Being Church: Missionally Shaped

Today, we had a different kind of service at The Well.  We did not have a sermon like we had in the past.  We had a time of prayer as a church.  Being as we are stepping into a New Year, we, as a church, decided to pray for our New Year endeavors.  After our time of prayer, I gave the benediction.  Here is the benediction I gave for the New Year:

So we are going to enter a New Year.  Many of us will make resolutions.  The top three are:  1.  Lose weight, 2.  Stop smoking, 3.  Find faith.  I am surprised that faith found its way to the top three.  Unfortunately, these resolutions normally never are met.  We fail at them within weeks and decide that we will perhaps try again next year.  I have decided to make an acronym for New Year’s in hopes that we will be able to make our New Year’s resolutions count this year.

N.    Never forget the love of God.  It is deeper, longer, and wider than we could ever imagine.
E.    Enjoy the simple things God has given us.  We have so much to be thankful for.
W.    Wait on God.  He is worth it.

Y.  You were made in the image of God.  We are valuable.
E.  Each day is a gift from God.  Lets live like it.
A.  Always be willing to forgive others.
R.  Remember we are saved by the grace of God, lest anyone should boast in himself.
S.  Serve one another.  Jesus came to serve.  We should be willing to do the same.

Have a great New Year’s Folks.  God bless.

The Kingdom of God – Jesus only tells us what it is like, not what it is.  Anyone have any ideas?

Christmas is over.  For some of us, the passing of this holiday is more of a relief than that of sadness.  For the past two months, many of us have been set into frenzy with the “holiday spirit” of buying and shopping.  For two months, many of us have been listening to Christmas music and have been bombarded with “50 percent off” sales in every window.  Each year, it seems to be the same way.  There is no break from the hustle of mall discounts and Christmas preparations.  Then, all at once, after months of planning and buying, the presents have been opened, the family has both come and gone, and we are back to reality.  As my friend, Gary said Christmas Eve; it is like we can finally breathe again.

I am not trying to write a sad story here but it happens so often in most situations, I figure I might has well call it what it is.  Many people this year have allowed Christmas to be a time where they end up disappointed in the lack of change they wanted to experience.  Many of us who are single (cough) have not found that significant loved one we so desperately desire to get to know.  Many of us have hoped that we would become more popular this year only to find out that at the end of the day, we are left once again alone.

I wonder what hopes and aspirations Mary had after she had Jesus.  I wonder if she was at all disappointed after the first Christmas.  After the angels left and after the bright light went away, was Mary disappointed?  I don’t think she was.  To think that the Godchild nursed at her breasts and slept in her arms – that must had been an amazing site.  Life was not this “bed of roses” for the couple though.  They went through hard times, as any couple that had just had a baby in a stable would naturally have.  The next time we read about Mary, Joseph and Jesus, they are in a house.  The wise men come and visit him and they present gifts to the Family.  It is about two years later by the way.  I have often wondered what those first couple of years where like for the new family.  Just a few more questions I would ask if given the chance to ask them.

So for us, like Joseph and Mary, once Christmas is over, will we allow the glitz and glimmer of the holidays to leave behind the darkness that looms over us or will we look down and see Jesus sitting in our arms fast asleep?  Will we end up disappointed by all the “should have, would have, could haves” or will we make a decision to hold on to the hope of Emmanuel, God with us?  It is a decision that will not make our life easier.  We will not necessarily find the significant love one nor will we necessarily find true companionship by the world’s standards.  We will have what truly matters most – Jesus.

It is with that, I encourage you to enjoy the post holiday season and know that the greatest gift is with you.  It is truly a breathe of fresh air

Since today is Christmas, I decided to leave the amazing story of Mary till last.  I also did so in order to not put Mary on a pedestal.  I don’t believe she deserves one at all.  She should be understood as a young girl who was faced with a dilemma and not some “prized possession.”  Mary could have been any daughter of any family.  What I believe is significantly different about her though, compared to most likely any of the young ladies that we know, is that she had a very unique encounter with God in a way that had never existed before – and will never exist again.

She was a young girl.  Tradition says she was perhaps between the ages of 13-16 (though we really do not know for sure).  There was a guy who wanted to marry her named Joseph.  He was a carpenter and would be able to financially provide for this young girl.  We know from tradition that she agreed to be married to him and thus they were betrothed.  It must have been weird to be engaged at a young age as she was.  Mary no doubt, really had no idea what she was getting herself into.  All she knew was that in a short amount of time, she would be married to someone she probably had known all her life.

