At the Mothership

The mothership being the Anaheim Vineyard... and I being at the Regional Pastors Conference. So much going on and so much of the time all I can do is listen. From the tensions of being a Pastor there is the constant reminder of this being so much more then a job or even a vocation. It is really a life to be given away. There is truly so much out there, so much to be done and yet my job is this. Give away what I have been given, love those in my care, and love a town... yes love my little town. So I will and try to figure out to keep that in the forefront of my mind and capture the fire that fuels the ministry the sacred fire of the ancient Christian mystics... more to come.

Ugh!

Working with Christians can be hazardous to your mental health! I surf the web and find more gossip and back biting in the name of right doctrine, and honestly, it get's old. Right doctrine doesn't get old, people ranting about any person agenda or opinion, and then spraying a little "Jesus Theory",  or famous (out of context) theologian quote, over it and all of a sudden, their (usually under-educated or Oprah based) opinion is made right. Then it gets worse, the distancing that takes place if you disagree, you know, the "I'm too busy to call", the stealth facebook de-friending, and the avoiding of your usual meeting times in public places. You know, the typical small town shaming process that let's you know you are no longer accepted, and that usually culminates in no one waving as you drive by anymore. Of course this all comes to an end when you do something they approve of and then suddenly, you are now a Facebook friend and they wave.

So what keeps my sanity? Thursday at the Hitchin' Post saloon...You see there was a fund raiser there for a new family at church, about to lose their house. The "Ole Hitchin' Post, was packed and they had sold out of food an hour and a half into the night, and it turns out, there was just enough food. So some of these folks are really new to following Jesus and I showed up to show my support. What a great time. I show up in the usual pastor regalia - ball cap and jeans and am greeted by the folks throwing the shin dig... instantly I am asked if I was offended by their consuming beer, I said no, "It's the Budweiser products I find offensive, but it's not beer so really no problem". Now, they were in no way over the line as far as consumption goes but they were excited to introduce me to everyone around them (who, by their own admission, where a bit toasted) and tell about what they had learned about Jesus over the last two months. To be honest, they remembered more of the messages than I did, and I gave them! The excitement over what God had done, the joy as they spoke about the healings they had seen was incredibly encouraging. These beautifully honesty and simply "in love with Jesus" people are the sanity of my day.

Now to disciple the and not ruin their simple, honest love for Jesus.

Shalom

Food for thought...

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”

C.S. Lewis

Beliefs do play out...

It seems that if we practice what we believe then the core of what we believe can be seen in the practices we express in our faith every day, or in crisis. So if we love our fellow man, we express love by serving, meeting needs and so forth. Yet it is interesting to see how a religious system lives out it's values. One of the more interesting observations was made recently by the BBC in the rescue/recovery efforts in Haiti http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8517070.stm.

We need to know that our beliefs always end up under scrutiny, whether we act or not, a choice not to respond is indeed a statement... just made in silence.  I am glad that the efforts of many Christians has been seen and noticed and our actions have been honorable in comparison to a belief system that is repressive and destructive. The question is how are our expressions and actions of faith playing out in our day to day? I think in-action is a statement... It is just an anesthetized way of coming to this core belief... I really don't care. So if we care about the principles of Jesus, how will this play out tomorrow?

Just a thought.

The Divine Signs...

I read Hosea and all I can say is this... though I have been through a lot I couldn't do that. Marry a prostitute, have my kids named after 3 curses, all of those said children from different fathers DURING OUR MARRIAGE and then woo  and charm her back into a love relationship.

But this isn't us... these passages are never about me, my soul's infidelity, nope, it's about someone else, has to be. If that's the case then when will we enjoy the promises and restoration... the good, assuming we can come clean. Because we need to see God as this:
 ¹⁴ "Therefore I am now going to allure her;
       I will lead her into the desert
       and speak tenderly to her.
 ¹⁵ There I will give her back her vineyards,
       and will make the Valley of Achor ^[a] a door of hope.
       There she will sing ^[b] as in the days of her youth,
       as in the day she came up out of Egypt.
 ¹⁶ "In that day," declares the LORD,
       "you will call me 'my husband';
       you will no longer call me 'my master. [c

We see God as a master, which he is, but he now also calls us beloved.

Just a quick thought.

