Being externally focused

What does it mean to be a Christian? When non-believers think of us...what do they remember...what comes to their mind?

I may be afraid of what the answer might be. I learned early on that They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, they will know we are Christians by our love (Thanks Mr. Irwin). But is that how non-believers really "know us?"

I am reading a new book that is called The Externally Focused Church by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson and I love the emphasis. As Christians we are often good at knowing our place in the kingdom...unless that place includes doing something, or sacrificing something, or putting someone else ahead of our wants. See, I see a bunch of people (generally speaking) who say they are Christians, but forget the main reason for their existence...to be like Jesus...loving others and doing the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

I know of a Jewish, atheist, communist who after receiving Jesus Christ as his personal Savior was witnessing to others...10 minutes later! (Thanks for that, Erwin) We have people in our "tribes" that haven't mustered the strength to do something after being Christian their whole lives! I know, I used to fit into that category myself!

Here is an exerpt from the book that might help you begin to understand...

Something wonderful is happening today. After a long slumber, the evangelical church is reawakening to its other side. I call it the proof side of proclaiming the gospel.

I first experienced this other side when our church, along with several others, organized to renovate some of the public schools in our area. Teachers and school officials had not asked for our help and were clearly surprised when we offered it. But when thousands of church volunteers descended on their schools, rebuilding playgrounds, landscaping entryways, laying carpet, constructing hundreds of much needed cabinets, and painting hallways and classrooms, something special took place.

They believed...

Through witnessing these selfless demonstrations of love and helpful acts of service, they believed that the church just might have something worth listening to. I will never forget the comment of one fourth-grade teacher as she stood there, amazed at the work being done on her classroom by complete strangers: "If this is Christianity, then I'm interested," she said.

It was then and there that I realized our world was still open to a gospel it can hear and see. The real gospel is two-sided - it's truth and proof!

Imagine Jesus going out into towns and villages during his public ministry and proclaiming his gospel without accompanying acts of healing and helping (Matthew 9:35). Do we really think our Savior would have gained a hearing (much less a following) or established the credibility of his message - without displaying some proof that this gospel was real? Why would we ignore such a model?

We need to be like Jesus. Like him, we need to be out in our communities, connecting with people through acts of amazing love...while connecting them to a God of amzing grace. Now that's good news!

History tells us the church has always been at its best when its gospel comes two-sided like this. Evangeliscals have had some of their greatest moments when this has been the case. One has to look back only a few years to John and Charles Wesley, William Wilberforce, and Charles Finney for some outstanding examples. But new examples are already on the horizon as more and more churches rediscover this external focus.

I have been overwhelmed with the response of our church since those early days when we took our first cautious steps into some of the urban neighborhods of our city. Formerly passive church members have gained a new vision and energy for the use of their talents and gifts. New partnerships and friendships have been established. We no longer appear as some secret society or stranger to our city. We are now silidly networked all over our community. Today we have six full-time staff members devoted to enhancing and expanding our community strategy. Presently, we are thrilled to be beginning a multi-year project of adopting a 130-block area of our city for social, spiritual, economic, and educational revitalization.

Wow...if that doesn't get you intrigued, I have to say WHY NOT? Helping people in the name of Jesus...what an opportunity! That is what Jesus is saying when he encourages us to pray Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, ON EARTH as it is in heaven... Hey, Jesus is going to finish the job one day...but he has made us his stewards until that time!

This Christmas season, let's get Christ out of the manger and into our hearts! Only when our hearts are changed by the love of a God who came to save us while we were yet sinners, will we move into this two-sided gospel that will not only transform lives, but communities...and most importantly, God's Kingdom! God bless you as you do!

(see Some thoughts on leading for the future link on the right...www.leadnet.org)

Thought for a...

Winston Churchill once said...

"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give."

What does that mean to you? What does that mean when considering the gift of the Christ child (as we consider this Christmas season)? What have you made of your life?

