On a mission. . .

Here are two of Webster's Definitions for the word Mission -
2 a : a ministry commissioned by a religious organization to propagate its faith or carry on humanitarian work b : assignment to or work in a field of missionary enterprise c (1) : a mission establishment (2) : a local church or parish dependent on a larger religious organization for direction or financial support d plural : organized missionary work e : a course of sermons and services given to convert the un-churched or quicken Christian faith
4 a : a specific task with which a person or a group is charged.

(All color and emphasis mine).

Webster's definition for Missionary (noun) -
:a person undertaking a mission and especially a religious mission.

America may be one of the most missionary rich countries in the world (as far as i have seen). Of course that depends on what i mean by missionary. We tend to attach the word religion or religious to the word missionary, and rightly so we should. We should not however confuse religion and doctrine. We train ourselves up and polish our Christian vocabulary and blow the dust of off our bibles and then we, as good religious folk, go out on mission trips.
i would wager that when we leave to go on our trips we leave 'religion free'. It is on the trips that we find religion. James told us this is so: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in there distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Religion is not the gospel that we spread or the rituals or rules or programs that we share. Religion is what we do or in some cases learn to do. It has been my experience that we often leave with doctrine and discover religion when we enter places that are impoverished. Lands where sorrows abound.
This thinking has just opened my eyes to a brief passage from Ecclesiastes, "Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart."
Now i am willing to offer that i am stretching the intended meaning of this verse, but based on events of the past year, i would wager that sometimes the suffering of some is good for realigning the hearts of many. When people suffer there is something deep inside of us that prompts us to run to the rescue. To offer aid, to mourn with those suffering. Disaster often brings out the best in people. In the "mission field" i have yet to meet a person that has gone abroad to work in a foreign country especially a third world country that was not moved to the point of tears, and their thinking about life changed.
So now consider this. . . why are we always running halfway around the world to help people, when there are so many here. What is there about people of other cultures that we can have pity on them and help them, but we view our own poor as a curse and a threat? We will send money to a child starving in Kenya, but we will not offer to buy a homeless man lunch.
"Well, he might rob me, or hurt me, or break into my home" you say.
Poverty, dare i say even life, will always present an element of danger. Have we forgotten that God is always looking out for our best interests?? If our car gets stolen do you think God doesn't know about it?? Did we really need that car anyway (i mean in the scope of the bigger picture)? Funny how all of my conversations keep coming back around to possession which brings us back around to greed (or selfishness).
So here we are, missionaries in our own neighborhoods. Who would have guessed?
Now this doesn't mean you should give money to every poor person you meet. In fact if i am not mistaken you will find that Jesus never gave anybody money. . . he provided for there needs and tells us that when we do this for others we are doing it for him. "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
So you don't feel called to be a missionary? Well we all are! Deal with it! Some of us just don't have to jaunt half way around the world. The harvest is ripe, lets get to work. . . here abroad or anywhere!

Ramblings of a tired and occasionally self righteous dweeb

"Do not store up treasures on earth. . . "
A phrase that violates the very spirit of capitalism, one of the foundations of the American way of life. There is a lot of power behind this simple phrase. The rest of the passage goes on to talk about the fact that things here on earth eventually decay, and besides, you can't take them with you anyway. They are temporary at best. In the past i have read this and interpreted it as accumulation of wealth and possession on this side of life corrupts, that it is unfair that some have while others do not, that the hunt for more distracts from our pursuit of God, that possession creates a false sense of security and self reliance. i would like to add one more item to this list. Possessions are time consuming. They eat up so much darned time. Amy and i just bought a house last spring. Things seemed well, and i had grand plans of my paradise and how productive it would be and how i would use it to fulfill my plans. Intro nature. . . 9 months, two flooded basements (a finished basement mind you), a mildew issue, a broken furnace and a slew of other fun things later. . . i am still trying to attempt to order a few spare moments into life. Don't let me scare prospective home buyers away. It really is a joy. i love my castle. However, with two kids and number three on the way, i wonder what i could do with all those weekends that are spent doing demolition and maintenance. All that being said, with possession comes responsibility (or sometimes there is consumption of time for the good of no one - ask someone with an X-box). Possession in and of itself is not evil - but be mindful of how it consumes your time, and ask yourself what could i have been doing with my time to make the world a better place. How could i have been helping the poor, feeding the hungry, loving the sick, encouraging the fatherless. . . and so on. It may feel good to own things, but ask yourself why it is that you were born into such priviledge while others are starving, or without a home. It is good to keep life in perspective - not one of us is better than anyone else. We may be better educated, or funnier, or better spoken, but in the end we are just alike.

