Do you Dream of Changing the World?

Our church gathered tonight for some teaching. The theme... our version of the Davos Question... being a church that Dreams of Changing the World. So how would you answer? What one thing do you think that countries, companies, churches or individuals must do to make the world a better place in 2008?

Here is Bono's answer:

Good News for T's and ND's

I had the chance to enjoy the OSU Mens hoopsters crush the Iowa Hawkeyes tonight... and I'm a bit tired... but I've want to add some thoughts to my post from the other day.

I had some fun posting on Toppers & Name-Droppers last Friday. But sometimes there is a serious issue at hand... and it comes down to your heart. If words and actions flow from the heart... then topping and name-dropping tendencies might reflect deeper heart issues. To get to the "heart" of the matter... some reflective questions can be of help, such as:

*Why do I feel the need to always share my story over-top of someone elses?
*Why can't I just enjoy someones story and affirm them?
*What motivates me to tell others that I know a famous person?
*Why do I tend to drop a well-known name into a story, when it is not necessary?
*What do I seek out of my interactions with others?
*How much affirmation do I need from others?
*What will I do to earn such a response?

This might seem a bit excessive... but let me assure that regularly checking your motives (and inviting others to help you do the same)... will uncover blind spots of self-idolatry in your life. Our hearts are prone to elevate the self and justify our value in the presence of peers. You might say to self-justify our social value... and it all boils down to the motives of the heart in the simplest things like topping or name-dropping. Maybe for you it is being fun, looking good, sounding smart, always winning, "being" spiritual... but the root is the same. Idolatry.

So on to the good news. You can stop trying. The paradox is... you win when you quit. Your value is not left up to the degree that you can improve your relative social worth. God sees behind your act... right to your imperfection and he says... I'll accept that. Jesus gave up his high position and stooped so low... that he identifies with the most broken... and his life-death-resurrection was to redeem your broken-ness so that you don't have to... if you'll quit trying and let that be your story.

So you can stop the effort... and allow your imperfection to be made perfect through the perfect one. You might not always have the best story. You might just enjoy and affirm the other. You might not be the coolest or most connected in the group. But you can rest, knowing that your redemption is secured by means of another savior... not through your own self-saving acts.

Meet Tim Keller

Here is a Christian voice that you need to be listening to. Tim Keller is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. Redeemer is 4,400 strong and had helped to plant nearly 100 churches... that is right... they have sent out leaders around the city and the world to start 100 new churches.

I used to think the gospel was just about getting people to heaven... then I heard Keller. I used to think social justice was for liberal churches and had nothing to do with the gospel... then I heard Keller. I used to think church planting was not necessary... then I heard Keller. I used to think Presbyterians were... well... Presbyterians... then I heard Keller.

You can enjoy a bunch of FREE teaching and articles here... from a voice you can trust. And if you want your world turned upside down by the simple story of the good samaritan... then read his book Ministries of Mercy.

"If you listen to one voice, you become a clone. If you listen to two voices, you become confused. If you listen to 10 voices, you get your own voice." -Tim Keller

Rumors

I heard a rumor about me on Sunday night. I was talking with a local friend who checks up on me once in a while. It was clear to me that this rumor grew from a lack of information about why I made some decisions. And in that vacuum of information, some had tried to fill in the blanks... thus birthing the rumor. I could tell that he was troubled... by what he had heard... and didn't even want to share it with me. I gave him the freedom to share what was troubling him and he did. It really was a harmless thing... and did not bother me... but it was not true. So I was able put him at ease about the situation and we both ended the conversation better.

Rumors... can be damaging can't they. Before I try to get all philosophical on rumors... let me interject a favorite '80's tune called "Rumors" by the Timex Social Club. Enjoy...



OK, back to the serious....

The power of rumors is tied to the power of words. Words can give life... or take life. Words can be used as agents for the gospel or against the gospel. In the gospel, King Jesus defeats the power of Satan through his substitutionary death and victorious resurrection. In doing so he inaugurates his reign over all things and begins... in part... a process of restoring all of creation to its pre-Eden wholeness and perfection (biblically shalom). At the appointed time... His reign will fully come.