Holidays...the good and bad

Some people just love the holidays...love family gatherings, love the food, love the fellowship. But not all share that same joy. Some people actually loathe these days and gatherings. For many, there is deep despair over past days gone by.

Many loved ones are found "missing" on such occasions and their reminder keeps some down during such a festive occasion. This next story is an example of despair during the holidays.

Glenda Buchanan's heart aches as she thinks about all the Christmases that have passed since her son, Andrew Brost, died. Cancer took him on Dec. 27, 1990, at age 13. "This will be the 14th year. He has been gone longer than he was with us," says Buchanan. "Even now, 14 years later, when I hear some Christmas songs on the radio, it takes me back to 14 years ago," she says. "I think the holiday season is more difficult because of the family gatherings, and memories."

Later, this report goes on to say that "so many things can trigger thoughts and memories - it could be a smell, a song, anything....every member of the family, including the children, will have different experiences of grief and different perspectives about how the holidays should be approached after the death of a loved one."

Another writing came just recently that speaks nicely to this topic, so I will share it with you. It comes from a devotional that John Fischer sent out:

A friend’s letter this year was full of poignant meaning especially for those who have experienced the recent loss of a loved one. I can only imagine how that loss stings at this time of the season. This is the second Christmas my friend has spent without his wife of twenty-five years. The emptiness was especially hard this year because not all of his adult children were able to come home. He writes:

“I almost didn’t do it. I thought what is the point of putting the tree up primarily for me? Yet sometimes in the quiet, God speaks. As I unwrapped ornaments we have collected over the span of a quarter of a century, memories unfolded. Our very first ornament was a Norman Rockwell ball dated 1979. Ornaments for the kids with the year written on each one including who gave them to us spilled out. Handmade ornaments from friends and even our own family creations begged to be hung on the tree for one more year. The more I unwrapped, the more I remembered, and the more I began to praise God for the joy He has brought in the lives of our family. So much of that joy has been you, our family and friends. In the quiet, the Lord spoke and reminded me of the joy of relationships and what it is to truly love and be loved.”

It’s always a choice we all have. You can curse God for the bad memories or praise Him for the good ones. I’m sure we all have plenty to fill each category. This is a time of memories. Remember the good ones and know that God can redeem the worst of the bad. He’s in the redemption business, buying back our very souls from the clutch of death and despair.

And here’s the greatest part: One day we will be gathered again with all those we love around not a Christmas tree, but around the Christ of Christmas who died on a tree so we could all be there. And imagine the singing and celebration and good times that are waiting to be had on that glad occasion! This is not wishful thinking. This is not fantasy. This is reality, promised by God and secured by His Son through His victory over the grave. These good memories will never fade. They are woven into the network of God’s will and stand forever as a testimony to God’s faithfulness.

Praise His name forever!

So, how does your family celebrate? Are there people who "hurt" in your living room? How about your block, or family at church? What can we do to help them through? What difficult questions these are which take us in all directions. Just knowing that all people grieve a little differently makes the "bar" on this one extremely high. I pray that the Holy Spirit leads you in loving those who are in your circle of influence, that you may be their help in time of need and their love when it hurts the most.

Have a blessed Christmas. Think of ways to do the same for others. Jesus came...on a mission...to love and redeem...do we come/go with any mission?

Questions from The Master

So, there are tons of people who don't think like me. A day doesn't go by without me running into someone who offers a very different opinion on a topic than I would confer with...or an article in the paper that decisively goes against "my grain", or something on television that proports truth, yet is determined to be the opposite of what I would argue "truth" to be.

Isn't that just the way life is...how do we handle it? I know in certain experiences that really tug on my heart I (at first) may want to respond with a defensive remark...or worse, an offensive retort (hey, there's a difference between temptation and sinful action). Sometimes I wonder what it all will accomplish. There's so many differences...I mean, take a look at Christianity, for example...6,000 different denominations? That's a trajedy! There are so many different "takes" on the Holy Word of God that we have 6,000 different opinions on it? I guess there is some continuity...but some differences none-the-less.