So an angel of the Lord comes to her and says, “Do not fear.”  Right.  I wonder what it would have been like for her to hear this.  Here you are (13-16 years old), an angel comes to you and said, “Do not fear.”  Then she is told something that must have been almost laughable to her:  You will be indwelled by the Holy Spirit and you will bare a son – name Him Jesus.”  Let’s just stop right there for a moment.

I am not trying to be graphic with anyone but last time I check it takes a man and a woman to conceive a child.  Unless science has new ways of doing things, you need sperm and an egg.  How on earth was the Holy Spirit going to indwell her?  Was one of her eggs going to be used?  How would the “sperm” part of Jesus really go to be added without any form of penetration?  Did it just “happen” or was there a spiritual process that you and I do not know about that occurred?  After she accepted her fate as this woman of choice, did it happen right away?  Or was there some time before it happened?  These are honest questions I would love to ask if I had the opportunity to ask them.  Am I the only one who has never thought about asking these questions?  I sure hope not!

After all this happens, she probably realizes that she will have to tell her parents.  Can you imagine having to go home and tell your parents that you will be having a baby but you have not had sex with anyone?  Could you imagine the look on their faces?  If your daughter came home and told you she was pregnant but she was not raped nor did she have intercourse, how would you look at her?  How would you respond?  I have to imagine that is how her parents felt when she told them.

Mary was a bold young lady.  She told her parents the truth, held on to the truth, and believed that since it was a gift from God, He would protect her.  She could have been stoned.  She could have been humiliated in her town by everyone.  Labeled most likely a whore, Mary allowed the young child inside of her womb to grow.  Because Mary was obedient, Jesus came into this world.  Emmanuel, God with us – in the flesh. Please do not forget the most significant reason for this holiday.  It is to remember the birth of a Godchild who came to save us and redeem us.  He came to love us and teach us the ways of the Kingdom of God.  He came to meet our needs and live among us – God will us.  It truly is the best gift we can be given this year.  Merry Christmas.  God bless

Did you know that the shepherds got to see the baby Jesus before anyone else?  They were the first visitors of the King of the Jews.  As a bunch of smelly outsiders, the shepherds were oftentimes alone.  And, though their job of herding sheep was important for the economical status of each town, the job of a shepherd was not very glamorous or exciting to say the least.

These shepherds were the first to see the baby Jesus.  Could you imagine herding sheep in the countryside and all of the sudden, a massive host of angels how up in the sky and start singing the most beautiful song you had ever heard?  I have never heard angels sing nor have I ever seen an angel.  The sight of the host of angels must have been absolutely crazy.  Words most likely could not describe what the shepherds saw.  All we know is that they were really freaked out.  I can honestly say that I wouldn’t blame them.

The angels must have known they were going to create an atmosphere of fear.  Their response was one that resulted from their majestic presence:  Do not fear.  Could you imagine hearing their voice?  I wonder what it would have sounded like.  Would I have really not been scared after they told me to not fear them?  I somewhat doubt it.

They then were given the way to see the King of the Jews.  They were obedient and followed the instructions they were given.  Go to Bethlehem, look for a manger, and find mother, father, and son.

The angels told the shepherds not to fear.  I guess I just find it interesting that God would find it so important that you and I would learn that the shepherds were there after Christ was born.  Perhaps it is not a big deal to most but it is significant.  God thought it was significant because it is written down for you and I to read.  I figure if God thinks it is important for us to know, we might as well take some time and recognize the significance for ourselves.  God bless

This Sunday’s serve was difficult to sit through. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable in church because whatever is about to come forth through the Word of God is difficult for me to hear. That is not a bad thing though.

Today, Todd spoke on a few passages regarding what Christ came to do. Christ even said Himself; “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:16-19).

Every time I used to go to church, I was told Jesus was coming in order to do a bunch of other things. Jesus was not really coming to preach to the poor. The poor were people we saw on the streets and never bothered to be concerned with. Jesus would never come to free prisoners or really help the blind see. The blind are those who do not know the Gospel of Jesus. The prisoners are those who were held to their sin and needed to be free from their lifestyle. The oppressed were those who needed forgiveness in Jesus, not the world. It seems my perception of Jesus growing up is much different than the literal picture of Jesus we see here in this passage.

