amos pax!

Our son Amos was born last weekend! We are blessed to have him w/ us. K8 has written a great summary of all the events of his birth on our family blog:

http://www.mymomsaysiambalanced.blogspot.com/

ps 29

So, I thought this was cool yesterday. I was reading Psalm 29 (below) and was encouraged. This Psalm is all about the power/strength of God. It says He rules over creation; He is above the chaos (waters/flood); His strength breaks powerful trees (cedars,oak); He dominates nations (Lebanon/Sirion); His power shakes the earth (the desert/Kadesh); He reigns in His strength. The bottom line is that our God is powerful and worthy of praise, and in the face of it the only thing we can do is worship His greatness.

So He's powerful... check. But what does He do w/ His strength? What does He do w/ all this power of His? Check out v. 11, "The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace." He shares this strength, and blesses US w/ His peace. I find that super cool. The most powerful being in the universe, blesses us by giving us a piece of his strength and piece of His peace. What more can we say, but a word of thanks.


Ps 29:
1 Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

the way of love by john fischer

Here an article my homeboy Cody passed my way. Thanks Cody, it's a good word.

The Way of Love
by John Fischer

"The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty." - Mother Teresa

In her thoughts on homelessness yesterday, Marti brought up something we would do well to spend more time discussing. It's this idea that homelessness may be closer than we think. Not so much that anyone of us could find ourselves homeless given the right set of circumstances, but that there is a type of homelessness that goes on even in the most secure of homes - a kind of absence of love that leaves family members fragmented and alone. Homelessness is having no one there to love you in your own home.

So disheartened are we who do not know every neighbor on the street much less their stories. When did our God-given consciousness no longer recognize our neighbor as our responsibility? When did we stop caring? Was it during the time we stopped treasuring our families with warmhearted concern and started arguing with each other until we dissolved into faceless fragments of our own isolation?

This has been one of the glaring inconsistencies in evangelical Christianity for some time. Everything revolves around evangelism and yet our homes are falling apart from the inside. So much focus on "outreach;" so little "inreach." You can't love "out" if you can't love "in."

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35) Inner love stimulates an outer revelation. As Mother Teresa admonished us, let's start addressing the poverty a world away by remedying the poverty in our own homes.

11.10 prayer

I've posted the Nov. prayer letter for The Table in the "prayer" link to the right. Thanks for your prayers and support!

citizen

It's late Friday night and the house across the street is testing the maximum volume of their house speakers. What do you do? You see someone finish their 1 liter of Pepsi, and throw it down next to 7 other cans and bottles. What do you do? The dangerous road you walk down, still has no sidewalk. What do you do?

The answer to these questions for many of us is to wish someone else would take care of it. So we either sit and fester, sit and complain, or sit and call the authorities (the city, the cops, etc.). This answer is indicative of how our consumeristic culture gets played out in our daily lives. We see and believe ourselves to be consumers of a system, waiting to be served.

Presently, I am at an AmeriCorps/community development training. The grant I received is focused on boostering volunteerism in my neighborhood. With this focus, a goal is to change the attitude of seeing ourselves as consumers to begin seeing ourselves as citizens. A citizen, in my mind, is one who takes responsibility for the condition of their neighborhood. My hope is that citizenship will increase in my neighborhood as a of this grant.

I can imagine a better neighborhood than first described. So, it's late Friday night and the house across the street is testing the maximum volume of their house speakers. I can imagine a neighbor calling that house, because of an already established relationship, instead of calling the cops. Or, you see someone finish their 1 liter of Pepsi, and throw it down next to 7 other cans and bottles. I can imagine a neighbor asking that person to properly dispose of the trash, and if "the bird is flipped" knowing that the citizen-led regular trash cleanup will help keep the streets clean. And when the dangerous road you walk down still has no sidewalk, I can imagine a group of neighbors putting pressure on the local government to act, or seeking funds and approval for private neighborhood action. I would much rather live in this second neighborhood, where my neighbors are empowered. You?

living rhythms

In our journey of church planting, there has been a big emphasis on dreaming/planning/scheming. This continues to be the case, but with a new addition, implementation. After creating, casting, and refining vision for so long, it is strange to put those thoughts into action. Doing so is what makes those rhythms living things that express how God is moving through us.

With our leadership community, the vehicle of the new church is moving. This past month was The Table's first full month of living out our rhythms of hospitality, discipleship, and blessing. We "worshiped" three weeks, served the neighborhood one week, and threw a party the next. It is awesome to see this movement occur. It is not how I guessed it would be, but it is beautiful.

The vision of our rhythms did not begin this way. After reading a book called "Simple Church" by Thom S. Rainer & Eric Geiger, I became convinced that and organization's mission must also be its values and their vision. Too often a the beauty of a mission get bogged down by values and vision that are similar but different, leaving the organization w/ a massive document no one looks at.

So if someone asks what the mission of The Table is I'd say, "To live the HOSPITALITY we see in Jesus, to grow in our DISCIPLESHIP in Him, and to be a BLESSING to those around us, in His name." If someone asks what the values of The Table are I'd say, "To live the HOSPITALITY we see in Jesus, to grow in our DISCIPLESHIP in Him, and to be a BLESSING to those around us, in His name." And if someone asks what the vision of The Table is I'd say, "To live the HOSPITALITY we see in Jesus, to grow in our DISCIPLESHIP in Him, and to be a BLESSING to those around us, in His name." You get the idea.