The will to live. . .

Tonight i spoke with a woman younger than i that is dying of cancer. She has the same cancer that my father had, so you can imagine that it hit home for me. It took a little time to process the information from the call. . . not the location where the ambulance needed to go or the phone number or her age or anything. . .but the weakness in her voice, the chill of the spark of life cooling. She told me that she just wanted to die at home and to not be prodded any longer. One might say that i have what is called a healthy death wish. Which is not to say that i am in any hurry to get out of here (although there are moments), but that i don't fear death. i am confident of my fate and my next home. i have not been in her shoes, though i weep for her pain, but i can not imagine being in a place where i would want to rush death. i weep for her pain. i hope that were i, or when i am in her shoes that i would approach death with a reverence. i think about the pain that would be felt and as my body fights to keep my spirit, and the calm that my spirit will feel as i slip into a body a bit more appropriate. Something more comfortable and everlasting. God willing i will sit alongside a spring fed stream beneath a forest canopy. i don't know that this is what heaven will be like, but i can dream. . .
To the woman that i spoke with tonight. Peace is coming. . . trust in the one who created you and you will dance again.

Witness what you see, and hear. . .

. . . . and feel, and experience.
We are called to be witnesses not of what we haven't seen or know nothing about, but of what we have seen and know. We all know God in different measures. Don't try and prove God, He will prove himself. Just tell what you know. As importantly live what you know. Do as Jesus did. Why experience love and not live it? Granted we all have trouble with people. There are those who upset us, there are those who are hard to forgive. But still true love supersedes all of these things. So don't just speak - do. Above all, love!

Kill your Bible - Burn your church

Imagine you live in Eritrea - a predominantly muslim country. you have no Bible, but you believe in God.
Now ask yourself, "Why do i believe in God?"
The Bible is a very valuable tool. The words of God to our ancestors and to us preserved, and a good reference. When the Bible superceeds the living power of the living God it becomes a crutch. Like checks and balances the two must co-exist hand in hand. God is the god of now!
Do not believe just to believe in something! That is of no value. God is not looking for mindless worshippers anymore than he loves mindless worship. Why do you believe what you believe?
Who is God? Do you know? Really know??
. . .because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. . . (Part passage 1 Thessalonians 1:5)

Finding God in the quiet times

This may be too much information for some, but i have found that i best connect with God during my quietest alone times. Unfortunately because of a certain degree of lack of discipline my quietest times are in the shower and in the car.
Its at these times that i seem to have the clearest of thoughts. The problem is that i often want to write things down, or my thoughts seem to be the starting point of something cool and "big" that i want to follow up on. You can imagine how entertaining it would be to try writing in a journal in the shower, and even more scary (especially for those of you who have ridden with me) imagine me writing while driving to work. eeeeek!!!

i have two thoughts on this problem. Number one, make a point to set aside a time to be quite, to meditate, to clear your mind. A lot enough time to clear your head, and really quiet your mind. Secondly, sometimes the best thing you can do is just enjoy the moment. Much like the days my sons were born, i can try to save those moments and make them last forever, or. . . i can enjoy the moment, and remember it. There will always be other days of equally intense joy. With God though, one day we will no longer have to try to cling to past joys, or long for future joys. We will live with God and be in constant joy.

Until then, make the most of your time with God.