Advent 2009

I was reading USA today (usually I find myself avoiding the local the paper, which I affectionately call... "the fish wrap") and came across this headline "Some in $4.6B Christian industry copy designs, logos" an article about the christian "knockoff / copycat" logo industry... here's the link  http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-12-18-christian-copyright_N.htm


It's a sell out... of all the things we say, I don't the the God that is the source of creativity wants us spoofing an ad campaign. So now more then ever I am into the principles behind the Advent Conspiracy:
Worship Fully- That all of life is an act of worship.
Spend LESS - Be a steward of the powerful resources God has given you... it's all HIS! 
Give More - OF Your SOUL! Give presence not presents!
Love All - That by our love we could radically change our generation.


This is the hill to die on, God loved us so much, that he stripped himself of every power and advantage to be with us, speak to us and then redeem us. He came inside a teenage single mom, born in a barn, and changed the face of history. 

With the money we saved on gifts we are sponsoring a well for a 3rd world country. Love is a powerful thing. Join us in the story...

asked

I am asked a lot by folks who want to grow in faith "What do I need to do to be _______?"... I usually reply well, what are you doing to grow? That is where the answer is. I see many people as wanting to grow big but not dying to the things that make them big. In the years I coached football the hardest thing to see was players with talent but no work ethic. The lack of persistent work and working through rough spots just left them as players with talent but no character. Then comes the test in a game... a hard down conversion, a big play from the other team and it is your character that responds, not your talent. Will you do the right thing, hard thing in a hard situation? You only know when you're in it. So when I am asked what do i need to do to be a ______ christian? The answer that works is... whatever it takes. What is the deepest most gut wrenching desire of you existence? If it is God you will develop the character and persistence to get there. If God is not that most basic need then you will keep bumping into that question... What do you need to do to be a __________ . 

John 12:23-25 (New International Version)

 ²³Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

It is a tall order but not impossible, the greatest forward leap is when you are just honest with God and ask Him to stir up that passion again. So seek Him now and see what He does...

... I think you'll be surprised!

Shalom

walk

It’s been a while since I’ve posted; yes I suck as a blogger and it has been good. During this time off there is a song by Jackson Browne that has been a bit of a theme.

“Well I’ve been out walking. I don’t do that much talking these days, these days.

These days I seem to think a lot about the things that I forgot to do, and all of the chances I’ve had to.”

I’ve just been walking with Jesus and learning to re-connect with my soul again. As of late I am not just a fisher of men but a fisher of fish as well, and God has seen it fit for me to depend more on him as I take people fly fishing. I have learned a lot. Learning to listen as I hike, learning to trust him with every literal step, and learning to move with his voice in a much more intimate with God in the garden.

The last verse of the song “these days” says this… “don’t confront me with my failures I have not forgotten them.” Well Mr. Browne, my failures have been needed instructors, some are friends, some I choose to leave in that place and time. All failures people, choices and shortfalls have their place. Only in a place of resolution can you be reminded of these and be at peace.

Walk on…

Cup of right

There are moments when we get things right. Not just do the right thing but be the right person in that context of doing the right thing. I had s chance to be a part of that when as a group we came together to bring to the community a conversation on fair trade coffee. Starbucks was gracious enough to brew not just our their coffee but all the fair trade brews; as well as host some great informative conversations and documentaries.

Some ask why do this? How was Christ displayed here?

Matthew 25:44-46 (New Century Version)

⁴⁴ "Then those people will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or alone and away from home or without clothes or sick or in prison? When did we see these things and not help you?'

⁴⁵ "Then the King will answer, 'I tell you the truth, anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to do for me.'

⁴⁶ "These people will go off to be punished forever, but the good people will go to live forever."

I think when we get it right it is a beautiful thing... The fair trade movement was started by missionaries in 1950 by teaching people to raise or produce marketable commodities to improve their local economies. Coffee being the second most traded commodity on earth, next to oil, is a great opportunity to keep farmers growing coffee and not drugs.
This is OUR baby... OUR idea... and the world is buying in!

Was there a gospel message, an altar call and an offering. No, absolutely not! So if you don't understand this then you probably don't understand our church... because I will answer your doubts with a question. Since when has an act of love needed an altar call?

... I tell you the truth, anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to
do for me.'