Now that we have this in our minds as a church, it is cool to see us living it out. As a group we had a party where social lines and circles blurred b/t friends, neighbors, and church folk. To me it was a step of HOSPITALITY. In our worship gatherings and Bible studies, it is awesome to see and hear "iron sharpening iron" (the image of DISCIPLESHIP), as we grow in the likeness of Christ together. And it is cool to leave our 4 walls of comforts and go out and pray for the neighborhood as we pick up trash or visit neighbors in "their territory", and BLESS them on "their terms". It has been awesome to see us implement our rhythms, for His glory. I pray we will continue to grow in these rhythms as we continue follow the lead of Christ.

"how america sees God"

The following is an interesting article, taken from “How America Sees God” – USA Today, Nov. 7, 2010. Let me know what you think.)

If you pray to God, to whom — or what — are you praying? When you sing God Bless America, whose blessing are you seeking?

In the USA, God — or the idea of a God — permeates daily life. Our views of God have been fundamental to the nation's past, help explain many of the conflicts in our society and worldwide, and could offer a hint of what the future holds. Is God by our side, or beyond the stars? Wrathful or forgiving? Judging us every moment, someday or never?

Surveys say about nine out of 10 Americans believe in God, but the way we picture that God reveals our attitudes on economics, justice, social morality, war, natural disasters, science, politics, love and more, say Paul Froese and Christopher Bader, sociologists at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Their new book, America's Four Gods: What We Say About God — And What That Says About Us, examines our diverse visions of the Almighty and why they matter.

Based primarily on national telephone surveys of 1,648 U.S. adults in 2008 and 1,721 in 2006, the book also draws from more than 200 in-depth interviews that, among other things, asked people to respond to a dozen evocative images, such as a wrathful old man slamming the Earth, a loving father's embrace, an accusatory face or a starry universe.

Researchers from the USA to Malawi are picking up on the unique Baylor questionnaire, and its implications. When the Gallup World Poll used several of the God-view questions, Bader says, "one clear finding is that the USA — where images of a personal God engaged in our lives dominate — is an outlier in the world of technologically advanced nations such as (those in) Europe." There, the view is almost entirely one of a Big Bang sort of God who launched creation and left it spinning rather than a God who has a direct influence on daily events.

Froese points out: "You can't really ask people directly about their moral and philosophical worldview. But if you know their image of God, it could give you insight into why they get upset when you break the rules, or you stand up for a certain politician. Or, how they will react when bad things happen or whether they see personal morality or foreign policy in stark right-or-wrong terms."

Four views of God
Froese and Bader's research wound up defining four ways in which Americans see God:
•The Authoritative God. When conservatives Sarah Palin or Glenn Beck proclaim that America will lose God's favor unless we get right with him, they're rallying believers in what Froese and Bader call an Authoritative God, one engaged in history and meting out harsh punishment to those who do not follow him. About 28% of the nation shares this view, according to Baylor's 2008 findings.
"They divide the world by good and evil and appeal to people who are worried, concerned and scared," Froese says. "They respond to a powerful God guiding this country, and if we don't explicitly talk about (that) God, then we have the wrong God or no God at all."
•The Benevolent God. When President Obama says he is driven to live out his Christian faith in public service, or political satirist Stephen Colbert mentions God while testifying to Congress in favor of changing immigration laws, they're speaking of what the Baylor researchers call a Benevolent God. This God is engaged in our world and loves and supports us in caring for others, a vision shared by 22% of Americans, according to Baylor's findings.
"Rhetoric that talks about the righteous vs. the heathen doesn't appeal to them," Froese says. "Their God is a force for good who cares for all people, weeps at all conflicts and will comfort all."
Asked about the Baylor findings, Philip Yancey, author of What Good Is God?, says he moved from the Authoritative God of his youth — "a scowling, super-policeman in the sky, waiting to smash someone having a good time" — to a "God like a doctor who has my best interest at heart, even if sometimes I don't like his diagnosis or prescriptions."
•The Critical God. The poor, the suffering and the exploited in this world often believe in a Critical God who keeps an eye on this world but delivers justice in the next, Bader says.
Bader says this view of God — held by 21% of Americans — was reflected in a sermon at a working-class neighborhood church the researchers visited in Rifle, Colo., in 2008. Pastor Del Whittington's theme at Open Door Church was " 'Wait until heaven, and accounts will be settled.' "
Bader says Whittington described how " 'our cars that are breaking down here will be chariots in heaven. Our empty bank accounts will be storehouses with the Lord.' "
•The Distant God. Though about 5% of Americans are atheists or agnostics, Baylor found that nearly one in four (24%) see a Distant God that booted up the universe, then left humanity alone.
This doesn't mean that such people have no religion. It's the dominant view of Jews and other followers of world religions and philosophies such as Buddhism or Hinduism, the Baylor research finds.
Rabbi Jamie Korngold of Boulder, Colo., took Baylor's God quiz and clicked with the Distant God view "that gives me more personal responsibility. There's no one that can fix things if I mess them up. God's not telling me what I should do," says Korngold. Her upcoming book, God Envy: A Rabbi's Confession, is subtitled, A Book for People Who Don't Believe God Can Intervene in Their Lives and Why Judaism Is Still Important.
Others who cite a Distant God identify more with the spiritual and speak of the unknowable God behind the creation of rainbows, mountains or elegant mathematical theorems, the Baylor writers found.
This distant view is nothing new. Benjamin Franklin once wrote that he could not imagine that a "Supremely Perfect" God cares a whit for "such an inconsiderable Nothing as Man."
The Baylor researchers' four views of God reveal a richness that denominational labels often don't capture. They found that Catholics and mainline Protestants are about evenly divided among all four views, leaning slightly toward a Benevolent God. More than half of white evangelicals identify with an Authoritative God; that view is shared by more than seven in 10 black evangelicals, they said.

