it happened again

Sara and i went to another small group last night and were renewed in our vision for what our church is becoming all over again. As we often do the evening began with sitting around a living room and letting each person share "their story". (Something I'm still not used to is the nervousness you can feel at the first because the "Sr. Pastor" is in our group. It's like every body be on your best behavior - like I'm going to report you to God if you're bad). Anyway, people began to share and there was laughter and friendly ribbing (you know how that is when people are really familiar with each other) and tears (as people mentioned how their small group had been instrumental in helping them grow - I've always believed that when you start crying together it's real). This group we shared with last night has been around since 1992 which means they were one of the original groups at our church and they are still around 16 years later!

Then of course we shared prayer requests and prayed together (is there anything more unifying?) and of course, we ate together. And it was awesome. I'll admit it, on the way there I told Sara how tired I was, but I left that place filled because of the encouragement they gave me and because what God is doing in them.

When we left, I told Sara. "it happened again. I'm just so blessed by what is happening in groups like this all over the church." My experience over the past year as I've visited probably 20-25 groups is exactly the same: real people doing real life together in Christ. It really is awesome and I thought, what if this is the way it is in 170 small groups throughout our church. And then I thought, who is missing out on this because they are afraid of getting into a small group. And then I thought, I wonder if the Dallas Cowboys won tonight? Funny thing is after hanging with this small group, the score really didn't matter.

Turn the Page Update

small world

Well, after two weeks being down, I'm back in business. This means that much of what I've been thinking over the last couple of weeks has been lost in the space between my ears (and I'll bet it was awesome, life changing stuff)! Anyway, it's cool to be back - hope you enjoy my mental meanderings.

In the "it's a small world" department, let me share two cool encounters I've had the last three weeks.

Our sporst outreach pastor (Jason Probst) has a new intern named Randy. So was talking with him - getting to know him and I find out he's from Canada. As we talk I share how much Sara and I loved traveling to Nova Scotia (think North Maine) when I spoke at a youth conference over 14 years ago. Guess who was a student in the audience when I preached..yep, Randy. But there's more.

Last week I'm eating with a small group and I start talking with Jorge. I knew he was raised in Mexico, but what I didn't realize is that he was raised at a ministry in Mexico City called, Ninos de Mexico. I told him that I stayed there once in 1992 when I was working for Christ In Youth and that I spoke at this conference in Cuerna Vaca. You see where this is going right? He was a student at the conference. What are the odds? Only a huge God could take some schmuck from Indiana and let him preach all over the place to students and then bring two of those students (one from Canada and one from Mexico) together to serve in Normal, Illinois.

God's providence proven once again. And I didn't even mention that I have a guy on staff who used to hear me preach and he's from the foreign land of Mowequa!

let the children come

Jesus said it was good for children to come to him, so I can only assume it’s good when they come to church.  Yesterday we had 975 kids in this place…so if you’re wondering why we’re expanding our children’s facilities, wonder no more.  I can’t say enough thanks to all the workers in the children’s area who play with, teach, sing with, take to the bathroom (or worse, clean up after they’ve already gone), color, memorize, love, protect (just try getting through our a-1 children’s security without proper identification), and nurture the children who come each week.  I’m inspired by your service.

Yesterday (after a great second service) it was my privilege to invite more children (along with parents and grandparents) to the auditorium for a baby dedication service.  We prayed over and dedicated 47 children yesterday to God for his glory and for his purpose.  The parents also stood on the stage and committed to raise their kids in the Word and in the church.  As the Pastor, I prayed for strong marriages, strong families and a strong church to help them through.  I pledged that Eastview would do anything we could to help them raise their kids (I know I spoke for thousands of people, but I know that is the heart of this church). 

I was especially moved that many parents requested to have a picture with me and their child.  It really is an honor to be the preacher and pastor to so many families.  I’m blessed and I’ll do my best to teach the parents as they teach their kids.  We’re all in this together.  Speaking of cool kid events, we have pureNRG coming in this Saturday night for a concert at the church.  They have appeared on Disney channel and have a very cool show (you know Hannah Montanna like) and kids are sure to love it. 

I love lots of stuff about this place, but this week I’m especially blessed that we welcome kids just like our Lord.

no labor here

What a great Labor Day to do absolutely nothing.  As you know I’m committed to a weekly Sabbath of rest and when another pops up for free…I take it (especially when it’s Monday)!  Actually, my day started way early (as in 2:45 a.m. in the morning) for some prayer at the church.  I know our building doesn’t really have that stained glass, wooden pews, sacred look, but there is something spiritual about coming in the middle of the night and seeing some dim lighting and our flame burning before God.  It is a very intimate setting for prayer and I began last night by asking God to move in the lives of those in our community who are lost without Jesus.  Keep praying…God is moving.

After that I came back home and couldn’t sleep thinking about how cool it is to be at Eastview at this time and how there is a great excitement in the air on Sundays.  When I start thinking like this I can’t really stop, so I thought of my family and upcoming events and staff stuff and ideas I have for ministry and then somewhere in there I dozed off.  I woke up around 8:00 and headed straight to the coffee maker!

