The Gospel - Don't be Afraid to Use Words~

Kayla and Ben spent hours pouring over topographical maps and GPS coordinates for their upcoming trip down the mighty, white waters of the Mongodongo River. One thing was for sure, when they came to the fork in the river marked by the massive boulder (called the Rock) they would take the branch that went off to the right. They had seen pictures of the terrible rapids and the eventual two hundred foot waterfall that would swallow them up if they took the left branch. Someone who who knew the river well and who had seen many people meet their demise at the hand of the deadly Left Branch of the Mongodongo told them to go right at the Rock. He sat down with them and explained in detail how to navigate the tricky waters near the fork in the river and even gave them a special journal he had been given that gave both instruction and encouragement from those who had already successfully made it to the great city at the river's end.

Kayla and Ben enjoyed the first part of the trip even though there were a few scary rapids and dangerous downed trees along the way. They pulled their raft onto a small island that was about a quarter mile upstream from the fork in the river and noticed a large group of rafters laughing and having a great time. There were about twenty rafts in the group and nearly eighty people of all ages. Kayla noticed that some of the people didn't have water bottles and seemed thirsty while others had blisters on their hands from rowing. Some seemed cold because they had come down the river without proper clothes. Kayla asked Ben to gather the extra water bottles they had brought and pass them out while she would use their first aide kit to bandage up the blisters. She had packed a few extra jackets for the trip and knew it would be the Christian thing to give them away even though they were expensive Patagonia Jackets from Cabelas. Bummer!

They were showing the people the love of Christ and it was clear to them that it would show by their actions. As Ben handed out water bottles he noticed a big sign that was in the lead raft. It read: "Left Branch River Outfitters". Ben began to chat with the river guide who told him that he was leading the group down the Left Branch today and that it was supposed to be a great time. Ben knew that his maps told a different story but who was he to impose his ideas on them? Besides they were having such a good time and he didn't want to scare them. After talking it over with Kayla, it was decided that their actions of love and service would probably be enough to convince the group to follow them down the Right Branch. As they all made their way back into the river, Kayla noticed that the other group turned down the Left Branch and as they did , Ben could hear one of the men yell out, "Thanks for the water and the jackets!" At the end of the trip, just before the great city, Kayla and Ben saw floating in the river four water bottles, three torn and deflated rafts, and two Patagonia jackets but not a person was seen again from the doomed Left Branch group.

I've heard it said before that it is often better to share Christ with our deeds than our words. As a matter of fact, St. Francis of Assisi said it this way, "Preach the gospel at all times - if necessary, use words." Now I don't want to contradict a Saint but I do want to share the words of the Apostle Paul and also make a couple points.

In Romans Chapter 10, after Paul shares the words, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." he goes on to make a rather obvious point. "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" He goes onto say, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."

Look, the Gospel is amazingly good news but ultimately it comes through the sharing of the message. It is impossible to share the Gospel without words. At some point in time, the name of Jesus has to be shared because the Bible tells us that "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." I know many people who manifest love and good deeds but do not lead people to saving faith in Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact some of the kindest people I know have been followers of New Age, Wiccans, and practitioners of Transcendental Meditation but none of them by their actions led a single soul to call on the name of God's one and only Son. Our lack of using words usually comes out of fear. Fear of losing friends. Fear of not knowing enough? Fear of being labeled a bigot or a radical. It also comes from a true lack of urgency for the fate of those going down the Left Branch.

Here is my last point: It ALL comes down to love! Our sharing of the truth of the Gospel has to come from a heart of love for others. It has to come from caring more about another's eternal life and their restored relationship with God than whether or not someone likes us or likes what we say. If we share out of a heart of self righteousness then we become hypocrites. If we give them the words but fail to touch them in their need (ie. feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the widow, and heal the sick) then the words will never be heard and we will not have loved!