As his ambassadors and agents of this good news, the church (those who gain citizenship into this kingdom through faith) is to live redemptively in these last days... in all that we do. The churches existence as a community of the redeemed is a foretaste of the future shalom that will wash over all things. When shalom exists... things are knit together as they should fit... as they were designed to fit... not frail and frayed... not disordered and dissected.

Our words, too, can express shalom or disturb it. Our words when truthful and righteous and godly can affirm and do the work of bringing shalom in communities and individuals and families. When our words are truthless and rumorful... we can tear apart individuals and families and communities.

The Church is the place where the wholeness of life (shalom) should be most fully evident. Our speech... our disagreeing... our demeanor... our attitudes... our community life... is to be a foretaste to the world of what life is like when Jesus reigns in our hearts... in our homes... and in our communities.

So practically how should we deal with rumors? Reject them... they are probably not true. Instead personally seek out the individuals involved... because truth is most often discovered in healthy, face-to-face dialogue. With truth in hand you will actually escape the trouble that comes from the destructive power of rumors. Reject + Dialogue = Truth.

The righteous man is rescued from trouble,
and it comes on the wicked instead.
With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
Proverbs 11:8-9

Sunday Bloody Sunday

A song of longing for the end of pain... war... battle... unrest... and the restoration of shalom (the peace & wholeness of God).

I can't believe the news today
I can't close my eyes and make it go away.
How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how long?

-selah

Behind the Music of Keith Green

I was reminded of my fond affection for the music of Keith Green this past Sunday. Dennis Jernigan shared of the influence that Keith has had on his own music. Then I found The Keith Green Story on youtube.... and I ate it up today (all 7 parts and 60 minutes of it). This is the best thing I've watched on youtube...ever.

His story of acid-dropping, star-seeking, spiritually-minded, hippie... to life-turned upside down, born again, follower of Jesus... to ministry-minded, hard-core evangelist... to top-of-the-charts Christian musician... to tragic death... is gripping (quite an understatement).

This piece of Christian Music History should be required reading. Keith Green's authenticity and passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ is a swift kick in the pants.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5


Part 6


Part 7

Keep moving forward

We took the kids out to see the Disney Film Meet the Robinson's last night and were pleasantly surprised at the content, themes... and the ability to keep our 2 1/2 year old engaged for the entire film. No small feat... mind you.

Our first surprise was to find out that if you take a group of 3 or more to Carriage Place on Mondays... each movie is $.50 a person. So...

BURKLES + $2 = family fun at Carriage Place

In addition I thought there were some very redemptive themes in the movie that make for good healthy discussion with the kiddo's on they way home... in particular were the views on failure and family.

(1) Failure... is celebrated in the movie. The main character, Lewis, is a budding inventor... who has a museum of failed inventions. His trial-and-error approach to life is not so attractive to would-be parents of this lonely orphan... but it is theme of his life... that everything is an experiment. His life motto is keep moving forward and so he views his own failure as positive learning experiences that helps him to grow and improve.

I really like this theme. I think failure is an event and not a person. Good people fail... great people learn from their failures. I'm not really suggesting that life should be all trial-and-error. For we should avoid some failure by consulting wise counselors and even the failure of others. Moral failure should not be celebrated. Character failure should not be celebrated. But in attempting anything, especially new things, we must be open to failure. Then, having a keep-moving-forward attitude, frees you from the paralyzing fear of failure.

(2) Family... is valued in this movie. Lewis is an orphan. He longs for a family. A place to be accepted and loved and to find identity. He thinks that if he goes back in time and meets his mother his longing for belonging will be sated. But what he finds is the surprising power of moving forward. He gets a peek into the future where a bunch of quirky, eccentric individuals come together to form quite a functional family based on love and acceptance. It appears that nearly each member is added by adoption... the choosing to allow someone to become your family. It is really a form of grace in action... freely giving to someone a status they could not earn.

The value of family in this movie is very positive and the power of adoption cannot be overstated. Adoption is not choosing someone based upon what they can give you... rather on what you can give them. Identity. Love. Acceptance.

The gospel: Despite our own failures God's love has chosen to make amends for our offense. He initiates repairing our relationship by paying for our offense then adopts us as his dearly beloved children. We do not get to him by learning from our failures... but we find new identity in him when he declares us his children if we will only accept his offer.

