Archive for March, 2010
Journey To The Cross
People remember 80% of what they do, only 20% of what they hear. That’s why I’m constantly asking — what can we do in worship to experience this point or theme to really drive it deep in our soul? Our student ministry has discovered an experience to help us with the events of Holy Week in Journey To The Cross.
Journey to The Cross is a self-guided, interactive, experience walking us through the key significant events of the first Easter weekend. It will be take place at Western Hills on Thursday and Friday night, from 5 to 8 pm.
But what exactly is it?
We’ll have 12 stations set up through out the church in the order of the events of Jesus’ journey to the Cross. Each station will have a visual reminder of that certain event as well as a thought or activity to do in response to that event. The journey is to be taken at your own pace so spend as much time as you want or need to at each station. (Typical trip through the Journey is around 30 to 45 minutes.)
The students were up at the church last night setting it up, they’ll complete the set up tonight but this I got a couple of ‘sneak peaks’ this morning. Here they are…
I’m really looking forward to this time – come as a family or a Life Group. Bring a friend to go through it with you. Childcare will be available both nights.
Why We Don’t Dress Up For Easter
Cayden will wear an Easter dress this Sunday. She’s excited about it. She wants to. She’s already got it laid out complete with ribbon and I’m sure there is a hat somewhere in the deal. And I do think the dress is pretty.
But the rest of us aren’t dressing up.
Maybe I was traumatized as a kid. Check that, there is no MAYBE. I was. Lederhosen will do that to a boy not living in Germany. Heck, it may do that to boys that DO live in Germany.
The point is, we’re not dressing up for Easter and it’s not because we’re trying to keep Cooper from therapy. It’s because every Sunday we celebrate the resurrected Jesus. The whole point of the Christian church worshiping on Sunday as opposed to Saturday was because our early church fathers wanted to celebrate the resurrection EVERY week. Not just once a year.
But I do sorta miss the Easter hats. Sort of.
Broken Dreams: Life of Abraham
This Easter we will dive back into the book of Genesis focusing on the life of Abraham. Easter? Abraham? Genesis? Broken dreams? How does it all fit?
If you think about it, it all fits very nicely. We’re introduced to Abram in Genesis 12 with God giving Abram His dream for his life. That his offspring would be a great nation, that God wanted to bless the whole world through this nation. That is quite a dream.
What unfolds next in Abram’s story is a series of broken expectations, promises, and dreams. Nothing seems to go the way he thought, nothing seems to be working. It’s a life of broken dreams. Some of the brokenness was self-inflicted. Some of it was God-inflicted. All of it hurt. All of it had consequences.
It’s in the aftermath of the crash that we find out what God was up to.
And that’s the journey this series will take. I’ll connect the dots to Easter on Sunday morning.
The 2 Year Old Tradition
Today I’m going to Olathe to take one of my dads to lunch. It’s a tradition…at least for the last 2 years. I’d love to get both my dads around the table for lunch but the other one just got back from Turkey and I’m not sure he’s up for the drive.
But I’ve got them both a little gift that they don’t need and probably don’t want. Both will say thank you and act like it’s the best gift I’ve ever given them –which it isn’t.
Dad here and I will hang at Bass Pro Shops for the afternoon because that’s what he likes to do. He’ll talk hunting and fishing and I’ll laugh at him sitting in sub-freezing temperatures this year only to see frost form on his gun.
I’ll call Dad there tomorrow and wish him a happy ancient birthday. He’ll get his gift late because I’ve yet to get something to him on time. We’ll talk Alabama football and how we both agree that Auburn still sucks. We’ll talk about his trip to Turkey.
My childhood wasn’t perfect. Far from it. Just like my kid’s dad, my dads were figuring it out on the fly, trying to make things better for us than for them. Now that I’ve had a few years juggling being a dad, husband, job, and friend – I realize being a dad is the second-hardest job in the world.
And this weekend, I find myself thankful for two dads who weren’t perfect but did (and are doing) the best they can with God’s help. I know families where the dad and step-dad thing is combative and hateful. Mine isn’t. That’s a testament to those two men more than anything. Years later, we all laugh a lot more together than we ever have. At life, at jokes, and at ourselves. Can’t help but laugh when your two dads have the same birthday and are the reason your life is the basis of a great “how can you tell someone is from Alabama” joke.