When we get it right, it's a beautiful thing.
If you want to order some great fair trade coffee or cocoa and support farmers and great mission work; visit our website on the sidebar.

Shalom

Interesting quote 4

A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Interesting Quote 3

Hastiness and superficiality are the psychic diseases of the 20th century, and more than anywhere else this disease is reflected in the press.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn

walked away

It was just another quick stop for a cup of coffee when I bumped into an old friend. First it was a great exchange of pleasantries when she just seemed different. I asked what was going on and in one of those "you know that you know" moments I asked her where she was in her faith journey. She had just converted! From Christianity! I could just feel my heart sink in my chest from her words as she could not stop talking about this great experience. She used to talk this way about Jesus, but not now.

See... I am sad not just because of the eternal consequences. I am sad because she, like so many others, are the products of exactly what we have invested in. She never "cussed, drank, smoked, chewed or ran with guys that do"; she behaved well. Yet, she was not taught to be a disciple; taught of the way of transformation. She never understood that change, life change, comes from the inside.

I converted to Jesus because I understood His sacrifice to be true. I follow Jesus because He loves me enough to change me; change the patterns that keep me in bondage. Until you let Him transform you... you're a dry secularist... all the drivers of your addiction are laying in wait while your behaviors are kept in moderation. We need to be bold enough to be discipling people with the whole truth. To be the ones that show them the power of God to transform and to set them free. Salvation is not about a form prayer it's about a transformed life. So I hope you will re:think this and look to model and teach this living from life from a transformed inner world... lest you too be converted! Think not... that's what she said!

Shalom

I stole this story from Phil.

Often times, our point of view says more about us than it does the circumstance upon which we are commenting…

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. “That laundry is not very clean”, she said. “She doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.”

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: “Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this.”

The husband said, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

Good Question

The last post generated a great question that led me to some thinking and questioning... "Hey Rick... stopped by and saw this. I get where you are coming from, you made clear points about how to not go about "choosing" a church to attend. But how should we go about choosing a church to attend. No matter which one we attend, you are actually attend ONE church. That aside though, how should we go about choosing our "home base" if you will? I am asking not because I have a preset thought of this, I haven't really thought much about it at all and this blog got me thinking. So what are your thoughts?"

First, let me say that I wrote the last blog with the thought of how we currently attend a gathering of believers, I never really thought of the individual looking for a church. This has led me to these positions. First is this...Romans: 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
I see the first issue is the attitude we come into a relationship with the body with. On the micro (single believer) or macro (Larger body) we need to come into a relationship with humility, attitude of service, and grace. We cannot come to a person and expect them to meet our needs and evaluate if we will love them because they are funny or smart and on that outcome decide if we will enter into a brotherly relationship with them. So with a larger body we cannot be measuring it's performance and then concluding if it works for me. We often times evaluate with subjective measures that we value, not substantive measures like how many people are involved in ministry here. So what do we do? We attach ourselves as a limb to the body. Humility asks us to submit to the Theology and Practices of that church. The way the bible is taught is HUGE and how it is interpreted in the actions of the congregation and how they serve in their community is HUGE! If it is a charismatic church and you don't believe in the spiritual gifts, don't fight to change them, just because you like the people and the worship... find a Theological/ Philosophy of ministry fit (that said if God is asking you to stretch and learn and go to a place a bit different than you are used to- Shut up, Submit, learn and go with the vision). The bulletin tells the story, they want you to know what to do, so what is important to them will show up.

Second we go to church and ask the Lord what can I do here? Do they need help in setting chairs? Need help feeding the poor cleaning the Nursery? We need to use "sober judgment" about ourselves. We at our best think a little more of ourselves than we should. We often time come and say, but I can teach or lead worship that's my gift and I want to serve there, instead of waiting for the process and the affirmation from the body which confirms your call, beyond a "vetting" so to speak but an establishment of trust and bridge of relationship. It may very well be so, that you are gifted BUT to do those tasks you must first show yourself faithful there in the current church. We are all called to serve and it reveals your character; calling and character trump gifting every time!

