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Beauty in the Cluster.

August 31, 2010 — Leave a comment

image: NASA

One of the points of conversation following our FunDay the other day was the beauty of a cluster of churches working together with a missional focus.

We know that there’s no way The Bridge could have, by herself, provided the kind of quality event that people experienced this past Saturday during the Family Fun Day. We could not have handled the expense, procured the necessary supplies, or raised the army of volunteers needed on our own. One of the the things that made the day great was seeing so many of our District churches, all with different histories and of varying sizes, partnering together to love on the people of Penn Hills and demonstrate solidarity with us.

The same is true for church planting: for some churches, there’s no way they could, by themselves, daughter a healthy, multiplying church; at least not yet. For all kinds of reasons, raising up a church planter and sending them out with a healthy team of co-laborers and maybe a good chunk of financial backing (not to mention the prayer support and cheerleading of a mother church) is not really plausible given the present reality of some churches . But that doesn’t mean they are exempted from the call of church planting or living as missionaries in their spheres of influence.

The beauty of planting and working as a cluster is that the ‘churches that couldn’t’ suddenly CAN find themselves making a tremendous difference and planting healthy churches through partnership.

Sure, there are the needs to make sure there’s a shared vision and sacrifice and maybe someone to give point-leadership during the process… and I know it wouldn’t be easy or clean (but I haven’t yet found the easy, clean parts of following Jesus), but what I saw this past weekend is a small glimmer of what a few connected churches and groups of committed people can do when working in harmony. It really could change the world.

In church planting church, church planting, Cost, courage, Encouragement, Family Fun Day, Leadership

That way!

August 24, 2010 — Leave a comment

image: internets_dairy @ flickr

As Sarah and I seek clarity on the ‘where’ of our next ministry endeavor (planting The Bridge’s first daughter church in Pittsburgh), the cry of our spirits to God’s has been, “Show us where you are moving and how to join you there.”

A few years ago, in zeal and even greater immaturity than I now possess, I probably would have forced an exciting vision to bubble up, created a strategic plan, and then charged after what I had fabricated. But that isn’t right, and it isn’t at all what we want. We are praying, “show us when and where to move,” and will develop our plan based on the open doors and sense of God’s leading. In some ways, it feels like that means “let’s make this whole thing up as we move along,” but it’s the best way I know to heed what the Spirit directs rather than chase and build my own cardboard kingdom.

So, we wait for clarity and believe when the time is right we’ll find a passion for a specific people/area growing within us along with an undeniable sense of where we must be. It is in the waiting and silence, however, when I am most tempted to pursue my own design. I have a feeling waiting isn’t nearly as hard as the alternative of moving on our own terms and then expecting God’s blessing to follow…

In church planting church planting, courage, faith, Leadership, Patience, personal, Pittsburgh

Revival!

October 2, 2009 — 1 Comment

<image courtesy of clearly ambiguous>

Beginning this evening, I’ll be preaching a series of messages for a ‘revival’ being held in Watts Towndship at the Wesleyan Church there.

I know it sounds old-timey, and the concept of ‘revival meetings’ has long ago lost its luster in many places… but I’m incredibly excited about this opportunity. The desire of the church’s pastor is true ‘revival’–“to stir up or rekindle a fire which is slowly dying.” The heart of the pastor and many of the people is that by dedicating a few pointed hours of their weekend to hear and heed the Spirit of God, a dying flame will be rekindled into a full-on blaze.

As excited as I am, I’m also a little scared: the people are praying for, hoping for, and expectant of a genuine revival in their hearts and church which will spill over into the lives of their community.

Why does this scare me?

I’m the preacher.

And I am very much aware of my own fallibility, shortcomings, and plain-old human-ness. If ‘genuine revival’ comes, it won’t be because of me… it will be in spite of the preacher. As much as I recognize work being done in the lives of others is only God’s to do, I feel a great weight of responsibility in preparing myself to be used… and a certain level of terror when I recognize the incredible honor I have and the truth that “every time you preach, you stand before a living God and dying Man.”

Hold on. I think I need to throw up.

In church church, courage, faith, personal

What Battles are You Facing?

August 24, 2009 — 1 Comment

<Image courtesy of army.mil>

So much of life seems like it involves ‘battle.’ Think of how we describe much of what we endure in a single day:

At the beginning of the day: we fight to get out of bed.
During the day: we fight to maintain attention.
Sometime in the afternoon: we fight cravings.
Once things wind down: we fight to keep our eyes open.