And I’ll be vividly reminded this weekend how God’s grace is enough, how that isn’t a greeting card sentiment for me but a hard truth woven into the fabric of my life. Inescapable truth that confronts me every time I talk to one of these two men.
Happy Birthday, Dads.
Broken Dreams Trailer
Here is the new trailer for the series we will start on Sunday. Broken Dreams…
Bryan Nelson Rocked My Socks Off
Bryan Nelson of famed Topeka Bible Church fame, blessed us with his presence this past Sunday by leading us in worship. If you want the whole story of exactly how that came to be – check out his blog here. Basically, in Bryan’s words – I shamed him into doing it. I won’t deny that. In fact, I embrace it. If you can’t motivate with love and vision, shame and guilt will do just fine. (I don’t really believe that — sarcasm is so hard to type.)
As Bryan retold the experience from his perspective, I was wrestling with what to write about it from my perspective.
Don’t read that the wrong way. I mean that as a positive. There was so little ‘adjusting’, so little nervousness. Not one time did anyone around the table go ‘is this really going to work?’ And that’s how it should be. Rick’s been so awesome modeling for us that true worship leaders get the heck out of the way and let God have center-stage. Bryan did the same thing and that’s why if you didn’t know any better on Sunday, you’d thought Bryan was our ‘regular’ worship leader.
Another thing – Rick is that rare breed of a musician that likes people. He’s relational and engaging. He makes people relax around him. Humility and gentleness soaks through his skin. That has created an awesome atmosphere with the Creative and music teams. Bryan ‘leaks’ this same humility. It was like an older…much older, like ancient almost…version of Rick had come in and was leading. (cheap shot, I know…)
What does all this mean? It means this, when we (leaders) choose to lead with humility and authenticity as opposed to be the ‘answer’ man, when we choose to make sure Jesus has the last word, it really doesn’t matter WHO has the title or position of LEADER. And everyone wins in that situation. And if you have that kind of culture, it is as smooth as glass when and if another leader with that same mentality enters the room. The focus remains on Jesus, not on the ‘new’ personality that has entered the room.
And I think Jesus is most pleased with this arrangement.
The Death of A Series
It’s always a bitter sweet week when we switch from one series to another. And that is this week. We just finished Sacred Rituals – an idea I stole from Mark Batterson at NCC – where we looked at our (Western Hills) rituals, the ones we think are crucial to the life of our church and transformative in the life of a believer.
Communion, worship, baptism, generosity, and last Sunday was community. A few nuggets I hope continues to transform us as we move forward…
We do the “rituals” because by doing them we are not only joining something larger than us but we are being changed by Him to look more like Him.
The problem with ‘community’ is so few of us know what it is or what it looks like INSIDE the church centered on Jesus. Part of the reason for this is that most churches don’t demand it but the biggest reason is because it’s risky, it comes with bumps and bruises and so many of us don’t want to get hurt. (Get back on the bike.)
There is no Christianity in the New Testament without community. It was not possible to follow Jesus and NOT be around a table in someone’s home somewhere.
The Church exploded because of the work of the Spirit in community, around the tables. Not programs, not personalities, not buildings, not great marketing. Love, Live, and Serve in community, around the table, in the home.
Do you have a place that you could run to in the middle of the night after breaking out of jail and they would pray with you? (See Peter’s story in Acts 12.) How much would that kind of community be worth to you? Two nights a month? Two hours a week?
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
…than round the clock coverage from CNN and FOX news.
I’ve kept my personal opinion on the Health Care issue exactly that — personal. I was asked why I haven’t preached on it or spoken about it on my blog or on the podium. There isn’t a simple answer to this question. First, it’s my opinion and I’m still trying to figure out really how much weight that has as a pastor. I mean, I prefer a Mac over a PC, Mexican over Italian, and peanuts over chips. Is that going to inspire change in your life? I didn’t think so either.
Yet, I’m faced with the opposite reality that my calling is to pastor and put biblical truth in cultural context. I think the pulpit/podium (music stand in our case) should be solely focused on how the work and person of Jesus Christ works in ‘real’ life. I’m compelled by His example and words to be the hands and feet of the Gospel as well as the mouth. To silo out the message from service is ignorant and not the whole story.
Adding to the confusion for me is that slavery, racism, segregation, and child-labor laws would have never happened without the Church and pastors across America praying and speaking prophetically about such issues.