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:5-6

Wow!!!

I was nearly moved to tears by the recent Baptism by the Bay 07 at NCC in DC. You've got to peep this video. Now that is what baptism should be!!! I want to be part of that!!

The video captures the emotion and story of life-changing transformation that is only possible from the inside out... through the new birth of Jesus Christ.

And the track by Jeremy Hopkins... "Time Never Let's Go"... is over the top.

More Free Lunch

I'm just sharing the love....

Five sessions from the 2007 Buzz Conference... with thoughts on leading the church in the 21st century from Mark Batterson (host pastor), Craig Groeschel and Tim Stevens.

Five Sessions from the Gospel Coalition... a fellowship of evangelical churches deeply committed to renewing our faith in the gospel of Christ and to reforming our ministry practices to conform fully to the Scriptures... You get straight up exquisite theological teaching from D.A. Carson, John Piper, Tim Keller and Crawford Loritts.

American Idols

While stripping and refinishing a piece of furniture we picked up from Craig's list this weekend.... I took my own advice and began working my way through the New Attitude 2007 messages. And I've got to say that C.J. Mahaney's talk in on "Discerning Your Heart" is it.

In just 74 minutes he turns the bright light of the scripture on the very thing that can undo us... our wandering hearts. And he suggests... rather biblically that the greatest temptress that seduces our hearts is idolatry.

So what is an idol? Well its not the little wooden statues like Peter Brady found in Hawaii but any person or thing which we desire more than God himself.... a job.... a relationship... security... an iPhone... success... acceptance... anything.

If you can suck it up and listen to all 74 minutes... I think you will hear a bit of a manifesto for living the Christian life. In addition he offers some helpful tools (from David Powlison) for working on your heart... 35 X-ray questions... and Personal Reflections on 3 of Life's Common Problems.

Don't be stupid!

Get discernment. Ha... like it is that easy. But let me point you to where you can get a FREE LUNCH.

You can now download the New Attitude 2007 Conference which tackled discernment.

You can expect clear, strong bible teaching from some great men of God. I commend their work to you. I am currently listening through it... and appreciate the challenge.

What do you value?

A seminary friend of mine... Duce... aka "The Ambassador"...is part of the rap group the Cross Movement... and is a pastor at Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia. I recently came across the church's core values music video. That's right... I said music video because it is a rap video... performed by some of the Cross Movement guys.

I first heard of CM in the mid-90's and was immediately intrigued not only by their hot sound but by their theologically informed lyrics.

What I love about what Duce is doing is that he realizes that the gospel is not just about redeeming individuals but about redeeming culture. You could say he is calling his urban/rap culture to reform to repent and to return to Christ. He doesn't preach about the sin of rap... he preaches about sin through rap.

His incarnational approach to ministry is right on... and to that I give Duce a Vanilla Ice "Word to your mutha!".



So from the looks of it... the core values of Epiphany Fellowship are... Commitment... Community... Culturally Relevant... Conversion... Christo-Centrism... but I'm just a suburban white kid, so something might have been lost in translation. Peace Out!

Remembering Baptism...

Okay... so I recently shared about our Sunday morning baptismal service... where 4 members of my ministry were baptized (3 by me). Well I can finally share some video of the momentous occasion. Now to give you some context... this was the first time I had ever baptized anyone.

I'll share the video of my introductory comments. If you want to watch the actual baptism's, check out my ministry blog.

Baptismal Reflection

Some reflections from our baptismal service this past Sunday morning.

It was such a privilege to be involved. I felt alive. It is one thing to watch a baptism and another to be in the water and active in the process. It was spiritually electric.

And since it was my first “official” baptism…I goofed… twice. When I was baptizing my Nancy I got lost in the transition from story-to-dunking and “lost my lines”. We all laughed and moved on… I hope Nancy forgives me. Then when all was said and done I tripped on my way out of the tub. Talk about youtube footage. I hope that made it real.

What made it special was the chance to share the story. Each person had an experience where God became a reality to them and they began a relationship with Jesus. The stories helped to celebrate the unique way in which each of us finds Christ. We used to say in sales facts tell – stories sell. Maybe in church we should say celebrate stories not baptisms.