How we see daily life and world events
How did we get to this multifaceted state? A three-night TV series starting Monday on PBS, God in America, examines our religious history, one rife with people contesting over visions of God.

It begins with the first Europeans arriving with visions of a New Eden and clashing immediately, first with Native Americans, then with each other.
Even in 1680, it was clear that "European religion would not survive unchanged" in America, says Boston University religion professor Stephen Prothero, one of the narrators for the series, created by Frontline and WGBH-TV Boston.

By the time of the Founding Fathers, "God was seen as a more distant deity, not someone who will row the boat across the Delaware for us," series producer Marilyn Mellowes says.

History is portrayed in the PBS series as waves of mini-dramas: challenges to religious order, the rise of concepts of political liberty, the establishment of First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and religion — and the fits and starts of working out what it means to be a nation without one state-sanctioned religion.
Each generation makes righteous claims for social justice, for God on their side in combat, for the truths they want to teach their kids, Mellowes says.

The PBS series finds today's fights over Muslim efforts to build mosques echoes past religious liberty struggles such as the fight in the 1770s by Baptists in Virginia to be free to preach, or the 1940s push by Catholics in New York to educate their children outside Protestant-run public schools.

When asked about Baylor's findings, Prothero says views of God are splintering, even though "Protestants had control of the culture right up into the 20th century. ... It shouldn't be surprising that the model now is more like a different God for every person. Baylor found four Gods; other researchers could have found eight or maybe 16."

Bader and Froese looked at themes, including:
•Morality. People with an Authoritative God are about three times more likely to say homosexuality is a choice, not an inborn trait, than those who see a Distant God — affecting their views on gay rights, particularly on marriage and adoption.
•Science. Those who see God as engaged in daily life (authoritative or benevolent) are nearly twice as likely as those whose God is critical or distant to say that God often performs miracles that defy the laws of nature.
•Money. "We are all values and pocketbook voters now," the Baylor sociologists write. "In general, your values reflect your God and your God reflects your pocketbook."
In research done at the height of the recession, the authors found "lower economic status is strongly related to the belief that God harshly judges and is angry with the world." This reflects a view that it is personal faith or faith-based action, not the government, that solves poverty, they write.
•Evil, war and natural disasters. Does God cause mayhem, allow it or have no role? "When we talked about Hurricane Katrina and 9/11, the Authoritative God type was most likely to think God had a hand, directly punishing us for society's sinful ways," Bader says.
But believers in a Benevolent God "will focus on a fireman who escaped, or the people who rebuild homes, or the divine providence of someone missing a flight that crashed on 9/11," Bader says.
To someone who sees a Distant God, the 9/11 terror attacks amounted to a sign of man's inhumanity, not God's action or judgment, Bader says. And they see a storm as just a storm.
Believers in a Critical God say whatever happens now, "God will have the last word," Bader says.

So how do our views of heaven differ?
Political scientists Robert Putnam of Harvard and David Campbell of Notre Dame address this in their new book, American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, also based on nationwide surveys.
They found unifying threads: Americans of every stripe overwhelmingly believe that all good people go to heaven, that many faiths contain truth and that religious diversity is good for the nation.

Putnam and Campbell's optimistic conclusion is that we are able to live with vast religious diversity because we are "enmeshed" in networks of people we care about — your Catholic aunt, your Methodist spouse, your spiritual-but-not-religious child and your evangelical neighbor. The Baylor sociologists also see this. "With our high level of religious freedom and pluralism," Froese says, "all kinds of views of God will do very well."

The national conversation about God, Bader says, is "much richer than showdowns between screaming evangelicals and screaming atheists. This is the way we tell the stories of the world around us."

mexico

K8 and I returned last week from our 10 year anniversary trip to Mexico. Montana spent the week w/ grandparents in CO, and we spent the week by ourselves... that's right, just us. It was awesome! It was a beautiful week of great connection w/ each other. We actually had opportunities to have uninterrupted conversations, occasions to laugh, and rich times of dreaming together. K8 and I had a week full of shared recreation, where we snorkeled daily, seeing God's creation in a totally foreign environment to us. It was a week of taking a brain break, where we each sat on the beach and read our own books, talking about them as we went. It was truly an awesome, awesome week.

Overall, I would say the week was restful and refreshing. To me, it was a great picture of Sabbath. John Calvin speaks of the command for Sabbath in his "Institutes" saying, “The whole may be thus summed up... first, that during our whole lives we may aim at a constant rest from our own works, in order that the Lord may work in us by his Spirit" (II.8.34). We rest from our work, so He may work in us... beautiful. For me, getting away w/ K8 allowed God to open me eyes again to His glory, and His blessing - to be in a place where He opens my eyes anew to the gift of K8, the gift of missing Montana, to gift of creation, and the gift of His pursuit of my heart. Sabbath is a chance to enjoy the fruits of life and relationship, to be reminded that all of life is sacred, to remember His work in our lives.