Jesus did come though so that those who needed to be freed from prison. He did give sight to the blind and He did release the oppressed. I hope this holiday season; we do not forget all that Jesus means to us. If Jesus didn’t come, we would be missing out on so much. That is what I took away from this service. I hope it is something for all of us to take away this holiday season. God truly is good.

Since we are coming close to Christmas, I thought I would share some thoughts on what I have been learning through the event of His birth, told to us in Scripture. I began to read the first few verses of Matthew’s account tonight and stopped when I reached the words, “Joseph, do not fear to take Mary as your wife.” I believe we do not give Joseph the credit he is due in this situation. At lest I haven’t. It says Joseph was a just man. He was looked at in his community as someone to be looked up to. He followed the Torah and did what the Jewish men of that time did.

I am convinced that Joseph really loved Mary. Though it is not spoken of, I am not sure Mary was too excited to be with Joseph. He was a carpenter (most likely someone who worked to build houses with stone). Joseph followed the routine for asking Mary to be his wife. He began working on a house and preparing himself to be married to a woman perhaps he had known most of his life. I am sure she was very pretty as well (in the Jewish standards of the day) and was most likely sought after by many different men. She was however, betrothed to Joseph (a ritual that basically announced that they would be married as soon as Joseph finished building his house and received his father’s permission to marry her). In all respects though (except sex), Joseph and Mary were “married.”

The Scriptures say, “Marry was “found” to be with child” (Parenthesis mine). I wonder what it must have been like to see Mary’s stomach growing and a baby taking form within her womb. Joseph must have looked at her in disbelief. How could he marry a whore? Perhaps a Roman guard raped her. Maybe they could pass it off as an unwanted child. How could a man like Joseph ever marry a woman like Mary now? She would have to be stoned for her actions.

I am convinced that Joseph really loved Mary. He could have passed her off to the town people and killed. They would have dragged her outside of the town, dug a pit, filled it with mud, stuck her in it, tied her feet and hands together, and hurled large rocks at her until she was dead. The law said that this is how a woman like Mary should be treated. There must be no sin among the people.

I am convinced that Joseph really loved Mary. He decided that he would attempt to privately divorce her. The annulment would take place behind closed doors and no one would know except for Joseph’s family and Mary’s. That really is love. It is a love that goes beyond what would naturally follow. As Joseph was considering all he options (and there were many options), he fell asleep. I wonder if he prayed continuously about it. It does not say Joseph prayed about how to handle this situation but I have to believe he did. I have to believe Joseph came to God broken and confused about all that had transpired. When Joseph was asleep, the angle of the Lord appeared to him. I have never seen an angel nor am I ever expecting to meet one before I leave earth. I am almost sure that the awesome sight of what he was seeing frightened Joseph. “Do not fear, for what has been conceived is by the Holy Spirit.” If that dream had happened to me, I would have began to ask a lot of questions. “Why me?”

I am convinced that Joseph really loved Mary. Joseph woke from his dream and realized what had just taken place. He took Mary as his wife. He maintained a sex-free relationship with her until after Jesus was born. Even though Joseph was seen in a different light now that he had married Mary, Joseph took the angel’s words to heart. “Do not fear.”

I am convinced that Joseph really loved Mary. Without him, Mary would have been killed. Jesus would have had to be born another way, through another person. I love the fact that God takes note of Joseph’s love for Mary. And, for me, it is worth writing about and sharing with others this holiday season. God bless

I have to say that I love our small group.  We are not a large group at all (sometimes just five people).  But it is what it is:  a small group.  We have challenged one another and prayed for one another.  The challenges we have face in the Scriptures and through each other’s thoughts have provoked many of us to struggle with the Word of God in a very healthy way.  For this group, I am most appreciative.

Tonight, one member from our group shared with us something completely blew my mind.  It is such a familiar passage of Scripture.  I guess that is the problem I have most.  When I know the Scripture well enough, there are times I just skip over it and go on to more “deep“ issues.  Tonight was different though.  I don’t know if it was because I had my head on straight or something but it jumped out at met like it had never done before.  It is found in Mark, chapter 1 (the first eight verses).