Another thought about baptism is to focus on the gospel. I mean point people to Jesus. How He in his goodness adopted us, forgave us and made a way for us to be right with God. A man-centered focus of baptism, robs God of his glory. I think we really did this on Sunday.

I also think it is important to include the community. For God is working in an individual’s life through the collective life of a local body of believers. So we baptized on Sunday… because that is when our community gathers. We highlighted groupLink and small groups, because those are the environments where some of the people were challenged found there people and their God stories took off.

And I’d like to suggest that we involve the characters. What I mean is getting people involved in the actual baptism who were key in them finding Christ. I’d even say if Cory invites Bob to small group… and Bob finds Christ in small group… then let Cory baptize Christ. The bible gives us that freedom… and it celebrates missional characters in the story of God.

When God Speaks

My family had the opportunity to get away this weekend. It involved visiting a different church and its nice to go to a place once in a while where I am anonymous and can just soak in the experience like everyone else. This past Sunday God spoke to me. Some of you know what I am talking about. It was one of those unmistakable times when my heart was pierced by the word of God. And I am still recovering from it. It was like the pastor was just talking to me. My spirit quivered and I knew that God was speaking to me.

The preacher spoke on being holy from 1 Peter 1:13-16:

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

I was challenged to pursue God's holiness. God holiness means that he is perfect and set apart. And for me that means pursuing perfection and pursuing purity. The challenge was to realize our positional holiness and pursue a practical holiness... not one or the other.

How we do this comes right from the text. It flows from a controlled mind and a hope fueled on eternal rewards.

To be honest I've been a bit on cruise lately. My mind has not been sharp and pointed in the best direction all the time. I've let anger and bitterness creep into my thinking about certain people and certain situations. I've gotten lazy about taking those thoughts captive to Christ. And I've placed too much of my hope on my temporal success or failure in certain situations instead of placing it the eternal inheritance resulting entirely on God's grace. My mind has strayed from the richness of the gospel and to things of lesser value.

I got punched in the gut this Sunday and I can't remain the same. Thanks for the wake-up call God. I will not remain the same.

St. Patrick's Day Blessing

A friend of mine, Phil, is on staff at a missional church in upstate New York. His church, Terra Nova, meets on Sunday mornings right next to this bar. They preach the gospel and call people to repentance. They strongly believe in authentic community and that the gospel affects all of life. They love their neighbors and want them to experience new life in Christ.

They often have a meal over a beer at the bar next door. And they even have a theology discussion group called "Theology at the Tap Room." So what happens when their neighbors, the bar owner invites them to offer a blessing at St. Patrick's Day. You can see for yourself below. The pastor, tells the back story to St. Patrick a man who brought the gospel of salvation to Ireland.

This messy type of involvement in reaching neighbors with the hope of the gospel may make many of us uncomfortable. Some may consider it too far, unwise or even sinful. But these are our brothers who love our Savior and preach him with boldness and freedom.

National Day of Prayer

I had the privilege of attending the Ohio Prayer Breakfast (sponsored by the Gathering) with my good friends Brad and Denny this morning. I had to suit up if you know what I mean... but the POSH meal and speaking line-up were worth the extra starch in the wardrobe (don't worry... no tie).

Governor Ted Stricklin shared some thoughts on Matthew 25 and our responsibility to serve the least of these. His Methodist seminary training came through for him.

Keynote speaker Rich Nathan of the Columbus Vineyard challenged the governor and all in attendance to help clean-up the mud in Ohio. God is not just about creation, but recreation. God is not just about genesis, but re-genesis, he repeatedly said.

Rich talked from Gen. 7 & 8 where Noah was getting out of the Ark after the flood. He said that what Noah saw upon getting out of the ark was nothing but mud. Ohio has some mud that we need to clean-up... Cleveland is the most poverty stricken city in the US and Cincinnati is #4. Marriages are falling apart. Unemployment is high. And God cares about that. He doesn't want to save us from this place... he wants his kingdom to come to these places. He wants to regenerate, recreate and redeem these places (now in part and one day in full).

