needs several one time gifts or monthly commitments so she can serve with The Garden of Hope in Chiang Mai, Thailand, "a community that protects vulnerable and at-risk children and teenage women from abuse and exploitation in Southeast Asia and equips and enables them to develop maturity and responsibility, bearing fruit for the glory of God."
Unlike many of us, Andria does not have a "home base" of relatives that can support her. She came to us as one of "Crosswalkers" in 2010 (through that "walk" she experienced what it truly means to trust God) and, then, in July shared a message at Crossroads.
Will you help her? Every bit helps. Her deadline is TUESDAY (Sep 6) and she is still in need of about $4000 total in one time gifts or monthly commitments.
Go to "Send A Missionary" to learn more and to find out how to send a donation. In any case, please pray!
www.equalsharing.com
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Where You Can Be You
This video really fits Crossroads. Really. See below for a transcript. (Thanks Mary Kay!)
Here's a few reasons why people don't go to church.
I can't come to church until I get my life together.
Church is HOW I got my life together.
(A place for new beginnings.)
Church is filled with a bunch of hypocrites...
and there's always room for one more.
(Imperfect people welcome.)
All they care about is your money.
They care about me, not my money.
(People are priceless.)
Is there some kinda dress code?
Yes, the code is, wear some clothes.
(Come as you are.)
Church, it just makes me nervous.
I was nervous at first and then I felt right at home.
(Right where God wants you.)
I'm not sure I believe everything that you believe.
...but you can still belong.
(Doubts welcome.)
Church is for whimpy, girly men.
...you wanna say that again? :)
If you knew me,
and what I've done,
you wonldn't want me.
If you knew me,
and what I've done,
you wouldn't be worried.
So please come to my church.
Where nobody's perfect,
Where beginners are welcome,
Where socks are optional, but grace is required
Where forgiveness is offered.
Where hope is alive!
And it's ok... to not be ok.
Really.
www.equalsharing.com
Here's a few reasons why people don't go to church.
I can't come to church until I get my life together.
Church is HOW I got my life together.
(A place for new beginnings.)
Church is filled with a bunch of hypocrites...
and there's always room for one more.
(Imperfect people welcome.)
All they care about is your money.
They care about me, not my money.
(People are priceless.)
Is there some kinda dress code?
Yes, the code is, wear some clothes.
(Come as you are.)
Church, it just makes me nervous.
I was nervous at first and then I felt right at home.
(Right where God wants you.)
I'm not sure I believe everything that you believe.
...but you can still belong.
(Doubts welcome.)
Church is for whimpy, girly men.
...you wanna say that again? :)
If you knew me,
and what I've done,
you wonldn't want me.
If you knew me,
and what I've done,
you wouldn't be worried.
You can come to my churchSee, it's not about a religion, it's about a relationship!
even if you were brought up
Catholic,
Baptist,
Methodist,
Jewish,
Mormon,
Lutheran,
Pentecostal,
Presbyterian,
Church of Christ,
Southern Baptist, or
...a little bit of everything
...or a whole lot of nothing.
So please come to my church.
Where nobody's perfect,
Where beginners are welcome,
Where socks are optional, but grace is required
Where forgiveness is offered.
Where hope is alive!
And it's ok... to not be ok.
Really.
www.equalsharing.com
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