Lastly - you must love and serve the people. Churches are made up of people and if you don't love them... well you won't really love the church. People are people and they will make mistakes. Can you give room for grace, and growth at the expense of your pain? Can you live with messy spirituality? Churches have a lot of great talkers and needs a lot of radical forgiver's. People that will boldly live out radical grace and radical forgiveness. Remember this too; you cannot be loyal to the church because they let you express your gifts. You use your gifts to serve those you love to impact a community with the Kingdom of God. I have heard people say that God has called them to a church; well if that is so then only God can call you away... NOT the failings of a program, Pastor, or person. If you are called out of a church... then, God, WILL call you into something else, not call you into limbo or church on your terms. It may take a bit of a process on your part to die to some of the things that may be toxic. In my experience, I had to stay away from church for a bit because my heart condition was not right and I would have hurt people in a body. Looking into my own heart was a great place for me to start.

He has a body, yes a huge global, a smaller congregation, and an even smaller group of people to do life with. He loves his bride deeply, and is preparing her, and in time will come for her. Church is NOT just you, for you, or operating on your own terms and expectations.

So happy hunting, and if you find the perfect church, well enter with a sacred, solemn care- you may very well be the one to ruin it!

Shalom

American Bandstand, American Idol, or American Idolatry?

American Bandstand was a great show to watch when I was a kid. If was the cool kids dancing around then they would come up and tell you what made the song cool. It had a good beat, you cold dance to it... I give it a 91! Well that's the music business and pleasing the consumer is what it's all about. American Idol has taken the evaluation of talent to a whole other level. It seems like people love to watch the auditions to see who can make the biggest fool out of themselves, and if that wasn't enough... to hear the pearls of encouragement come from no other than Simon Cowell! Now the fun begins to see contestants cry as their efforts get ripped to shreds for the sake of entertainment and a chance at a record contract. Now granted there are people who lack talent and have absolutely no business being there... sure, they asked for it. Yes I fully understand that they are putting themselves out there and taking a risk and that involves criticism, I mean after all it's TV right. You sign a contract and you get you fifteen minutes of fame.

Unfortunately we have no bounds when it comes to church. I have heard the innocent comments like bandstand... "It’s got good worship, stuff for my kids"... it's a 92; to the Simon Cowell level of... "The spirit is not here" or "I am not fed". As if it was just about the ministry I am involved with, no, this is being said about the house church movement, the emergent/ emerging movement, the mega-church, anything that your can think to have an opinion on, the gathering is never good enough. No. This is not going where you think! I believe in constructive feedback, no group or gathering of people is perfect and people need to speak out in constructive and clear ways to communicate the issues of heart and practice... I agree and invite that. Furthermore am in a great place of dialogue and interaction with people so this is not a rant, more like a narrated observation overheard in coffee shops and market lines. That being said my question is this. When did we become Simon Cowell judging an entity established by God? Why would I want to be that person? Worship was great this week but the message was a little off, last week the message was OK but the announcements... oh, too long, thereby quenching the Holy Spirit and releasing the spirit of entertainment. Really... is that what happens?

Did you ever notice Simon says, but never sings? He is like the trainer who never works out but knows how to get you in shape. I wonder how it would be different if those who weren't fed were feeding? Those who wanted deeper worship, simply worshipped? Maybe, John Wimber was right the meat is in the streets. Perhaps we should mind our attitudes and garden our hearts and look beyond the surface with some good questions, like.

If God is ever present, why am I not seeing what He is doing?

If God's word promises to not be void... why is it empty to me?

Why do I need to be right, better or know more than this other person?

It just seems that in our criticism we show the true problem, our insecurity, and lack of love and comittment.
Sure, Simon is often right, Paula just glosses over the truth and Randy, well, he's just cool... that's entertainment.
We are a people of love, hope and grace. Our world needs to see it radically lived out; that's transformation.

Shalom

Interesting Quote

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.

Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.

Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.

Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."

Calvin Coolidge

Indulgences...