The sharing of the Gospel requires us to pass out the water bottles, the bandages, and the new Patagonia jackets but it also requires us to tell the people about the dangerous Left Branch and the passage of safety at the Rock! We need to use words! Jesus didn't walk around silently healing and feeding. He spoke right up to the point before he ascended to the right hand of the Father, speaking these words, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Peace,

David

Don't Stop Half Way - God Wants You to Keep Walking

I woke up this morning with no idea what to write today then a picture came to my mind. First, a little background. Today is Saturday August 22, 2009 and in about six and a half hours a good friend of ours is going to be married in our back yard. We've spent many hours preparing the yard for the wedding and the bride-to-be has spent many hours preparing for her big day. She has sent out invitations, picked out rings, picked out her wedding dress, and chosen her maid of honor and her wedding party. We've mulched, mowed, weeded, washed, painted, and spread stones. Last night they had the rehearsal. You know the pretend wedding. Walk the path, say the things, and do the kiss but no rings, no blessing, no marriage. They leave the rehearsal dinner the same way they came to the rehearsal - unmarried.

So here is the image I had this morning. The pastor and the groom are standing there in the front as the music plays then comes the beautiful bride down the steps and slowly up the aisle. People have tears in their eyes because they know the magnitude of what is about to happen The groom's heart races and his hands begin to sweat just a bit. About half way down the aisle the bride stops dead in her tracks, frozen like a mannequin. There is a weird hush and the music stops. What will she do? All eyes are on the motionless bride. (Just for the record my vision isn't about this particular wedding because I know Susie will walk all the way to her man and leave with a new last name. This is a parable per se. So it's OK Susie, I hope you don't mind me using this analogy on your big day.)

Here is where my vision takes three turns:

1) She turns around and runs for her life. Flowers fall, the groom flashes a look of horror, a low but powerful corporate sigh comes from the people, and the last thing you see is the train of her dress as she rounds the corner and heads out of dodge. She made it half way then went back to her old life.

2) She stays there frozen stiff, not moving forward and not running away. Just going nowhere. She made it halfway and is stuck there like bubble gum in your hair. (sorry, that was the first thing that came to my mind and I had to use it.)

3) She continues her slow and steady procession to the front where she gives her life to the one she loves and her whole life is forever changed. She becomes part of a family and is no longer her own. She is united with her husband and has become one with him. She didn't stop half way!

There aren't many things that are good half way. A putt that gets only half way to the hole. Two years of a four year college degree. A drag racer who's car makes it half way down the track. A skateboard with only two wheels. Half way almost always leaves you feeling disappointed, sad, and unsatisfied.

Peter went half way (Matthew 14:25-31)

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

The rich young man went half way after asking Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life (Matthew 19:16-22):

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

I've witnessed to many people and one thing I see over and over is an initial excitement or curiosity, some sense that their life is on the wrong track and is somehow void of real, eternal meaning. They get out of the boat but then sink part way out. They get part way down the wedding aisle and either freeze or bolt. Then they say to me, "Why, can't I hear from God?" or "Why is my life so empty or confusing?". They go back to their lives unchanged and maybe even a bit worse because they had a small taste of the goodness of God and now their lives taste even a little bit more bitter in contrast. Jesus compared them to seed that "fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root."

One thing I've come to understand about my relationship with God is that it doesn't work well when I stop half way. Sure I stop at times and have fear, stop at times and have sin, stop at times and see stuff in the world that I know is wrong but my flesh wants it, but when push comes to shove I know that nothing really matters if I walk away from the God of the universe who made me and knows the plans he has for me. Do I know better than him? I think not.

Here is my prayer for you today. I pray that you have a sense of God's call on your life and that he grant you the courage and the strength to go the distance. That you walk forward no matter how scary it gets, how many friends walk away, how much the tug of sin wants to drown you under its waves, or how alone you might feel. I think Chris Berman, the NFL commentator, would sound cool saying it like this: "I think he's (she's) going to go ALL ... THE ... WAY!" Let it be so for you.

Please drop us a note if you are stuck in the aisle, running away, or maybe thinking it's time to go all the way. We're here for you but more importantly God is there for you!

Peace, David

Radical Christianity - Is There Any Other Kind?

Picture the scene. It's a sunny day somewhere in the Blue Ridge Mountains (feel free to substitute the name of your nearest park or church parking lot) and there is a party goin on. It's the annual church pig roast complete with bingo tables, the big music stage, and free elephant rides for the kids. Over there by the rotating roast is a group of guys making sure that the pork is done just right. Let's sneak over and listen in on their conversation.