This is the even of John baptizing people in the Jordan River.  As I said, it is familiar.  The part though I had never really thought about was that John, in the River Jordan, in the wilderness, was baptizing them.  I never took time to consider the significance of baptizing people in the wilderness (some versions might say “desert place/region.”  It carries the same significance either way).

Why the desert area/wilderness?  The Jordan River is not a small river at all.  He could have baptized them closer to the main city.  He could have had a nice place in town and did his work down the street.  I believe there is something more here to this event that we oftentimes overlook.  It says that many people were coming from Judea and Jerusalem to be baptized by John.  If that is so (and we believe it is), then there would have been a lot of people of all different types that came to him there.  Rich people (perhaps tax collectors), poor people (beggars and such) and all those in between.  Baptizing these people in the wilderness allowed for people to shed themselves of their status and confess their sins (big or small, many or few) on equal ground.  There was no one to judge them or look down on them.  It was a place where they could share all they needed to share and not feel guilty or shame for what they had done.

I am sure many people were surprised by who they saw while they were waiting their turn to be baptized.  I wonder what it would have been like to see a Roman solider come out to the desert to find a man who he had previously thrown in jail for stealing bread on the riverbank.  Could you imagine seeing these two men’s eyes met and see one another at the same place?  What about a man who had sex with a prostitute?  What if he saw that same prostitute on the riverbank when he arrived himself to confess the sin he had just committed with her?  Could you imagine the awkwardness of the situation?

They were in a secluded place now.  They could confess their sins and be baptized.  The significance I find in this is when those people came to the river, they had a weight on their shoulders and as they left, they were able to shed off the weights of their sins and return to their towns changed and different. They really could be repentant of their sins (making a 180 degree turn from sin).  I wonder what it would have been like walking back from that place, knowing that you were free from your sins.  How would you or could you explain it to another person you worked with or knew in town?

Finally, I want to give some credit to John for his hard work.  He listened to people’s confessions and then gave them hope.  He did not beat them up or make them feel bad.  He told them that there was someone coming who was greater than he.  He could not even untie this man’s shoes.  This man was going to baptize them with the Holy Spirit.  Each one left, knowing that something bigger and greater was going to happen.  They were given hope to live (to the best of their abilities), as sinless as possible.

I wonder how John dealt with all that he had heard.  How did he sit there and listen to so many people confess their sins?  How did he go home that night and not think about what he had heard others tell him about their lives and secrets?  The only thing I know is that God must have been truly gracious to John for all he had done.

I hope you will go and read Mark 1 and find the first eight verse of this amazing chapter convicting and challenging as I have.  There is a lot of information about confession, privacy, and character in these few verses.  I am so glad we looked at this tonight.

Hanging with the homeless has been an experience that I will never forget.  Monday night, I found out that Mont, my good friend who kind of looked like Santa Clause might have been selected to go to a shelter and receive some much needed help.  I am really happy for him if the news on the streets is true.  I have also found out that the larger woman who usually sits by herself and never talks to anyone (even the women) was picked up to go to a woman’s shelter in Germantown.  I guess for those two individuals, life was going to be much different for them (and much different for us because we would most likely not see them again).

We set up in our most usual place and began to give out free coffee and sandwiches and all.  I felt as though the smaller crowd that we had there was much nicer.  We could be a lot more intimate with those we met.  Tonight, I met some new guys with new stories.

I met a guy named Joe.  Joe and his buddy (I was not introduced to him) were on the streets now for three weeks.  For Joe, it was three weeks too long.  He told me how he was scared most nights.  Scared that perhaps he wouldn’t make it through the night because of what he had already experienced.  His buddy just sat there and smoked a cigarette.  He told me though that in two days, many churches would be opening their doors for the homeless to sleep on the floors.  He already knew the street lingo as well.  In just three short weeks, Joe could tell me where to go and where to not go.  He knew how to get “smokes” for dollar and where all the prostitutes were if he wanted to have a little fun that night.  They were cheap too.  For a whole 25.00, you could have a night of bliss and forget what kind of hell you are in.  For him, he felt that being with a prostitute was his only option (at least for now).  When I asked him if he was scared of getting an S.T. D., he just laughed and said no.  It was scarier to be on the streets itself than being with a girl.  He said most of them were “clean” and knew how to keep it that way.  With that, he buddy just laughed and blew into his hands so his breath could warm them.