I am thankful for our time away together, especially before junior comes and life changes again. But I am most thankful for the great reminder of God's blessing in my life. He has blessed me w/ a wife I am still captivated by, a daughter I miss when she's not around, and a community I love serving. I pray for my Sabbaths in Bellingham to continue to point me to Him and His hand of blessing.

hosea

We started reading the book of Hosea this week in our Monday night Bible study. It's an interesting book. In the 1st 3 chapters, God asks Hosea to marry a prostitute to reveal the nature of His relationship w/ Israel, and their unfaithfulness. I am struck by the tennis match of emotions that are played out in the 1st 3 chapters. Hosea's wife, Gomer (nice name), bears 3 kids after marrying Hosea. We're not sure if they're Hosea's kids or of a "John", but God instructs them to give the kids names that represent violence, "no love", and the breaking of covenant. Gloomy, eh?

But then after naming the last child, and in spite of the children symbolizing Israel's unfaithfulness to their covenant and relationship w/ God, God promises to make Israel His children. Hope in the midst of the gloomy.

But then God states that He will take away all the blessings Israel claims have come from other places than God, all so she can see that God is the source of all blessing. Gloomy again?

But then after stripping away everything, it says that God will lead Israel into the desert (w/ nothing) and speak tenderly to her (refreshing her). Promising that He will make "the valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope", making the land a place of peace and security and rest. Awesome!

I think the reality I see in these chapters is the reality that we "make our own beds", having to live w/ bad decisions. We are w/o hope on our own, like the sorrowful and broken patterns of a prostitute. But there IS hope. In this sorry state, God moves toward us and calls us home, home to that place of peace, security, and rest. He did come to us in Jesus, and continues to bring hope.

Hosea is a challenging book, but a book of human reality, and the reality of God's grace. I pray that He will reveal that grace to us again today and as we walk about our week.

prayer letter 9.2010

FYI - This month's prayer letter for The Table has been posted. Just hit the "prayer" link to the left. Thanks for your prayers for our church!

balance and the bellingham bay half-marathon

Next week is the race, The Bellingham Bay Half-Marathon. I've been training for about 7 weeks now. I always enjoy running a race in the fall. It seems like a good way to start a new season. This year I had another motivation... Mexico. A week after the race K8 and I are heading for Mexico to celebrate 10 Years of marriage, which should be sweet. So to gear up for it I felt extra motivation for this race (no one wants to see flabby Aaron). This is the longest week in my training, and I'm ready for shorter miles.

In light of thinking about making running for of a weekly/daily rhythm, I've been thinking about balance. Unless I have a goal, working out is usually the 1st thing to go in a busy schedule. But it is the workout that helps me maintain balance in the midst of a busy schedule. I find that if I don't get into the word and get active in the mornings, the rest of the day feels rushed or strained. It may be different for someone else, but this is what I've found. I dislike the days that feel disproportional toward one thing or another. A well proportioned day of study, fitness, work, being social, family time and service feels the best. And summer felt pretty proportioned and balanced. So the question for me is, How will I continue to find balance after the race is over, and once fall is fully in bloom?

I pray that you and I both will be blessed with the foresight to make proactive choices (rather than reactive choices) so we may live lives w/ margin, balance, and joy. I believe that when we are able to live in these spaces, we are able to listen to God's voice more clearly and have the room in our lives to bless our families, friends, and neighbors in His name. So will you join me in raising a glass to His movement in lives as we strive for balance?

change

As I was working at the Firehouse today, one customer mentioned that they had just dropped their kids off at school. Today is the 1st day back for Bellingham School District. I was curious if they were relieved to get their kids out of the house or wishing they didn't have to go. My customer mentioned that this year is their child's senior year of high school, and so they were navigating the feelings surrounding this being the last year of school, and all that means for their family. In contrast to this, just yesterday Kate and I were standing inside a classroom deciding whether to enroll Montana in her 1st year of preschool. "It's only preschool", but it feels funny thinking about sending her off to begin a new chapter. Then I also think about some new friends of mine. They've just moved to town from another state. Beginning new jobs today, making new friends, and finding "their" new spots to hang.

Change is in the air this week, and w/ it is a mix of emotions. We long to keep things as they are. I found myself saying (the same words my mother said to me as a kid) to Montana, "Don't grow up so fast". Yet, we also long for newness. I'm excited for the new adventures that the next season will bring. It's a strange mix of emotion. Change is in the air this week, but it always there. Change has a feeling of destabilizing us. And depending on our mood or disposition, this can either be welcomed or feared.

Change is something we can count on. But in the midst of it, there is One whom we can actually depend on, One we can look to for true stability. I'm encouraged by the words of Psalm 62:5-6, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken." This fortress will remain solid in the face of attacks, and strong winds.