Bill: "Oowee Ed, we're getting close. It's smell'in real good. Pretty good turn out this year."

Ed: "This is my favorite day in the church! Good people, good food, and good fun! Doesn't get much better than this!"

Pete: "Amen Brother! Hey, isn't that the new guy who moved in next to Sandy and Harv. I heard he might be the new youth leader but word has it that he's a bit over the top. 'Jesus this and Jesus that', always, talking about God. It's like he's obsessed with it."

Ed: "I know what you mean. It's like some of these "Born Again" types have a one track mind. They're always trying to get people to "Come to Jesus". Who are we to tell others that Jesus is the 'only way'. I say 'Live and let live!' This is America! Everything in moderation, know what I mean."

Bill: "That's right. I have a life you know. I do plenty for the church and I don't want to push my beliefs down anyone else's throat. Besides, I learned a long time ago that there are two things you never talk about: religion and politics! I do church at church. These religious fanatics make me uncomfortable."

Fred: "Radicals. That's really what they are. Jesus freaks. It's a shame the last youth guy left. The kids loved him. They sure had lots of fun and did a bunch of community service but he didn't get them all riled up to board the Jesus train. Last thing we need is for our kids to be going to school want'n to evangelize their friends. They'd be the laugh'n stock of the school."

Ed: "Don't worry fellas, I heard the Pastor will keep him on a short leash. We don't want to look intolerant of other religions so if he starts getting to be a Jesus freak he won't last long here."

Bill: "Hey Ed, wanna slice me off a little sampler. I think she's done just right!"

Someone once said to me, "You must be one of those 'born again' Christians." A strange though came to my head, "Is there any other kind?" Doesn't the word "Christian" imply that the one to whom the label is given has been born again of the Spirit of God? Apparently, for many in the church it is not the case. By the way, I want to differentiate the 'church' from the 'Church'. I use the little 'c' to differentiate the overall number of church attenders and professing "Christians" from those who have been truly born again of the Spirit of God through saving faith in Jesus Christ as their only means of salvation (ie. the Church or the Body of Christ). Surveys show that more than 70% of Americans identify themselves as "Christian". Only God knows but I think if it were so, the nation would be a very different place.

Let me cut to the chase. Christianity is RADICAL! Now, I don't mean radical in the fanatical sense. I don't mean hostile, mean, protesting, or self righteous. But it is not and never has been a passive, lazy, apathetic, pluralistic, or a part time hobby. I want us to take a good look at what the Church (capital 'C') looked like in the first century and then take an even closer look at our own lives to see where we are. Are we radical, on fire, Jesus freak, born again Christians? Or are we church goers who might do a few church activities and church functions but then Jesus fades when we get away from the church building and into our lives?

How passionate where the followers of Jesus Christ in the early Church? How dedicated? How caring? Let's look at what the Word says in the Book of Acts Chapter 2.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

What did the followers of Jesus endure as they boldly and unashamedly preached the Gospel?

Here is a list of Paul's struggles as he lived a radical life for Christ:

"Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers." 2 Corinthians 11:22-26.

The writer of Hebrew shares these words, "Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth."

It is believed that 11 of the 12 Apostles were killed for preaching the Gospel and claiming Jesus was the one and only Son of God. Peter was reportedly crucified, hanging upside down because he didn't feel worthy to be killed in the same way as his Lord.

"Radical Christianity" Friends, there is no other kind. We can't water it down, tame it, temper it, fit it into the pluralistic world view of the west, or make it just a weekend hobby. If you're not feeling a bit of the heat, you might not be in the kitchen. Just for the record, I know that there are many of you and many churches that are on fire, radical, and doing radical things in the name of Jesus. And, to you I say, "Hallelujah!" "Keep the fire burning!" I pray that we would all have a new sense of awe and a revived passion for Christ. If you have not yet come to know Jesus Christ and are feeling the desire to keep listening, please stick with us and feel free to ask questions any time! You are why we are here!

A couple housekeeping notes. If you haven't listened to our audio podcasts you can find them at The I-61 Project.org or subscribe in iTunes. Also please check out Andrew Gommeson's Blog. His testimony is podcast episode #3. Thanks to all who have been following and commenting. You are a blessing to us!!