Rich reminded us that new beginnings start with God...not us. So we must remember that we can't clean up the mud... God must be working on our behalf. So just like Noah got out of the ark and first reconnected with God, so must we. Rich challenged us 2 things: first, get out of the ark and second, reconnect to God.

I agree with Rich... when it comes to dealing with social issues the church is still in the ark. For some reason we seem to leave the work of caring for the poor and lifting people out of unjust situations to the state... as if God is not concerned about this physical world at all.

Rich challenged the crowd to choose hope and not cynicism. The cynic has given up on a better future and has withdrawn from the mud. The hopeful have made a spiritual choice to invest themselves in a better future, one in which God is working on our behalf.

A New Mission

I read an article in Relevant Mag today about Gary Haugen with the International Justice Mission. IJM is a human rights agency that rescues victims of violence, sexual exploitation, slavery, and oppression. Here are some clips from the article.

Haugen predicts that this generation's spiritual calling will focus on the concepts of biblical justice, instead of evangelism and compassion work of the past.

To really care for the poor, you need to start with justice, Haugen says, Just as the world is figuring that out, the body of Christ is also figuring out that missions is not just about evangelism and discipleship or relief and development, but it's about the work of justice."

This is the great work of this generation.

One of Gary's inspirations to get involved in this was a trip to Rwanda after the genocide in the early '90s. In his mind this genocide in which racial tension led to 800,000 people being slaughtered in 8 weeks, was preventable. Watch the movie Hotel Rwanda to see more on this incident. To find out more about displaced children in war torn nations check out Invisible Children. Or to find out ways to help fight the Aids pandemic that is killing thousands of Africans a day check out the bloodwater mission.

Risky Business

Any time that you travel overseas... it is risky business. But when you travel to be a part of something bigger than yourself... WATCH OUT!

Some of the young adults at our church just went to Estonia for about 10 days. They poured out all their energy to help run an English Camp for about 95 high school students. The goal of the camp is to expose these atheistic students to the Christian worldview.

And listening to their stories upon return... they have changed from the experience. It does not surprise me. That is how God works. That is how life works. We are most alive when we are selflessly giving. Because we are most in touch with the imago dei during such experiences. I think it is one of the ways that our DNA cries out for a great human truth... that we have been designed for a purpose.

My friend Chris has put a page together to share some pictures from the trip. Check it out.

The Power of Story

I love movies. They inspire me. They challenge me. They anger me. They bring me to tears. They make me think. I love movies. I tend to love them first in my heart… and while this is good, it is a bit scary. Why? Because stories are powerful. Stories have a message, a theme, a big idea that they invite their audience to discover… in their heart. The scary part is that they do not always take me where I want to go. For example…

Have you see Cider House Rules? The movie is driving at the idea that abortion is acceptable… at least in situations of incestuous rape. The appeal is not to the audience through logic or reason, but through a powerful story where you grow to pity the situation forced upon the rape victim.

Have you seen Million Dollar Baby? Once again the movie is making a case for Euthanasia… that it is OK to medically assist severely physically disabled people in suicide. Once again, the appeal is by means of a compelling story that moves you to pity for the characters and their situation. No logic or reason is needed… the story moves you to consider these conclusions from your heart.

Both of these conclusions while dreadfully sad do not fit within my Christian worldview. Yet many come to agree with these conclusions because their hearts have been won over by the power of the story.

Stories are powerful. I heard a screenwriter comment that “every movie is about redemption.” Meaning... movies, at least good movies, shed light on the complexity of the human condition and show how characters find their way out of their predicaments (get redeemed).

Stories are powerful. Hollywood knows this. God knows this. But I’m not sure that the church knows this. The church tends to focus solely on appealing to logic and reason. We shoot for the mind and forget the heart. But did you know that the Bible is 66% narrative… yep it’s 2/3 story.

That is why I think Hollywood is more influential today than the church. Their stories last longer than ours. I think that is why I was enraptured with David Wilcox last Friday (see post). Because he let me experience the truth of his “message” through his stories & songs.

So I raise a toast to the great storytellers... may your stories be good and full of truth. And at the same time I light a fire under the church… package your truth in stories… God has... plus, they last longer.