I have recently been advised to look both retrospectively as well as introspectively into the response of Jesus to his people...especially their attacks. It is amazing to notice that Jesus uses (quite frequently I might add) a question to respond to his opponents. What a great idea...while someone is attacking, if we see the "bottom-line" of their argument and can help them reconsider the difference of opinion by staging a great introspective question that may uncover some inconsistency in their position.

But what a difficult job! To be able to do that would mean that we would need to be equipped not only with our own journey in that topic, but fully understanding the truth, we must also be fully capable of understanding their side in all its forms and functions. That takes time to research all sides of the argument, commitment to not fall short on the job, and perseverence to keep at it in a loving way in order to reach the possibility that the opposition may just laugh, or worse, curse at you, and walk the other way. Actually, we know from history that Christians were often attacked for their opinion...we call them martyrs. And what brave souls they must have been. It is also amazing to see how many people fully followed Christ to their dying breath...just like Jesus...praying for their attackers while responding only with truth...in love! Look at Stephen, the first recorded martyr, while being stoned to death literally prayed for his murderers (see Acts 6-8...esp. 7:60)...or how about James the Just, who prayed for his murderers...here is an exerpt taken from Hegesippus (Book 5 of his Memoirs) found in the writings of Eusebius:

[Administration of] the church passed to James, the brother of the Lord, along with the apostles. He was called "the Just" by everyone from the Lord's time to ours, since there were many Jameses, but this one was consecrated from his mother's womb. He drank no wine or liquor and ate no meat. No razor came near his head, he did not anoint himself with oil, and took no baths. He alone was permitted to enter the sanctum, for he wore not wool but linen. He used to enter the temple alone and was often found kneeling and imploring forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like a camel's from his continual kneeling in worship of God and in prayer for the people. Because of his superior righteousness he was called the Jus and Oblias-meaning, in Greek, "Bulwark of the People" and "Righteousness"-as the prophets declare regarding him.

Representatives of the seven sects among the [Jewish] people, which I previously described (in the Memoirs), asked him what "the door of Jesus" meant, and he replied that he was the Savior. Because of this, some believed that Jesus was the Christ. The sects mentioned above did not believe in a resurrection or in One who is coming to reward each according to his deeds, but those who did believe did so because of James. Now, since many even of the rulers believed, there was an uproar among the Jews, scribes, and Pharisees saying that the whole populace was in danger of expecting Jesus as the Christ. So they assembled and said to James: "We call on you to restrain the people, since they have gone astray after Jesus, believing him to be the Christ. We call on you to persuade all who come for the Passover concerning Jesus, since all of us trust you. We and the entire populace can vouch for the fact that you are righteous and take no one at face value. So do persuade the crowd not to err regarding Jesus, since we and all the people respect you. So stand on the parapet of the temple, where you can be clearly seen from that height and your words be heard by all the people with all the tribes, and Gentiles too, gathered for the Passover."

So the scribes and Pharisees made James stand on the temple parapet, and they shouted to him, "O righteous one, whom we all ought to believe, since the people are going astray after Jesus who was crucified, tell us, what does 'the door of Jesus' mean?" He replied with a loud voice, "Why do you ask me about the Som of Man? He is sitting in heaven at the right hand of the Great Power, and he will come on the clouds of heaven." Many were convinced and rejoiced at James's testimony, crying, "Hosanna to the Son of David." Then the scribes and Pharisees said to each other, "We made a bad mistake in providing such testimony to Jesus, but let us go up and throw him down so that they will be afraid and not believe him." And they cried out, "Oh, oh, even the just one has gone astray!" This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "Let us remove the just man, for he is unprofitable to us. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their works."