Peace,

David

What if We Skipped the Budget Meeting and Had a Prayer Meeting?

I was thinking (and that is often dangerous!) that God is pretty amazing. He designed the human body and because most of us take it for granted I wanted to give you a few facts to make my point:

1) There are 100-160 million capillaries in the human body that, if stretched end to end would reach nearly 50,000 miles (nearly twice the length of the equator).

2) Your heart beats about 36 million times a year (all day, every day, hopefully non-stop).

3) Over your lifetime, your brain remembers (although you may have trouble recalling) 150 trillion (that's 150,ooo billion) bits of information.

4) Your eye has nearly 125 million rods and cones (the receptors that process black and white and color respectively)

Now, that would be amazing in itself but he also designed each of the 1.4 million known species in the world and created the universe with its galaxies, stars, planets, nebulae, and black holes.

So, where am I going with this?

Let me describe the usual church council meeting:

First, there is the cursory opening prayer. Now I know that we all mean what we pray but let's be honest that if we actually used a stopwatch we would find that our prayer lasted one to two minutes max. If you don't believe me, take a stopwatch to the next meeting and give it a whirl. Then, there might be a wrap up or ratification of last week's agenda followed by this week's agenda. We devise programs, budgets, and marketing plans, design worship, design the bulletin, design the new stain glass window that was donated by aunt Gertrude, and design the layout of the new cafe which will "appeal to seekers". We try to find ways to increase the Sunday collection and to get more people in the pews. The meeting usually lasts a couple hours and then we close with prayer. Get out the stopwatch because I bet the closing prayer is less than a minute.

Don't get me wrong, all of these might be done with good intention and much of it is fine in and of themselves, but let's get something straight. God is GOD! The Bible tells us that God is omnipotent (all powerful).

Jeremiah 32:17,27 says, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."

Is it possible that God already knows how to grow his Church, how to bless his Church, how to provide for his Church, and how to lead his Church? Maybe, just maybe, we are trying too hard. Maybe we've been a bit too proud, thinking that we can figure it out and use our wisdom to do what God is just waiting to do already. The Church is becoming a big business and is often being run like a Fortune 5o0 company with consultants and marketing people. Have they made churches bigger? Sometimes. But is "big" the desire? Not if "big" is also shallow or if it is at the expense of truth.

Let me throw something out there that might just be too crazy. It might be sound so ridiculous that you stop reading and begin laughing so hard you pop a vein in your forehead. But I think I'm going to do it anyway (caution if you have vascular disease!).

What if.... I mean, what if we just gathered together, fell prostrate (that means laying on your belly, face down) before the Lord, confessed our sins to Him, called on him to reveal to us his will, stood and worshiped Him with all of our passion (the same amount we give on SuperBowl Sunday), fast, and then waited on Him? I wonder what would happen. I wonder if God would be pleased with the humility and the surrender that he saw. I wonder if he would say, "Now, I can do what I want to do through you." I don't know because I'm not God but He does tell us in his Word:

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place." 2 Chronicles 7:14-15

Is it possible God's eyes and ears aren't attentive to our prayers now? These were his words not mine! I have been shown over and over that God is SO much bigger than I am and SO much more capable than I give him credit for. He doesn't need my money (although he expects us to reveal our love for Him and faith in Him through the giving of our "first fruits"). He uses us in his plan of salvation because he loves us. I think that we need to look into the Bible and see the times that God ROCKED people's worlds; Moses, Elijah, David, and the Apostles. Did the awesome power of God they saw when the Red Sea divided, fire came down from heaven, Goliath fell, or when 5,000 people were fed with a couple fish and a few loaves of bread, come from strategic planning, marketing, and the wisdom of man, or did they come by faith?

Friends, now is the time for us to do what God asks; humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, pray, and seek his face. I think we will see a move of God like we have not seen in our lifetimes... Hmmmm, just maybe.

Peace,

David

The Christian Diet - Don't Get Stuck on Baby's Milk

So, my wife is away at a conference for the weekend, it's seven PM and my stomach starts to grumble. My sons ask me, "What's for dinner?" "Hmmm? I'm not really sure. Let me look and see what we have." BINGO! Frozen mozzarella sticks and a bowl of Lucky Charms. Dad is the greatest! Then, just to complete the menu we finish off the last of the chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. As the final spoonful goes down, the phone rings.