The years end

If i am lucky i may get to stick one more post here before the years end. Regardless this has been a good year, and i am very happy to have had the opportunity to post my thoughts here.

i was getting ready to toss my calendar when the last day of the year caught my attention. On it i had written, "Have i grown in character".

i only vaguely remember writing it there and it was much earlier in the year. Without much thought i really could not answer in the affirmative. But i thought about all that happened this year, and all that has changed. My second son was born, i stepped out of religion and into community with Jesus and fellow pilgrims, my views on capital punishment, and Christmas have changed dramatically. Above all my relationship to God and to my wife has come into greater clarity.
When i first wondered about my having grown i answered in the negative simply because there are a lot of areas that i still fail continually. After some thought though i changed my answer and approach to the above question. How?
Well. . . Simply, i realize that i have so many short comings. Before i was so very ignorant to them (or simply chose not to accept them). Recently, God has made me very aware of them, and he has been working me through them. This is a start - nothing more.
My prayer for this year is that we would accept our short comings and go before God willing to work through them. My prayer is that each of us would be willing to grow this year.
My prayer is that we would approach life from a God-centered point of view and not an American-ME-centered point of view.
God bless us all in the coming year.

The best gift yet. . .

As Christmas fast approaches. . .in just a couple of hours, i had the blessing of coming into work. Ordinarily the idea of going to work isn't so enticing, but tonight it was.
The day was a warm 40 degrees, and there is still snow on the ground, enough that it will be a white Christmas.
The conflict between the cold snow and the warming atmosphere, and the slow movement of light just after the sun retired over the horizon made for an awesome sense of stillness and calm. The Christmas songs on the radio were quiet and gentle. It provided a great moment for reflection and introspection.
There are presents under my tree, though not an absurd amount as in years past, and there is a lot of food in my fridge. Still for all the joy that food and drink, and nicely wrapped gifts bring, they don't hold a candle to some of the best gifts of all!
Shaun and Andra who bring laughter, friendship and Joy.
Greg and Jill who bring good times, great conversation and food for thought.
Chris and Tina for your love, and desire to edify and the ability to see the good in all things (and the great cooking - thanks Tina!!).
Jerry and Rachel for wisdom, solidarity, and controversy.
Beth and Sam good times, good laughs, wisdom, and keeping me mindful of my place.
Tom and Kathy new friendship, like mindedness, sincerity and obedience.
Jody laughter, vulnerability, and a straight forward look at the insane.
David and Liz - introspection, honesty, an earnest desire to learn, and of course Star Wars.
Kristin - excitement, obedience to your calling, good laughs, and that evil sounding elmo thing you do.
Kris P. for zest for life, a youthful eye on things, and your passion for music.
Julie M. for your desire to see an upside to all situations (and for shooting a bigger deer than me).
Alan - devotion to God and the zeal with which you execute your calling.
James (The big one) for your ability to be as sensitive and passionate a man as i have known and yet possess that Vulcan like connection to logic (your poor wife has her work cut out for her).
Amy for you who keeps me focused and unknowing causes me about half of the thoughts that i spend so much time lost in, for your honesty with me and above all your patience.
The Boys (James and Owen) you inspire me beyond words, your youthful fascination with life and all its facets, and for helping me to better understand my father who i didn't really know till the end.

God bless you all my family and friends you are the best gifts this side of Heaven.

The Christmas Spirit. . .

My friends and i have had many a good "debate" over the value of celebrating Christmas. Some of my friends point to its pagan roots, and want nothing to do with it. Others still see it in the nostalgic light of the 1950's or Roy Rogers generation when Christmas was about family. Still others see it as an opportunity to dote upon their loved ones.
Up until this year i had never really put much thought to it. This year, though, has been very different. i have had the blessing and curse to have been exposed to poverty (by American standards). i have heard of families losing everything and others with nothing to begin with, yet they are happy.
The news has been broadcasting concerns that traditional giving to charities will decline because of all of the donations given because of the recent surge of "natural" disasters. Maybe God is trying to tell us something here.
A toy store employee made reference to people getting into the "spirit of Christmas" meaning that people were buying a lot of stuff. But is that the meaning of Christmas?
i believe that the meaning of Christmas is love unconditional, and real sacrifice and giving to those in need. i would have to agree.
So why is it the "Christmas" spirit? Why isn't it the spirit of Christ? Maybe this year God has been telling us to stretch out beyond the holiday season, and really love all over all year long.
After some of the stories i have heard this year, i don't think that i will celebrate Christmas the same. i know longer want gifts. i have way more than i need. Instead in the future i would recommend that those that want to give me gifts should redirect these kind offerings to people in real need.