So as think about my customer, my friends, and our family - all experiencing a different form of change - I have hope. I hope in the Constant One, our strength and our salvation. I know He is good, stable and powerful when we feel mixed. For that, I have hope and give Him praise.

facebook

The Table is on facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/thetablebellingham

Will you be our church's friend?

looking to fall

Summer has been nice. It has been a great change of pace compared to the rest of the ministry year, busy but different. Looking ahead to the fall, I know that it too will be different compared to what we've experienced thus far. I anticipate it to be an exercise in balance. It will be a balance between what we've been done all year (Bible studies, working at the Firehouse, and hanging out), the worship gathering we started this summer, and what we will add in the fall.

I mostly envision the addition of my Americorp grant to be the big wild card for balance. I received a part-time grant to do community organization in my neighborhood. This will add 20 hours a week to my schedule. My hope is that some of those 20 hours will be absorbed into existing activities, but that is yet to be determined. Ultimately it means defining or redefining what "ministry" means; what it means to me; what it means to the CRC; and what it means to everyone else. Does community organization or making coffee or volunteering fit into my calling as a missional pastor creating a new church? Answering this question is important to my relationship w/ those who support me, to our budding church, to my integrity as a pastor in the CRC, and most importantly to my call to be obedient to God's calling on my life and the life of my family.

To me the answer comes from meditating on the "Great Commission" from Matthew 28:19, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...(NIV)" A better translation would be "AS YOU GO make disciples of all nations..." As I go and do what I do in different settings, my call is to make disciples, build up the church that He has called me to pastor, and love Him, while I love others in His name. Definitions of "ministry" for organizations will vary, but to me it all goes toward fulfilling the Great Commission. So navigating and balancing my time this fall between different organizations and commitments will become a matter of translation and integrity. May He be glorified as we navigate the balance.

worship gathering

I just finished cleaning up, after having many friends over for our 5th worship gathering. It was a great discussion tonight, about making time to engage w/ neighbors, following Jesus' spirituality of engagement (Mk 2:13-22). Cool crew of folks tonight. It is a pleasure and honor to host and lead such an event!

Here's some photos form our 1st gathering back in June:

the table!

We are very excited to announce that the church plant finally has an official name... The Table! Our leadership community made the official decision this week. We are excited about our name, as it evokes images of rich relationship and community. “The Table” matches the rhythms of the new church, of hospitality, discipleship, and blessing. A table is a great place of connection between new friends… a table of hospitality. A table was where Christ invited his disciples into greater fellowship… a table of discipleship. A table is also a place where the hungry are fed… a table of blessing.

Now that we have a name, we plan to continue to doing what we have always been doing: living out our rhythms of hospitality, discipleship, and blessing. Our desire is to continue to make room, as individuals and as a church, in our lives to welcome others in; to continue to make Christ the focus of the hope we have and share; and, to continue to seek ways to tangible bless our neighbors. It is an exciting season at The Table! Here’s to God’s work at The Table!

doing dishes

Last night, I again finished a small pile of dishes, after hosting a party. This has become a frequent thing, that I have grown to enjoy. Usually the small, or big, pile of dishes is from a church group of some kind, whether a Bible study, leadership meeting, or worship. I enjoy doing the dishes of my guests. Strangely enough, it has become a meditative activity of worship. In this tactile act, I have a chance to rest, reflect of the evening, and thank God for His goodness, His provision, and His movement among us.

Last night as I did the dishes, I was reflecting on the leadership community meeting that happened that evening. What a great group of folks! They are such a blessing and a source of encouragement. We ate, drank, and shared what was going on in our lives. We talked about our worship gatherings, planned some things (including our next worship gathering on July 25), and discussed names for the budding church we lead. Then we prayed, daydreamed, and nibbled some more. It was a great night, and, as I meditated about the evening over the dishes, a feeling of great blessing fell over me. God is good. He is the source of hope in my life, and it is cool to see Him forming a new community, and bless His people. For this reason, I love seeing a pile of dirty dishes.

preaching from the hamper

Last night was our first worship gathering as a church plant. It was awesome! We all showed up at our home at 5:30pm and ate a meal together for about 45 minutes. Then the kids left and did their own Bible lesson and activities, while we sang sangs, prayed, had a discussion on Mark 1 (I lead the discussion while sitting on my hamper...funny), and then took communion together. Then the kids came back and we hung out and ate dessert.

It was so encouraging to see so many people in my small apartment (about 40 folks). It was so much fun to see our small community come together and worship and party together. i look forward to seeing what God will do in the future. Our next gathering is on July 11 at 5:30pm. It should be another great time!

prepping

This week is the first week of its kind. The church plant is having its first worship gathering this coming Sunday evening. I've planned many worship services, but this is different. In the past I've planned services, and simply pulled out the blank "worship order" and filled in the blanks, tweeking it occasionally. This time there is no blank worship order to fill in, just a blank sheet.

It's quite cool actually. We can do whatever we want, however we want. There is no schedule or thing to follow, because we are on "day 1". It is a fun process of discerning what is valuable and meaningful to our little community.

At this point I am using the elements seen in Acts 2:42 as a checklist, of sorts. It says, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." So, we are making eating together, praying, a Biblical teaching, and communion a priority. We are trying to keep it simple and authentic. I am excited to see the personality this gathering will take, as we tweek it as we go.

here we go... again

As mentioned in a previous post, on Sunday, June 27th, at 5:30pm, the church plant will hold its first worship gathering. We are very excited to again reach a new mile marker on our journey. Our hope is that we will worship every other week this Summer, in our home (until we out grow it).

