Monday, October 30, 2006

Remix: Dangers of Community

Yesterday we talked about four practices that build relationships and community and the dangers these practices bring. The four practices were: Selflessness, humility, love, and forgiveness.

One thing that has stayed on my mind for a year or so, has been the importance of the "little things." I am a big picture person--I like to think long term. Long term thinking and hte little things go hand in hand. I think it's the little things that sow good prospects for the future, for the long term. So, think today of the little ways you can live into selflessness, humility, love, and forgiveness.

Any other suggestions for living out selflessness, love, humility, forgiveness?

Monday, October 23, 2006

Evangelism Remixed

Sometimes seeing a word used in another context helps to rejuvenate it and give it fresh meaning. This morning I stumbled on such a new context. I was watching some news channel and a clip about a new Phys Ed program came on. It tries to engage more and more students in smaller groups of games, sports, and activities so that more can be involved and so that the less athletic aren't immediately discouraged. One of the promoters was mentioning how this program has created excitement in the homes of students because of the students talking about the fun of being physically active. The promoter said, "The kids have become the evangelists." This guy had taken a word that we usually connect with talking to blatant strangers in uncomfortable settings and revived it--literally "gave it life"--in a new context. And what were the kids doing? Just what Pastor Gary said yesterday: Telling what they had seen and heard.

It reminded me that we're evangelists for things all the time. I recently saw "The Prestige" and have been telling people about it; I tell people about our church; I tell people how my successes; I tell people about my friends. I am an evangelist for different good things in my life. I suppose this means the hard part is not being an evangelist--we do this all the time. The hard part is being an evangelist of God's Kingdom in ways that people need and understand.

What do you think?

Monday, October 16, 2006

Monday Morning Remix: Why we Need Each Other

Good morning friends!

Yesterday pastor Gary's sermon was on why we need each other. He listed community as God's remedy to a number of problems: fear, loneliness, fatigue, despair, and defeat. Fear is probably the one that I need to most help with.

Let me add one more problem that true community addresses: PRIDE. Community is God's answer to PRIDE. Think about the word 'community' and 'communication.' There is a 'give and take' nature to communication (which can become really hard, though really necessary when preaching!). True communication helps us get into the other person's shoes and to see from another perspective. Seeing from other perspectives increases my humility because I realize that I don't know everything (I know that's not very surprising to anyone in this email!). Maybe some can relate that after I have listened really well to another's perspective, I become more cautious when speaking. If I know they are listeners, I don't become afraid to speak, though. I just become more cautious--more humble--in what I say and how I say it. Community (and the communication that happens there!) is God's answer to pride.

Any other thoughts on the sermon? Thoughts on my thoughts above? Any other problems that community is God's answer to?

Monday, October 09, 2006

Monday Morning Remix: God in the Nitty Gritty

Yesterday's sermon gave two pictures of God at work in the nitty-gritty everyday-ness of life. The first was him pushing up his sleeves to show his power. Isaiah called Israel to be ready and rejoice for God to do large work. The second was of God rolling up his sleeves as a servant. Isaiah speaks of an anointed leader in chapter 53 who is wounded and suffers along with us. I believe these two pictures have to operate together: THe promise of God's power (the irritating voice of the prophet calling us to faith and hope) has to be joined with the humble hands of service.

Here's where my thinking took me after preaching. I think too narrowly in terms of service. I usually think of service in terms of my own spiritual gifts and think those are the "best" ways to serve. Of course that's false. Keep the box wide-open as to what spiritually healthy (i.e., not burning yourself out!) and appropriate (i.e., having necessary boundaries) service can look like with your own spiritual gifts.

Monday, October 02, 2006

Monday Morning Remix: Ready for a God visit?

Yesterday's sermon was concerned with preparing ourselves for God's visit. Pastor Gary outlined the different elements necessary for preparation.

What came to mind continuously for me was the actual ministry and parables of Jesus. Time and again Jesus was questioned about his ministry. And time and again he warned of having eyes to see and ears to hear. Mark 4 has cryptic and hidden aspect of Jesus' ministry. He teaches in parables--not because they are such excellent illustrations (the disciples are always asking what they mean!)--but because his ministry operates in secret and needs to be hidden in many ways. He cannot go about doing the re-calling of Israel by shouting it, but by whispering it to the people who want to hear.

Just as God visited in Jesus in a "quiet" way (for a good portion of his ministry, though not all of it), in the same way, I think, God visits us today. He visits "quietly"--working in hidden, cryptic and underground ways, wanting us to become people who know where to "look for" God. Ironic, isn't it, that God speaks quietly, in still, small voices when he could speak in thunder; that God visits without fanfare much of the time? Of course, what else should we expect from a King whose coronation is a Crucifixion? (See John 12:20-36)

This was my reaction. Any other thoughts?