So they went up and threw down the righeous one. Then they said to each other, "Let us stone James the Just," and they began to stone him, since the fall had not killed him. But he turned and knelt down, saying, "I implore you, O Lord, God and Father, forgive them: they do not know what they are doing." While they were pelting him with stones, one of the preists among the sons of the Rechabites, to whom the prophet Jeremiah bore witness, cried out, "Stop! What are you doing? The righteous one is praying for you." Then one of them, a laundryman, took the club that he used to beat out clothes and hit the Just on the head. Such was his martyrdom. They buried him on the spot by the temple, and his gravestone is still there by the temple. He became a true witness to both Jews and Gentiles that Jesus is the Christ."

What an amazing account of love, even in the face of hate. A strong witness and stronger faith.

What about us? What about Jesus, the Master. He often responded with a thought provoking question to lovingly help another see the truth. He finally was hated and killed for his knowledge and strong stance with the truth. Do you yield and give in when truth screams otherwise? How far would you be willing to go in order to love someone enough to express the truth in spite of dire consequences? Thank Jesus, who was willing to make the full commitment to truth, bearing the full consequences!

On God (good) questions

I used to be a teacher (sometimes I still am!). Actually, all of us are, at some point and time. What is a father or mother if not a teacher? How about an older brother or sister. I am watching our youngest child grow and it is amazing how quickly he learns things by watching his older brother...so we are all teachers.

Some of the most effective classes I had with my students ended with a question for them to "chew on" (Thanks, Brad/Bruce). I recently have been taking a look at 29 questions that Jesus asked while here on earth. Some of them will show up in the posts to follow...but the main idea is that a good question not only "stops you in your tracks," but also helps you re-evaluate your entire view of the situation and leads you to contemplate your position.

On AIDS awareness and people like those at Saddleback!

If you don't already know, today is AIDS awareness day and what continues to strike me is the blatant strength that some "step up" with on topics like this one. For example, the Christians at Saddleback are taking great leaps into stepping out of their comfort zone and meeting needs...worldwide! Have you seen their P.E.A.C.E. plan? Here it is in a nutshell...

The P.E.A.C.E. Plan
Ordinary people empowered by God making a difference together wherever they are.
Planting Churches
Equipping Servant Leaders
Assisting the Poor
Caring for the Sick
Educating the Next Generation

They regard their vision for P.E.A.C.E. in a personal, local, and world-wide way. What a way to do it. They are taking the over 40 million people suffering from AIDS (world-wide) and the issue head on! They are setting up huge goals as a people to reach those in need. I was really moved by a comment that Rick Warren offerred during this campaign to help the AIDS victims. He said our obligation was that God doesn't give you money and notoriety for yourself. He said we should ask the question "God, what do you want me to do with my influence and affluence?"

Have you thought of that? If your family owns one car, you are immediately in the top 6% of affluence in the world! If your family owns two cars, you are now in the top 4% in the world! American poverty (as tragic as it is) is smaller than the world understands. We are in such a position to help and love people...and we should be doing it. Of course, we shouldn't have so many problems on our own soil...the love of money is the root of all ___...but we are also responsible for those who are needy elsewhere, not just in our own backyard.

Saddleback is trying to take their P.E.A.C.E. program world-wide, something that probably seems impossible. Boy, wouldn't that be exactly how God would choose to do it...just to remind us of the faith we are to have in Him. I pray that Saddleback is blessed to be a blessing. I pray that we take good notes and step out of our own boats in faith (right, Peter?) and seek the heart of a God who can move mountains (and already has...by the way...what you see is what's left of a world-wide flood, the last of which he raised and lowered soil to form...check out "God and Dinosaurs?" in the links section of this blog for more info and answers or download free seminars to watch from www.drdino.com) and do things we cannot even begin to grasp. Wouldn't it be fun to be a part of it? How has/is God forming you to change another's life? What did you do today and why will it matter 5, 10, 100 years from now?