What does God look like anyway. . .

i can no more describe God to you than i could any of my pen-pals whom i have never met. i have never seen his face or physically heard his voice. i have never physically walked in his presence and i have never looked deeply into his eyes.
Like my pen-pals though i have been paying attention to his personality and his being. As God and i commune together i have been learning about him.
i don't dare venture to give God physical attributes, and i understand him to be spirit. Whether He has form or not is His business.
i know God to be loving, creative, inventive, artistic, patient, stern, forgiving, trusting (faithful), gentle, peaceful, intimate, and close.
This is how God looks. i wish i could give you more, and perhaps you know him better than i.
i think of God like a pointilism painting. You can focus on one point of color all day, but you never see the greater picture. The longer you look at the whole picture, the more you see all the different points of color, and see how they tie together to make the greater picture. We can not put God in a box, but remember that we were created in His image. If this is true, then we must share some of His attributes.

In whose time???

If only i could be a fly on the wall of space and look at the earth more wholly. i would love to see how pilgrims around the world cope with the social and interpersonal issues that plague us all.
It has been my upbringing that when you run into a social wall, you pack your bags and walk the other way. That is to say that when you have a disagreement with someone (in the church) and it can not be easily resolved, you, at least on the surface, agree to disagree and go your separate ways. In "secular" life you just stop being friends, acquaintances, or whatever. Is it done this way all around the world, or just in western culture?
As i struggle through my own shortcomings and misunderstanding of the ways, convictions and shortcomings of others, it is repeatedly impressed upon me that problems are seldom solved quickly. Further if you turn tail and run, often you miss the bigger lesson that God is trying to get across. That lesson is often long reached and requires a great amount of real sacrifice.
Something about iron sharpening iron. Metal wears the metal down, chips off microscopic flakes like scabs off of a wound making the surface new and sharp. This can't be comfortable - think of the last time you had a scab yanked off a newer wound.
Where sharpening a knife takes mere minutes consider this tidbit of wisdom that a good friend passed onto me about time:
"Five minutes seems like nothing to the person eating an ice cream cone, but that same five minutes seems an eternity to the person walking across broken glass."
Be patient - life isn't McDonald. God will work things out in his time, and in retrospect it will all make sense.

In spirit and truth. . .

i had the great pleasure of having coffee with some friends this morning. It is a vehicle that we use in order to stay in touch with one another's lives - Accountability. We have adopted a system by which we can stay on top of one another in areas where we struggle the most, and by keeping each other accountable in these specific areas we can track our failures and successes.
A couple of the questions that we ask are geared toward relationships and how we treat people both in their presence and their absence.
Dave, one of my friends, mentioned that God had really spoken to him about "remaining in my (Jesus) love." He didn't expound on it too much, but it stirred something.
What is Jesus love that we remain in it? What does it look like? If we remain in Christ's love should we not also mimic that love?
Can we harbor anger or hatred and still love? Can we truly call ourselves followers of Jesus if we are not willing to drop our anger and our hate, and love everyone unconditionally??
i don't believe that any one of us can say that we love God, call ourselves followers of Jesus, or even call ourselves Christians if we can not love Adolph Hitler, Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, Tookie Williams, and that person in each of our lives that causes us to shudder.
If we have no room for mercy, grace and forgiveness on EVERY level in our hearts, we have no room for Christ there either. It is easy for me to say this, I am not the family of those people killed. But in all of this God has intended to teach us, to build us up.
The case of Stanley Williams is one of the greatest opportunities for us to show the love that Christ showed the adulterous women, who by the law of her people was to be put to death.
Williams is guilty of horrible crimes and may be partly responsible for founding one of the worst gang organizations in the country. Since that time he has made efforts to renounce what he has done. He has made efforts to work against the damage he has done to thousands of teens. Yet in spite of these things we can not grant clemency.
Imagine if Christ treated us the same?
From this point forward I will struggle with anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ that supports the death penalty.
May God forgive us, and grant us clemency!!!!!