We are planning on eating together, maybe singing songs of praise, pray for each other and our neighbors, hear a message of hope, and receive the Lord's Supper together. I anticipate that it will be an intimate, authentic time of connection between us and Christ. If you are in the area, we'd love to have you join us in shaping what God is calling our community to be.

june 2010 prayer letter

The June prayer letter is up. Just click the "prayer" tag off to the left to view it.

leadership community

Last night was a sweet night. After a couple months of inviting trusted friends to be a part of the church plant’s leadership community, we finally got together as a group for the first time. My only agenda was to eat, share our stories w/ each other, and pray. All of those things were accomplished. Over a meal we told each other about ourselves. It was cool to hear new aspects of my friends’ lives and journeys. We spent a brief time prayer for the future of our community, our group, and our church, that God would grant us wisdom, unity, and fun. It was everything I hoped the party would be… and more.

After our official times was over, most folks stayed around, and immediately we began daydreaming together. I had the desire to gather the church for worship over the summer, but did not know when we would begin. I tend to want to move faster than is relationally realistic. So I was playing “the patient card,” waiting to see the timetable of everyone else. And to my very pleasant surprise, the crew last night wanted to start a worship gathering very soon. So we set a date (June 27th at 5:30pm at our house), and began scheming what needs to happen to pull it off. There was an obvious spirit of excitement in the air, as people were suddenly speaking a little louder and quicker, and rapidly throwing ideas back and forth. It was awesome.

I feel tremendously blessed and thankful for how God has moved. The process of forming a community out of nothing is draining at times. And it is moments that I rely on my own efforts that cause me the most stress and grief. But, when I sit back and observe how God is forming the church, and moving in our lives, those are, by far, the most rewarding, productive, and encouraging times. Psalm 127:1 says that unless God builds the house, we labor in vain. It was apparent last night that God is doing some building.

So now our task is to be obedient to what He is forming, and laying on people’s heart. We will be figuring out a liturgy as we go along, how we will structure ourselves, and how God wants us to serve Bellingham. It is a freaky, humbling task. But I am blessed to have some friends to do it with, for His glory.

plant update

So we've been at this thing for about a year and a half now. This thing being, starting a church. For the first 6 months we discerned where in NW Washington God was leading us to serve. Bellingham kept coming up, and was confirmed, so about a year ago we moved here. Since that time we have made it our priority to simply build relationships and friendships, w/ neighbors, coworkers, fellow church goers. It has been a fun year, living in a fun place.

About a month ago I really felt the nudge from God to begin taking the next step of faith. I believe after a year of living here, it is time to start gathering our initial prayer/planning group, our launch/core team. So for the last month I've been having intentional conversations w/ friends who have walked w/ us for this year. In some conversations my friends said they did not feel the tug to join us in the ambiguity of starting this church, and in other conversations friends had been waiting for such an invitation. In all of them, I feel like friendships were deepened, and God was honored.

So now I am done w/ my initial short list of friends I was going to ask to join us. We have 5, maybe 6, households. Now my hope is to get them all together and have a party, a time when they can all get to know each other better. Then hopefully soon there after we will meet, and pray, and begin daydreaming about what God has in store for us. Perhaps we will decide on a name, a worship time, and how we can serve our neighbors.

I am very encouraged. I am excited to see what God has in store for us this season. Thanks for your prayers and support of us and the ministry God is unfolding.

waiting

Lately I've been thinking about God's timing, how sometimes it feels like forever as we wait for an answer of some sort from "above". When we are in the thick of waiting it stinks.

I was thinking of all this again, when I was reading Acts 23-24 today. In these chapters Luke (the author of Acts) gives us the account of Paul on trial before two different courts. In Acts 23, he was seized by the ruling authorities in Jerusalem, and in this Jewish council he proclaims his hope in the resurrection of Christ.

This scene is followed by Acts 23:11: "The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, 'Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.'" Jesus encouraged Paul in what he just did, and proclaims what he will accomplish in the future.

How often do we feel like God has something for us, but the timing is not right? We receive the call, or the inspiration, and are excited. But then time drags on and we wonder if we heard from God at all.

I believe Paul may have been in a similar spot. After hearing that word from Jesus he was rushed out of Jerusalem, and in Acts 24 stood trial before a Roman official, Felix, but nothing really happened. In Acts 24:27 it says, "When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison." Two years after his trial with Felix, Paul was still in prison. I would be discouraged, and I'm sure Paul was also, to some extent.

If we read the rest of Acts we know that Paul did make to Rome, and Jesus' words from Acts 23 were fulfilled, but what a wait! If Paul was anything like I am, he would have been impatient.

Our time tables are different from God's, sometimes He moves quicker than we would, and other times slower. His timing throws us off guard; it screws up our plans; it makes us realize that WE are not in control at all. What I gather from these last chapters of Acts is that God is faithful to fulfill what He promises, and says that He will bring glory to Himself through us, and that He provides for what we need.

I'm not sure what you're waiting on, or what you feel is moving too quickly, but God is faithful. We can rest in the uncertainty, knowing He is in control and has our best in mind. I pray that He would give you peace and encouragement, while you're in the middle of it. And, may He have all the glory through you.

rhythms

It certainly feels like I have found a rhythm to my week. There are exceptions of course, but I basically know what each day of the week MAY look like, at least for now. For a while there, I was living in denial that Sunday was still a day of rest. So when Sunday showed up and I was expecting to sneak a nap in, I was repeatedly disappointed, and found I was missing a day of rest. We all need a day to rest, whether resting means relaxing or being active. I wasn't getting that, so I felt out of sync, w/ myself, my family, and my work.