After some breakfast, i watched the storm coverage on hurricane Gustav and spent some time looking at Sunday’s sermon scripture.  Already stuff stirring in my heart about that.  Then i finished up the introduction to a book I’m writing.  Yes, I’ve decided to write another one and it’s about marathon running and how Christianity is so much like it.  I’m stoked about writing it.  Then what else does a guy writing about running do but run…man was it hot, but the trail had some shade so I survived.

finally, I spent some time grilling ribs and hanging with my boys.  We had a good time and it wasn’t too bad in the shade, but I’ll have to tell ya.  I thank God for creating the guy who invented air conditioning on a day like today!  Oh well, probably finish the day watching the Tennessee/UCLA game before dozing off and praying again in the middle of the night.  Thanks to all of those who signed up to pray this entire week leading into Fall kick-off.  We are becoming a place where prayer dominates and that’s got to be good.

subtle heresy

well on a monday morning where I should be talking about a beloved lady who passed away last week (norma hendren - wife of Everett, one of Eastview’s charter members); or about the dozens of greeters and volunteers that met for breakfast on Saturday in preparation for a great fall (I devoted that before the Feeding of the 5,000, there was the seating of the 5,000 - and how important the disciple’s task of seating, serving and cleaning up was to the process); or about the Fuel ministry on the campus of ISU last night with a great service; I’m compelled to talk about a heresy that is creeping into church language in many pop books.

I’ll just blurt it out - Brian McClaren is a heretic.  He is a great author and he has some great things to say, however, he is missing the mark when it comes to understanding the Christian position.  In his book “finding our way again” (please do me and you a favor and don’t read it!), he makes the following statement: “And during his lifetime, Abraham, like Moses and Jesus and Muhammad - had an encounter with God that distinguished him from his contemporaries…”  Say what?!  Muhammad had an encounter with God?  How can he say that when the “encounter with God” birthed a religion that wholeheartedly rejects Jesus as Savior (something which he thought was pretty important). 

Here’s the deal that happening in our culture.  We have been convinced that we as Christians have been the oppressors and that we should apologize and be nice to other world religions.  First of all, there have been some bad things happen in the name of Christianity, but we certainly don’t have a corner on the market of evil things.  And I would contend that those names done in the name of Christ were not truly motivated by the Christian faith.  Second, although it’s true that both Judaism and Islam were birthed from our spiritual ancestor Abraham - they certainly are not part of the Abrahamic covenant now.  How can I so assuredly say this?  Because Abraham was about Jesus and both Judaism and Islam reject Jesus as Lord and fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise.

Listen, we had better wake up Christians and stop swallowing all the stuff even Christian writers like McClaren are passing off as Christian responses.  No matter how good it feels to kind of make everyone feel welcome and tolerated, it can never be Christian to accept any other worldview of Jesus except that he is the savior of the world.  He said as much.  So deny Christ if you want, but don’t think he you can sneak him neatly in to the world’s belief systems.  He simply isn’t o.k. with that.

Be careful as you read that the author proclaim Christ as the way, the only way…nothing more, nothing less.  A good book to stick with is the Bible.  As for this book, I only made it through five chapters and I had to stop.  Oh well, there are other books on my shelf to be read.

oasis

Yesterday was a flash back in time for me.  Drew and Joel gave me the opportunity to preach in Oasis, our teen worship service.  It was really cool.  Some of you don’t know that I came from a youth organization in Missouri in 1995 to become the youth pastor at Eastview Christian Church.  Oasis was a two year old program at that time.  I’d always said at that point that I was a preacher trapped in a youth minister’s body; so the idea of preaching every Sunday to a bunch of students was compelling.  I loved it there.  I love the energy, the loud music, the casual dress, the potential that sits in every chair. 

In the old days I preached in Oasis with bleached hair, earrings, jeans, and vans.  Yesterday, I wore dress shorts with a Tommy Bahama shirt (yes I looked old - or I looked my age anyway).

In the old days hundreds of high schoolers and junior highers packed into a dingy old gym on towanda ave.  Yesterday, we met in a brand new facility (still a gym) with great lights, sound, and stage.

In the old days, Caleb my youngest was a four year old kid running around being spoiled by the teens.  Yesterday, he was a 6′5″ junior giving the communion meditation after my sermon.

In the old days, God allowed me to preach the Word in a way that teens could related to.  Yesterday, the Word of God did it’s job again - they were actually listening to what I said about Jesus and obedience!

In the old days, I hoped that these kids would find a spiritual hero in me their youth pastor.  Yesterday, I prayed that they would find a spiritual hero in their sr. pastor.

In the old days, Lynne Sugai was there worshipping and loving teens like crazy.  Yesterday, Lynne was still there doing the same thing.

In the old days, I believed that a church were teens could serve, lead and learn in a community of their peers would be a pretty cool place to do church.  Yesterday I believed it all over again.

In the old days, I believed that God had great purpose for students if they would give their lives to Him.  I still believe that and pray that Oasis will be the place they can find God and live for him.

In the old days, I felt young and cool when I walked into that gym.  Yesterday, I felt old and cool (even though I know they didn’t think that…that I was cool i mean)

In the old days, I loved preaching to students.  Some things never change.