Trust. . .

"The reality of naked trust is the life of a pilgrim who leaves what is nailed down, obvious, and secure, and walks into the unknown without any rational explanation to justify the decision or guarantee the future."
- Brennan Manning

How much do we trust God? How much do we trust that he will tend to us? Are we not worth more than a sparrow?

Take a moment, honestly examine where you are. Is it really a life of in naked trust in Jesus?

Thoughts from the magnetic poetry. . .

Grace runs over life above all else forever.

Retail Jesus. . . 50% off this weekend only!

i have been meeting recently with some members of the Mormon church. A year ago i may have grumbled that they had "caught me", or just avoided answering the door. Probably, all truth be told i would have found some non-offensive way of telling them to go away.
Problem is that i asked for it. i had a little time that morning to pray before going out into the woods (it was deer season). As i prayed i had asked God to send someone my way that wanted to talk about Jesus. At the end of the day, there they were. The only people that came in my path that day.
So. . . i invited them in. We have been talking now for a little over three weeks and it has been quite enlightening on a lot of levels. i have come to realize that there are fewer differences between the church of Mormon and many of the protestant denominations than we would like to think. The most disturbing of the similarities is the need to sell Jesus.
The tactics that the Mormons use is not all that different from the "evangelism" tactics that many protestants use. At the end the big difference is the book of Mormon.
i don't say these things to tear people down, or put them on the defensive. i hope that people that read these words will realize that we don't need to sell Jesus. We need to live with Jesus. i don't sell my friends to others. i live with my friends and relay my experiences. i introduce my friends to others. From there it falls into the hands of my friends whether or not a relationship will develop, grow and flourish.
We need to get away from the thinking that we save people, and remember that our role is to simply introduce people to Jesus. We can only introduce people to people we know. That being said, don't introduce people to anyone more than the Jesus that you know!
Once you have introduced them, let Jesus do the rest. As i hope you have experienced Jesus will reveal himself. It is our job to love God and one another. It is Jesus job to save people.
Tell me about Jesus. The Jesus that you know personally!!

GO. . .

Jesus said, "Go!"

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," (Matthew 28:19)

"Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.'"
(John 20:21)

Isn't it unfortunate that we are not called to be comfortable, fat and happy?? In fact if it falls under the classification of the "American Way", you can bank that Jesus would probably question it.

As the Father sent me, I am sending you

Not only has Jesus sent Us out, but he has sent us out in the same manner that the Father sent him.
We can and should devote some time studying how it is that he (Jesus) went out. So that we can go out likewise.
So what did Jesus look like at the time? What were some of the key thoughts of his mission?
Matthew 22: 37-39 - The first and second most important commandments = LOVE (God first and then our neighbors)
John 15:1-17 - A passage that can be summed up in two profound thoughts = Obey Jesus Commands and Bear Fruit.

If we love God, we will Obey Jesus Commands. If we Obey Jesus Commands, we will naturally Bear Fruit. When we Bear Fruit we will by course of nature Love our Neighbor.

Matthew Chapter 10 (yes the whole thing) - Jesus sends out the 12. In sending them out, he gives them instructions and warnings about the way things will be. Those admonishments are just as applicable today as they were the day that Jesus first gave them.
As some of us go out in following with God's leading and as the rest of us stay in our communities, we can use the following passage as a tool to help us remember how to love in obedience to Christ:
Matthew 25:31-46 - The parable of the sheep and the goats. There are six basic things that we can do or provide to love our fellow man.
1. Provide drink to the thirsty
2. Give food to those who are hungry
3. Give shelter and love to STRANGERS (and friends)
4. Offer clothing to the naked (needy)
5. Give care, love, help and hospice to the sick and infirmed.
6. Visit, love and show compassion to prisoners. (love can do amazing things were other therapy fails).
Luke 6:27-36
Love your enemies. Easy to say difficult to actually do. When you are wronged don't seek vengeance. When you are stolen from offer more. Love can do amazing things were other reactions fail).