It has been amazing how much better my weekly rhythm feels now that I look at Sunday as "my Monday." The first part of my week is now quite busy, w/ church, Firehouse work, small groups, meetings, and running around. The second part of my week is laid back, w/ volunteering, writing, reading, and lots of time hanging w/ K8 and Montana, and friends. It is nice to have rhythms of working hard and resting.

The idea of Sabbath is pretty profound, if you think about it. God leads by example and rested (Gen 2:1-3); Christ often sought solitude in the middle of His busyness (Mt 14:13, 23). It is good for us when we are able to stop from or normal work, and do something different. It's nice when we have the time to stop and listen, give thanks, and worship. This picture is a good one, but a bit dualistic, compartmentalized. It's nice to look forward to the second half of my week, but what about first half of the week.

Is it possible to find rest and worship WHILE we work or are busy? Brother Lawrence, a 17th century monk known for his teachings in "The Practice of the Presence of God", encourages us to find the peace of Christ in common things. One of the things he's known for is making the average experience of washing dishes an experience of worship. Brother Lawrence was obviously able to find rest and worship outside of Sunday morning.

It's a blessing to have rhythms in my week, and important for me to guard these rhythms. But more importantly, it's a blessing to find moments of rest and peace in Christ no matter I'm doing. My prayer is that God would reveal to you and me moments of worship today, whatever rhythm we're in, however mundane.

may prayer letter

I've posted my latest prayer letter in the prayer page to the left. Enjoy!

my monday

I'm finding that things that used to feel unique, or I didn't know how to address, have become normal.

For instance on Monday, I went in early to the coffee shop the read before I clocked in. As I walked in, a crowd of regulars greeted me w/ smiles and waves. After getting a drink I sat down at a table and read from my Bible.
As a regular found his seat (at the table next to me), he leaned over and asked, "What are you reading there, some sort of dictionary?"
"No," I said, w/ a smile, "it's my Bible."
"Oh," he said, looking a bit surprised, "is it for personal study, or something else?"
"Yeah, I'm reading in preparation for studying w/ some friends tonight."
"So you're a Christian?!?"
"Yeah, I am."
"Oh, well that's interesting," he said, more to himself that to me, and turned around.

During my shift, making coffee, I was greeted with many different folks, most of whom I know by name. One regular came in, obviously very excited. She told me that she and her partner had just filed for their domestic partnership w/ the state. These 2 ladies have been together for 20+ years, and they were in the coffee shop to celebrate. Next, another woman came up and asked what she should do, as a Christian, in giving her cousin advise on an ethical issue. Then after a regular denied being pickup for a future date from her old boyfriend, I chatted w/ her about love and relationships and aging. All in a day's work at the Firehouse.

Walking home, I prayed for our Bible study and for the Lord to lead our time and give us wisdom. Coming inside our home, K8, Montana, and a friend were looking at photos. It's cool to come home, knowing someone dropped in to hang out. I could smell the good soup, that another friend made, warming on the stove. Soon our home was filled w/ friends eating and drinking, laughter, and kids screaming. As 7:15p approached, we setup a computer in the bedroom for the kids to watch a video. The adults slowly gathered in our living room. We opened up our time praying for the concerns of each other. Then we took turns reading Acts 18 (the night's chapter for discussion), and then shared observations or questions we had from the text. And as usual a rabbit trail of awesome discussion is followed. On Monday, two rabbit trails lasted. The first was how to handle the undeserved grace that we receive, even when we know we deserve so much less. The second was encouraging each other to embrace the mystery of God, even as we desire to know more and have "things figured out." It was an intense evening of grace and raw humanity colliding. We then gathered again in prayer, holding hands. This was followed be more food and drink, until folks left. God answered the prayer of leading and wisdom.

These different things that happened Monday used to be unique, but are now par for the course. The course being one of the best I've ever played. I am thankful for my friends/family, that God has blessed our family w/, from the coffee shop to our weekly groups. May He be brought glory through all our lives.

3.10 prayer letter

I've posted my latest prayer letter in the prayer page to the left. Enjoy!

resting in uncertainty

SkyMall, seen on many airplanes, is awesome. In what other catalog can you purchase a Snuggie, the world’s largest crossword puzzle, and a door bell for pets? "Honey, I know it's early but my Christmas list is finished!" It is awesome. But right now, it's not doing it for me.

As I write these words on my Blackberry, I am sitting on the runway of Grand Rapids airport preparing to return home to Bellingham. We've been delayed an hour and a half, and I am uncertain if I'll make it home today. Being patient in the face of uncertainty is familiar territory in this season of life and ministry.

With my wife, Kate, I am planting a church, and currently forming a launch team. Lately, I have been telling people that we are in the season of "DTR's". "DTR", or Define The Relationship, is a term I used in high school/college to describe a conversation to determine if a girl who was a friend would be interested in being a girlfriend. Through the Bible studies, parties, and service projects we host, we've made many good friendships. This however doesn't necessarily translate into folks joining us in the church plant. That's where the DTR comes in. I had one DTR just before flying out to MI, and in the next couple weeks I hope to have a several more. After these are all through, my hope is to gather all those who are "in" and have a party, then later begin the journey of daydreaming together.