And that’s just the normal kind of day; this is to say nothing about the different ‘corporate battles’ people face, those who find themselves ‘battling cancer,’ those trying to fight the battle of the bulge, fighting to keep the skeletons in our closets at bay, the couple in a rough patch who are fighting for their marriage (even though it appears they may be fighting each other). Then on top of that (or perhaps related to many of the things just listed), Scripture reminds us, like-it-or-not, believe-it-or-not, we are entrenched in a spuiritual battle where we have a very real enemy and there’s a great war occurring we usually can’t see.

Battles come every day. But how can you and I be ready when they come our way? How can we be sure that we are prepared to the extent that we don’t just ‘live to fight another day’ but find victory and hope in the midst of our circumstance?

I’m not trying to make you depressed, but take some time and think of the different battles you face. Go ahead, think. What battles are you facing?

…

Did you think of some?

In Joshua 4 & 5, we find the people of Israel, having crossed the Jordan River, now poised for battle. In fact, this is what is recorded for us:

Josh 4:

¹² The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, ready for battle, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. ¹³ About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for war.

They were ‘ready for battle’ and armed. The time to fight was coming. But, before they went to fight the battle before them, they were given instructions to remember some important truths… and those same instructions help us to fight our own battles in such a way that victory can be won. Over the next few “Joshua” entries here, we’ll discuss what the lessons the people of Israel were reminded of and how we can learn to face the battles of life, love and ministry. In the meantime, it just might be a good idea to reflect on what you’re facing this week and be reminded of our simple need to rely the only One who holds the promise of genuine victory

In Joshua courage, Encouragement, faith, Joshua, Scripture, victory

<image courtesy of iboy_daniel>

When it comes to taking those risky steps of faith, it can be difficult to know whether the ‘next step’ we see is our own desire or God’s leading for us. Scripture gives us a bit of a lens through which we can view those situations and determine whether or not ‘now is the time to take the leap. We’ve already asked, “Have I Put First Things First”, and, “Have I Waited?” You can read the introduction here.

When it comes to taking those risky steps of faith, it can be hard to know whether the ‘next step’ we see is our own desire or God’s leading for us. Scripture gives us a bit of a lens through which we can view those situations and ask if ‘now is the time’ to take the leap. We’ve already discussed asking “Are First Things First” and “Have I Waited.”

As Joshua and the people prepare for their crossing of the River Jordan, it’s obvious the risk hasn’t been exaggerated. Here’s what happens as they finally take the step of crossing the river:

Josh 3:

¹⁴ So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. ¹⁵ Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, ¹⁶ the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. ¹⁷ The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

That is an incredible image: stepping in, the water stopping, and standing firm as the people crossed. Imagine what it was like to be there and experience the hand of God in the moment; to recognize that this was part of what you were preparing for just days before.

The way these few verses read, it’s easy to think entering/crossing the river was a quick, easy task with no risk at all. But the truth is that the Jordan at flood stage is a dangerous place to be. Because of a system of channels and locks on top of the high level of the water, there would have been a swift current with the river. The priests who had to first step into the water could easily have been swept away… and, some scholars suggest their first step could have put them ‘in over their heads’ with the steep banks of the river in places. But their duty as priests meant they wouldn’t leave the ark regardless of their personal circumstance (as in, “staying with the Ark even if it meant traveling downriver with it and drowning).

The point is, this ‘step of faith’ could have literally cost them everything. Look at this from the perspective of Joshua and the priests: the entire nation is hoping this works. The enemy on the other side of the river is watching, hoping it doesn’t. Everything was on the line: the future of the nation, their own pride, their hope, the very lives if the priests… and for Joshua, all of his credibility, his very ability to lead, was at stake.

That’s the way it is with many of the decisions we face in life… but it’s especially true when it comes to following Jesus—he’s pretty candid with us that following him will cost us everything. So he urges us to count the cost. And we see in Joshua that for those participating in all of this, the potential cost was astronomical.

“Counting the cost” doesn’t mean allowing fear to enter into our thinking and drive us, but it does mean being aware and informed, understanding consequences and thinking long-term (the ‘immediate’ step was into the river, but it was just one of many steps of faith which would be required to see the nation of Israel established).

On the one hand, taking the faith-step moves us to a place where we risk everything. But on the other hand it moves us to a place where we find great security, knowing that the same God who led us to the place of faith will see us through it. It seems for us, we must count the cost, and knowing what could be, we move… trusting that God will be God, and his Great Name will be praised regardless of the outcome.

Have you counted the cost?

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