I asked him how he got on the streets in the first place and he said, “drinking.”  God wanted him to stop drinking.  But drinking took away the pain of life.  He had it rough.  He hurt himself at work and had two steel rods placed in his legs.  His “wife” (who was some girl he was messing around with) didn’t want to wait around for him to heal, so she left to find someone new.  He was alone and without money.  He tried to make things work out but he found himself so far behind in his bills and deep in whiskey that he ended up giving up on life and became homeless.  He regretted that decision now that he had been on the streets for a couple of weeks.  He missed his TV and other material things.  He wanted to get better though but didn’t know how.  All he knew was that he needed to get to this church and everything would “be alright for he and his buddy.”  Joe and his buddy went off and began to build a “sleeping place” for themselves over a steel vent that pushed heat from a parking garage.  We said goodbye to one another and I was alone to think about my encourager with Joe and his friend.

It didn’t take long for someone else to come along and start up an “interesting conversation.”  Juan has been on the streets for 15 years.  Judging by the way he looked, I guessed he was probably only in his mid to late 30’s.  That meant that he had been on the streets much of his life.  He too knew the entire street lingo.  He knew the same prostitutes Joe knew and told me that he could get them cheaper because the women love a black man.  He told me that he was ready to give up the street life though.  He was tired of running from place to place in order to feel safe at night.  He said he began filling out applications to different places so he could make some form of living and be a product of society once again.  I have to say that I admired his desire to be more than just a object of piety.  He really seemed like he wanted to be something more than just a homeless person.

Finding a job is hard when you don’t have a residence he told me.  People would not give him the time of day because he was homeless or, as he put it, “in between homes.”  Still, he went out and tried.  He walked everywhere.  He told me he would work anywhere that would be willing to give him a chance to work hard.  Dishwasher, burger flipper or whatever, he wanted out of the streets.

As we were getting ready to leave and pray, Juan joined us.  I prayed that someone would give him a chance to prove how hard of a worker he can be and how much he wanted to get off the streets.  I prayed hat God would look after him as he lived on the streets and dealt with the heartache of being a stranger in a big place.  When we were done, he said something I probably will never forget.  “Always remember now much you are blessed.”  Coming form someone who is homeless, I can definitely say it left an imprint on me.  And probably on the rest of those who went down with us.  So this holiday, I am going to take Juan’s advice.  I will be thankful for all God has given me.  I love these people.  They teach me so much.  It truly is a blessing from God.

Sitting in church today, I realized that we were only a week away from celebrating Christmas.  Christmas has always been a big deal with our family.  It is one of three times a year that we all find time to get together and share time, food, and love for one another.  It is a time when all of our very different lifestyles go on hold and we find common ground together.  It has been for me, the greatest holiday for those reasons.

This Sunday, I was challenged in the word of God by the Scripture in a way I have not been in a long while.  There was something that was said that just made me think again about all I had heard that day.  A king is usually born in a palace.  Maybe that isn’t a big deal.  Maybe that makes no sense to you.  Here’s the thing that hits me the most about it.  The wise men knew the prophecy concerning “a king of the Jews.”  So, considering their knowledge of where kings are normally born, they go to the palace where Herod is surprised by their visit.  Were they wrong to think Jesus would be born in the palace?  I have to believe they only did what made perfect sense to them.  It would have made sense to you and I as well.

Jesus wasn’t born in a palace though.  He wasn’t born in a room filled with gold and servants.  He was born in a stable (a barn) and spent His first few days in a trough (a feeding trough).  Sound like a king?

When the wise men show up, they walk up to the door of a common household.  How on earth can the king of the Jews be born in this common place?  How can the Savior be born in the house of someone like a carpenter of all things?  As they enter the house, the wise men see Mary, Joseph, and Jesus (who’s name is close enough to Joshua – what a common name for a king).  The wise men are able to see past all of the commonality of Jesus to see the truth – this is in fact, the King of the Jews.  They kneel down before Jesus (some of the most respected men in the world kneel before a baby – make sense?) and give Him gifts (probably a lot of them too).

So, as we celebrate the remembrance of the birth of Jesus, let’s not forget how He came into this world.  He was common as anyone would be common.  The work, love and message of Jesus though was and continues to be life changing.  Make sense?