Those are my HOPES, but I can't call them PLANS, because I am uncertain if anyone will say "yes" to my DTR's. Despite my mellow, laid back disposition, I genuinely dislike waiting, and right now I'm ready to take the next step of ministry and move forward with my launch team. I know, however, that for the moment (and for the long-term health of our church) I need to sit in uncertainty and wait to see who God is calling to join us.

I'm still here on the runway, and I'm wondering if I'll make it home today. As I sit here, I'm also wondering what the people around me are reading. "That one looks interesting. I wonder if I can read it without him noticing. Has it come to this? I'm a second hand reader." Waiting is no fun.

Patience in midst of uncertainty is not unique to travelling or church planting. I'm sure as you read these words you can easily think of an element in your life where the future is unknown. I wonder if you're asking, "How will I make it without [insert name]", "How am I going to make ends meet", or "How are we going to move forward and make a decision." If you're like me, you want to know what will happen. You want to know the outcome and the timetable, and the longer you have to wait, the more confined you feel.

It's like the guy sitting in front of me on the airplane. He has just fully reclined his chair without warning. Why do they do that? Now I can't reach my Sudoku.
Resting in the midst of the unknown stinks. I rebuke myself for being impatient, knowing I wasn't created to be anxious, knowing I was rather designed to rest in security of my savior.

There are many great texts in scripture that speak to this security, but the one that comes to mind, as I'm trying in vain to open this tiny bag of airline pretzels, is Psalm 46. In this Psalm we are confronted with the sheer power and presence of God in the midst of apparent uncertainty. While natural disasters and political chaos seem to rule the day, we are corrected and told that God is in fact the one in control. He powerfully rules over creation, brings wars to an end and shatters the tools that inhibit peace and justice. In the midst of this grand display of awesome authority, in the face of our fear and anxiety, in the mighty thunder of His presence, the Lord gently grabs us in verse 10, sits us down, and says, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." In light of all the uncertainty and chaos, God tells us to relax, take a breath, and know that He's sovereign, and His purposes will be fulfilled; He will be glorified and He will be with us.Here on the runway, I know we won't be taking off anytime soon. So, I decide to kill some time and check out the airplane washroom. What an amazing place! When I'm in there in feel a little freedom, knowing I'm not always going to have share an armrest with the woman in the wool sweater next to me. It feels good to know that I'm not stuck.

Knowing that God is in control and will accomplish His purposes, even though it seems uncertain to me, gives me comfort. I am confident that He has called us to start a new faith community, and will provide the means to make it happen. When I think about it, there are too many things for a church planter to consider, structures, fund-raising, tax statuses, strategic planning, not to mention serving your people or DTR's. But in the midst of the apparent chaos and uncertainty, the Lord gently grabs us, sits us down, and says, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

I'm curious about you, as you think about waiting in the midst of your own uncertainties. Waiting stinks. But, I'm curious if you feel you can rest in confidence in that place, knowing our God is sovereign and will fulfill His purposes in your life.

Finally we're taxiing again. The flight attendant has told us we can’t take off until we all turn off our "approved electronic devises", although I'm not convinced. I'm still not sure if I'll make my connecting flight in Chicago, and be home tonight, but I know we serve a God who will be exalted among the nations, and will be exalted in the earth. So, I can relax, take a breath, get out the SkyMall catalog and figure out if my wife would prefer a three-foot tall ceramic bigfoot statue or a digital tea kettle for her birthday.

my friend chris

Last night, K8 and I went to the opening of our friend Chris' art show. Over the last couple months we've been praying w/ him as he has been prepping for this show. I am proud of my friend and his family. To see them work hard and struggle toward this goal gave me a glimpse into their life, w/ it's rewards and struggles.

After the opening last night, a group of us went to a pub to celebrate. Chris and I got into a cool conversation. It ebbed and flowed to different places, but one of the things that stuck out for me was the question, "Can one experience God in beauty?" I think the answer is a definite YES!

God reveals Himself in the beauty of creation, in art, in friendships, as well as in books of theology and sermons. In all of these revelations salvation is not bestowed, that is the work of the Holy Spirit. However in these revelations I believe God often reveal Himself, and causes us to wrestle, praise, and journey w/ Him.

Seeing Chris work has reminded me that God lives and moves in both sides of our brains. It has been an inspiring thing to be friends w/ this man and his family. It seems to me that for Chris his art is a very real avenue of worship for him. This comes out in the bio he had posted on the wall last night and on his website (http://chrisshreve.com/home.html), which you should check out:

"DRAW A BED AND CLIMB IN IT: AS A CHILD I loved to draw. I would come often to my mother with the same question: “What can I draw?” Her response was always the same, “Draw a bed and climb in it.” When I think of these words now I am struck with the profundity and power they can hold if cared for properly. I believe that we literally have the ability to pull from the invisible and shape the visible. Imagination and creativity have power to “bring into being”. To incarnate. Painting has allowed me to conceive of a thing and watch it grow flesh. The sketchbook and the easel have become for me an altar for prayer and meditation, for confession and struggle and a place for ugliness to be confronted by grace and beauty. It has become a place to make my bed and lay in it."