"Hi honey. How's your trip", I say.

"Great. What did you and the boys have for dinner?"

"Um, well just some stuff."

"What kind of stuff"

"Mozzarella sticks, Lucky Charms, and ice cream."

"Wonderful!" She says with a sigh. "And what vegetable did you make?"

"Don't the green marshmallows have some vegetables in them?"

GO DAD!

Nutrition. We're surrounded by diets, been taught the food groups, and know what we need to eat to stay healthy. Clearly, my attempt at preparing dinner was inadequate and over time (if I was in charge) my boys would become over weight and vitamin deficient and eventually the Child Protective Service would come and haul them away.

OK, what does this have to do with being a Christian? Read on. Good nutrition starts when we are born. We know that the very best food a new born baby can have is mother's milk. In the first few days after birth moms make a special milk called colostrum which has a variety of growth factors and also antibodies to help fight infection. Then the milk changes to regular breast milk. The baby's small body and immature digestive system isn't ready for solid food yet. A T-bone steak and mashed potatoes just wouldn't sit well. Not only that, it's little toothless gums couldn't even begin to chew the meat.

I want to share with you a spiritual correlation to this concept of nutrition and growth. Although what I'm about to share applies particularly to those who have already accepted Christ, I don't want those of you who haven't to stop here. Please keep reading. When we are new to the faith (or maybe exploring our faith) we are like newborns. Actually, the Bible says that when we trust Christ, we have been born again so this is probably very accurate. As newborns, we aren't ready for solid food or things that are hard to swallow. The Apostle Paul wrote these words to an immature church in the city of Corinth, "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly - mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, because you were not ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready for it."

There is a time in the life of a Christian and in the life of a church when we need to be fed baby's milk (the simple things of the faith). Here is the problem. Many people and many churches never move past the baby food and their growth is stunted. They may have the gift of salvation but they struggle in and with the world and don't have the knowledge of the Word nor do they grow in their understanding of the deeper things of God. Because of their lack of growth they are spiritually weak and when the winds of life blow they are easily toppled.

Then there are those who begin to dine on more grown up spiritual food but only the food that tastes good. Like I said in my last post, these are the ones who only like the parts of the Bible that make them feel good and don't make them uncomfortable. This is like the fats and carbohydrates in the food world. I love a good piece of Boston cream pie and I love french fries. They are easy to chew, taste great, and go down easy. But, if I ate only those things I would grow in girth, be tired, and very unfit. Sometimes I need to eat protein. Protein is harder to chew and occasionally I may need to even cut it in small pieces to get it down. Protein is like the deeper and harder to understand parts of the Word but without them we stay little children and even infants in Christ. Paul spoke to the Church at Corinth to encourage them to grow.

Then there are the Brussels sprouts and the radishes! The things that make kid's faces contort and grimace but the things packed with vitamins and minerals. They (at least to most of us) taste like dirt and just rub us the wrong way. These are the parts of the Bible that we just don't like to hear but are, nonetheless, as true as the parts that say God loves us. For instance, in the parable of the sheep and the goats when Jesus describes his second coming he tells his disciples that all the nations will be gathered before him and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Then he will say to the goats (the unrighteous) "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels." Wow, If that isn't a spiritual radish I don't know what is! But, it is from the mouth the One who also says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." That is more like a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day! But we need to feed on both to grow in the knowledge of God.

So, my friend, if you are in a church or Bible study and seem to be getting only baby's milk, or maybe just the desert, you might want to also find a place to get some meat and vegetables. Find a bible believing small group or bible study that presses you and challenges you. Find a good book that dives into the deep things of God and see how you grow. Open the Word, read the Book of Matthew and ask God to open your spiritual eyes to see and discern. See how you stand when the tidal waves come and try to sweep you away! See how your faith grows and then you will also start to feed others who maybe still sipping on milk. Don't be afraid or offended by those parts that don't seem to taste so good. God knows what he's doing and he knows what you need. The banquet is ready! Come.

Peace,

David