Month: July 2008

Measuring “fruit”

Measuring fruit can be quite a chore, with so many different kinds of fruit.  What I mean is – you can’t measure the size of an apple and say it’s good just because it’s bigger than its neighbor… So the same is true when measuring ministry, and our peers in our Church families.

The New Testament makes it clear that we each have different gifts and abilities, multiple times.  We should do our best to encourage these abilities, as Paul says in Romans 12, if you are an encourager, encourage, if you are gifted in generosity, than give, and etc, etc…

So, why do we tend to measure success by mere numbers?  Numbers are easily understood, they reflect a certain about of truth.  Yet we also must keep in mind we are dealing with God, who provides when the numbers don’t show up.   If he orders it, he will pay for it.  So when we are dealing with the fruit of a ministry, and trying to determine if a ministry is “growing” the mere numbers matter, but we must also look at the character of the fruit, does it taste good?  We can have 1000s of apples, but if they are all sour, have no character, than it’s a bad crop.  A bad crop won’t reproduce and will ultimately die.  A small crop of good fruit will die without proper nurishment.

So as I move forward into what I know God has called my bride and I, I strive to taste the fruit, making sure it is good.  If the numbers are small but the fruit is good, it is good, but if the numbers of good tasting fruit reproduce themselves, it is best.

Attention Portlanders

Just a quick reminder, that YOU and anyone you think may want to come, is invited to our Polish dinner and dessert night. 

August 15th, 7pm,

Gresham, OR – East Hill Youth Center West (50 NW 5th ST, Gresham, OR)

Come to pray for our team, listen to our hearts, see what we are doing (both past, present, and future)

And you may invite guests, this is an open invitation, so please pass the word, all we ask for is a head count (to prepare enough food) – you may RSVP in the comments section here.

If you are unable to attend but would like to donate, please visit www.reachpolska.info for more donation information.

Got grace or just truth?

Telling the truth about God, life, people, or just about anything, is very hard to do in a graceful way, in a way that keeps the truth of God’s character intact. I hear peers today so concerned by the church’s image, afraid to use words like “saved” and “blessing”. While I admit those words have made me cringe as well, I have also realized that people not in the know, really aren’t offended by these words, instead, my observation from co-workers have been simple questions, like “what do you mean by saved” – which opens a door.

What I’m getting at is, yes we need to communicate in a way that the most people can understand, yet we must also remember that God’s character is the most important thing to communicate. If we communicate that God is anything but what he tells us in the Bible, than we’re failing. So in our attemp to communicate on issues of homosexuality, politics, war, etc, in a graceful way, we must not leave out crucial truths, and in our attempts to communicate his truth we must not use shame.

Why Church?

Today’s Church is a whole lot of everything, but to many its a whole lot of nothing.  With all the differences between churches, and all the crap that goes on, it’s a wonder we have a Church at all.  When I say “Church” I mean the family of God that calls themselves Jesus followers.

I believe in critical thinking, processing information in a holistic way, such as with peers, teachers, elders, and youth, getting other people’s perspectives.  It doesn’t mean we have to be in agreement, and it doesn’t mean we have to seek approval or confirmation from others – it does mean we need to have an honest assessment of our own thinking and how it may affect others, and for us followers, how it affects the Church.  We are all responsible for the state of the Church, when we decide to disconnect, slander, or be apathetic, we choose to allow poor behaviors to harm others – this is not love, this is not the greatest of the commandments that Jesus speaks about.  In fact, in my view, this is the complete opposite.

Lord,

I ask for your wisdom in living amongst your people, I get how to love you (or so I think I’m gaining in that area), yet I am grieved and disheartened by people, and to love on people who seem so bent on doing their own thing seems like a waste of time – and yet, I know I must continually act in Love and not on my own understanding.  So I ask for your heart, your words, and your love, for mine does not understand.  – In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Making my own religion…

I’ve come to a conclusion on something, I think a lot of Christians make up their own Christianity… it seems the basics of the Cross are always included, but that’s about where things end.  A lot of people don’t find value in meeting together anymore, they call “hanging” and “having a beer” as the fellowship… while I have really no problems with those activities, I don’t agree they are what the apostles did in Acts, or even most of the new testament.