Some thoughts on Jesus:

• Jesus was nomadic - not tied down to one place.
• Jesus met people where they were.
• Jesus went out to the people. When word of him got out then more people came to him.
• Jesus knew the needs of the people and he spoke to those needs directly. He did not use random teachings or lessons designed to be vague enough to meet a broader demographic.
• Jesus made relationships with people.

As the Father sent him, so has He sent us!!! Let's go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the way of Jesus

When Jesus walked the earth he didn't set up seminars, or establish programs. He didn't treat people differently by targeting only certain demographics, nor did he ever tell us that the way to Heaven is through converting people. He was semi-nomadic. He never acquired property or concerned himself with building renovations or sound and lighting equipment.
Jesus came to love, save and teach us how we should live. He set the example for us. Toward the end of his physical work on this planet he said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, i am sending you." (John 20:21)
The Father sent him to set an example, to lay a pattern for us to follow. Perhaps a suitable paraphrase could read, "In the same manner that the Father sent me, now i am sending you to work in the same manner."
Perhaps that is reading too much into it!?!?

Worry not about how you are going to convert people. In fact, don't convert people. Love people. Your salvation is not dependent upon the number of people that you bring to church, or that are saved because of you. Those are not the good fruits that we have been commanded to bear.
The Bible tell us what the fruits that we are to bear are:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." (Galatians 5:22)
Are we exhibiting these? Are we growing stronger in these? Do we check ourselves periodically against this verse?

• "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8)
• "The axe is already at the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 3:10)
• "Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:20)

If we live and strive for good fruits we will not need to sell God or try to convert people. They will notice and come to us (or God as it were).

Your servant,

michial

A moment in honesty

Just the other day i read an inspirational thought, one of many that i receive on a daily basis from the Bruderhof. It spoke to me and the many others out there that wonder about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Here is the Post:

A Prerequisite for Belief
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Are you worried because you find it so hard to believe? Don't be surprised at the difficulty of faith, if there is some part of your life where you are consciously resisting or disobeying the commandment of Jesus. Is there some part of your life which you are refusing to surrender at His behest, some sinful passion, maybe, or some animosity, some hope, perhaps your ambition or your reason? If so, you must not be surprised that you have not received the Holy Spirit, that prayer is difficult, or that your request for faith remains unanswered Â… The person who disobeys cannot believe. Only if you obey can you believe.
Source: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "The Cost of Discipleship"

This hit especially close to home tonight. I have been struggling with my relationship with God in recent weeks, and the events of tonight, in view of the Bruderhof post, really put things into perspective.
Earlier in the day, during a time of prayer, i asked God to intentionally bring someone into my path tonight that i would have the opportunity to talk with about God and freedom in him. Three minutes before i startedwrithingg this post my supervisor asked me about my Bible (Heeeeres my sign).
So what did i do? i let my jaw hit the floor, and i sat there in horror that i didn't know how to answer or where to take the conversation. i ended up finding the quickest fire door out of that conversation, and for i minute i believe i know how Peter felt while Jesus stood trial.
Before i finished this post i went back and tried to reopen the door and speak on the matter, but it was not as neat or easy as that first opportunity presented.
What a fool.

Father, i pray open our minds to hear your voice. Loose our tongues to speak of the volumes of love that you hold for us all. Let us be your servants, ready and capable right now. God bring someone into our path that is ready to listen and open to talking about you. - Amen.

Our love, His love

Imperfect love delights in isolation
Imperfect love builds walls in company
Imperfect love is aware of self
Imperfect love fears conflict

Perfect love relishes community
Perfect love sees others as an extension of itself
Perfect love sees others in front of itself
Perfect love is honest and compassionate

It's just not fair

The beauty of grace is that it makes life unfair.