I remember being in high school history and learning about the Roman Catholic indulgences, the practice of priests forgiving sins for money, or favors, and usually wealthy people thinking they are getting out of some punishment in purgatory or Hell. This practice was so offensive that it was one of the core reforms of the Protestant reformation. While today after five hundred or so years we look back and think of what a corrupt practice that was, yet we unknowingly practice our sort of private indulgence today. Think about it... what do you do to gain God's favor? I know we think we don't BUT how do we live and how do our words and actions line up to what we say, think, and do. Often times our actions betray us. For example... why do you serve or volunteer? Why do you read your bible? Because you have to? Because there is some horrible consequence that awaits you? A wrath too much to bear. That is a great system under law, but it is not the heart of Jesus. If you study the word origins of the words in Greek & Hebrew the words for wrath both have roots in the words for passion not punishment. God's passion is focused onto the death agent, sin... and He kills off all that brings us death. So if God's wrath is based in love why do we live a life based on the fear of how God will punish us instead of living in the peace of relationship with Him. When we know Jesus there is a promise that there is no condemnation and no punishment for those found in Him.

When we see the wonder of God, the mystery of His love lavished on us, we cannot resist but want to be with Jesus. In this enchanted relationship we find ourselves consumed by Him and His things. How can we resist but be in this wonder - embraced in an eternal dance with the author and giver of life present and forever. The true indulgence is Jesus. He is the source of our motive to serve, to love, and to give - to move in a community and see what the father is doing - and responding in love not obligation or fear of condemnation.

Shalom

Forgive & Forget

When you here the words forgive the words are so much more loaded than we are ready to accept. Is the heart of forgiveness to really forget? I see that as the easy out… instead you should probably say I just don’t care about you just let me move on. Here’s why.

Forgetting is dismissing the events or issues that led to a hurt, offense or misunderstanding. I would see the bulk of scripture speaking and showing us this… Forgive and remember in love and grace! Yes they may hurt you AGAIN! Turn the other cheek, you can’t offer the other cheek if you forget the other was struck. Yes, this is a challenge and begs the question, how many times are you supposed to forgive??? Seventy TIMES seven was the answer I remember!

It’s easy to get mad and just hang on to our definition of justice backed up by our hurt and how right we are in our position. It makes perfect sense till we see the lack of growth in people’s lives, and the same cycles of sin in our lives never going away. You see we are intended to be Kingdom people walking together with people through their junk AND our junk too. Where two or more are gathered- God is in their midst. In His presence power and healing are there. Forgiving brings us to proximity in relationships- it gets us to the table. Walking through our lives together brings unity by involving trust, humility and love. So I choose not to forget, but to heal. To offer the cheek again to radically love, make things right, and bring about restoration.

Shalom

Interesting quote

THE BONHOEFFER QUOTE:
“The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community - even if their intentions are ever so earnest - but the person who loves those around them will create community.”

Three Days, Three Kings, a river and Becoming Human

On my retreat I was reminded of how much I need the rhythm of my life to be in a cycle of renewal. I used to ride a Mt. bike for seven miles, hike or something everyday to have a steady time of solitude. But when a year of your life requires you to be cared for… getting out to renew is challenging. So I spent my time with God guided by a Vineyard Pastor who’s PhD is in spiritual formation. I practiced some early church prayer and study rituals, journaled, read two short books, and sat alone for a long time and listened as the presence of God filled my soul.

There is a book – A Tale of Three Kings - a study in brokenness.
This is a fictional narrative based on Saul, David, and Absalom. Far too many insights to really list but here’s a few that I can share now…
- God uses the struggles I face to kill the Saul in me. Saul was mad and threw spears at David in his throne room. David killed and committed very sinful acts and yet the difference - David repented, died to sin. and sought his God’s heart.
- How hard must it have been to follow a warrior leading as he cried and sobbed. More frustrating, this, at every opportunity would walk away from killing Saul who was hunting David to kill. He didn’t look like much of a warrior more like a wimpy crybaby. Yet, eventually, he would lead God’s nation.

The River of Mercy… two days on the Merced. The river’s name means mercy in Spanish and there is a cleansing that flows through my soul as I sit by the shores and hear the voice of God. I hear mercy. As I sat I just listened… thought of where I am and am grateful for all I have been given. I got some answers. I know I am loved and I know that I am called to serve Him and I know that the calling to minister, reach, and see the Spirit change lives is more alive now.

Becoming Human… another book about the way God uses trial and struggle to forge our heart and character. Making us more as we were intended to be - dependent on Jesus, independent of life’s situation.

I see this as a beginning to the cycle of life that has evaded me since before my accident, just as this church plant began, a rhythm of renewal, I hope you will take my experiences to heart and find rest for your soul.

Shalom