There is a lot of value in meeting, talking, discussing with fellow believers.  While Church as we know has a lot of issues, it is what God has allowed to happen, therefore we need to both strive for new ways, and not forsake what God is doing.  We must allow ourselves to be challenged by others, and must love on others even when we are in disagreement with them.  Nowhere in scripture do we see permission to simply disconnect ourselves… yes we are given the choice, but we’re not really given permission, see the difference?

I could write a lot more, and I will.

Home alone

I’m home alone right now, Alexis and Emma are at a baby shower – the only sound is the trickle of water flowing into our very dirty fish tank (and that’s an understatment).  I’m putting together a support letter and other information for Poland and am enjoying the aloneness quite well.  Today we went to a Polish place for lunch, I always like going there, although today we were rushed, not so fun.  Maybe a couple weeks from now we’ll go again and not be rushed.

Today:
Misja Polska – Mission Poland

Caught up in the moment

There is something for positive self speech.  Last night I spoke at our young adults group, I was fairly anxious about the message due to transitions and changes at our church.  The core of the message was about worship, and what worshiping with our lives looks like, a piece of that message was on tithes and offerings.  You see, our church, along with many others has seen a down-turn in giving, and one effect of this is staff cuts.  One of my best and closest friends on staff was cut, and while it was extremely hard to see it objectively, God is showing us all a bigger picture.

I have to remind myself of who God has made me, and that in hard times there is no reason to water a message down, that His timing is always right.  I also want to send the message, that this isn’t a problem with “church support” but something where people need to realize the relationship between “their” money and God.

The entire message was from Romans 12 – Let our bodies be a living sacrifice, holy – set apart, for Him.  Verse by verse I broke it down into the spiritual acts of worship.  I was surprised by the power and intensity that found its way through me; I suppose I had some emotion behind it.  I have more on my heart to say, I think there is some break through that will happen in this group – lots of people responded to what God is doing and wanting to do – amen.

Father, continue to bring freedom into these young people’s lives, making their lives a holy sacrifice to you.  In their speech, their work, their relationships, and in where they put their fruits (both figuratively, monetarily, and beyond).  We speak in your authority peace, love, and grace – Amen.

Watching people and reflecting…

For the past week I’ve been doing a lot of my work from Starbucks, seeing as I pay for T-Mobile’s web service on my phone and included is there wi-fi hotspots, why not use it? So, with that I’ve been watching people, lots of people. Sometimes somone will come in and God reveals something about that person to me, usually I pray, sometimes I smile, other times it’s a simple nod.

I’m enjoying it, it’s refreshing to be with people and practice listening to God’s heart. It’s encouraging, and it helps focus me on what I may share this week at the Forge. Also, as I mentioned on our other blog, there have been so many other Jesus followers here, every day, multiple times a day, salting I hope. Live. Love. Laugh. That’s what I have learned from sitting at Starbucks for three days.

Hmm… just realized that I referenced I’ll be speaking on Thursday – it came out so natural, without hesitation, in the past I was almost afraid to say anything about speaking – disguised as “not wanting to gloat” – while of course I still don’t want to do that, I am feeling like what I have to share is life nurturing. May there be growth in me? Humility, it’s a tension.

Fund raiser

As everyone is aware airline prices have been skyrocketing, and this has affected our budget for our trip in October to Poland. We have always had a contingency built into our budget, but now we are in need of increasing that. Right now our trip has increased from $1500 a person to $1800 and each week it rises. Due to the urgency in purchasing our tickets before prices increase any further, we are planning a fund raising event. We will server a Polish dinner and desserts, have a video explaining all things about REACH Polska, and a Q&A time.

If you are unable to attend but would like to donate please see donation information on our blog. A $45 offering (please tithe to your home church) from 200 people pays for the entire team’s expenses.  Thanks, in the Lord’s name, amen.

Getting things done.

Alright, I have so many things to do that I’m now at my overwhelm point. The two biggest things with lists are Small Group and our Poland fund raising. So, I will now be delegating much of this, since I must get regular house and work things done. Thankfully I know of key people who I think will be willing to help me out on these things.

Lord, please help me to express your heart for Poland, may your words and heart be heard in our fund raising efforts.  May you give us new and unique ways of raising funds, may we continue to hold onto the truth that we are not to be under stress, and instead rejoice in your love.  Thanks for your patience, and peace.  Amen.