So where does health care reform stand in this list? I’m not sure.
I am sure that we need reform. I am convinced that while we live in the most medically advanced country in the world, it’s ridiculously expensive and out of reach for millions of people. And after watching the proceedings of yesterday, I am utterly convinced our government will do us more harm than good in the process.
I am convinced that our lawmakers would have been better served to go to their houses of worship on Sunday, praying and seeking wisdom til midnight rather than arguing with each other on national television.
I’m convinced this solution from the Democrats, the last minute deal-making will cost more than expected both financially and ethically. I know my taxes will rise, my margin will shrink.
I’m convinced Republicans have no right to complain about it either. For years, they had an opportunity to do something about it and didn’t. Their inaction over the past 8 years is just as shameful.
I’m also convinced the while politics will continue to fog the issues, the Church has a great opportunity in front of her to bring clarity and real hope centered on the person of Jesus. I think the greatest days for the Church are in front of us. NOT the easiest…but the greatest. What an opportunity we have to serve our communities like never before with real hope and real change with the story of Jesus.
The Church Staffing Puzzle In The New Age
If you are a leader in a local church, stop what you are doing and go over to Tim Steven’s post on You’ll Never Have Enough Staff and read it right now. It’s that good.
It’s not good like it’s going to solve your problem. It’s good like to know that no matter what size church or budget, most of us wrestle with the same exact issue. Never enough staff, never enough money to accomplish what you think God is called you to do.
This post is a particular timely reminder to me as we (Western Hills) are praying through our next hire, wrestling with the dreams versus the reality. I’m not quite ready to uncork all that we’re learning yet, still need some marinate time on it but suffice it to say that the times – they are a changin’.
Now more so than ever it is important for churches to flesh out Ephesians 4:11 – there are some who gifted and called to equip and empower others to carry out the ministry of the Church. That practically means equipping and empower volunteers and other lay ‘staff.’ No more ‘experts’ doing all the work. (Not that there really ever was any experts in the first place…but that’s a whole other topic.)
Great read. Highly recommend it.
The Hurt Locker and Your Local Church
I watched The Hurt Locker the other night. Alone. Amy wanted no part of it. I told her it won Best Picture. She said “Exactly. Since when has that mattered?”
Good point.
But it DID win Best Picture and I can see why. The character development and story line beats any movie I’ve seen this year. The story is about a team of men who are EOD specialists. Explosive Ordinance Disposal. They defuse bombs. But that’s not the whole story.
There are two significant themes that run through out the movie. The first is the huge need of adrenaline that war creates inside these men. Each deals with it differently – one looking to die, the other looking to avoid it, and the main character embracing it, chasing after it at great risk to himself and his team.
The second theme is their need for each other. In the church we call this ‘community.’ In the Army, ‘esprit de corp’, a sense of brotherhood. This goes beyond than just needing each other for the job itself. It’s almost as if each of the soldiers by themselves weren’t complete without the others. Insert “You complete me” line here.
I’m teaching on this subject in two weeks and the struggle I’ve always had with this subject is this — how do you explain something (community) that is best explained by experiencing it?
My first experience with true community wasn’t even inside the church. It was with my college roommates and frat brothers. After college, there was the Army understanding of community. It was later that I found community inside the local church.
I’ll try to unpack this in a few weeks but here are my observations about community…
All of us seek community of some sort. We seek it because we are human and we need it. It can be centered on many things – a hobby, a job, a sport, kids, explosives, whatever — but there is this innate desire in all of us to belong to SOMETHING. Gangs are at one end of this extreme, cults at the other.
That community will change us. Not all of this is bad, not all of this good. It will change how we speak, think, act, values – the list goes on. But change us it will. What that change looks like depends on the center of that community. What is that community focused on? It’s purpose? Could be as innocent as a knitting club or as dangerous as a downtown gang – but every community has a center, a focus and it will change us.
That CENTER will change everyone who is around it. In other words, whatever community you find yourself in, you will find yourself changing to be involved, more accepted in that community. You start hanging out with a bunch of ducks, you will eventually quack. Dress, speech, values, likes, dislikes, food choices – you name it and it will be influenced by the community you find yourself in.
The church struggles with community. I was sitting at lunch with a dear friend a few weeks ago when he dropped this on me. “I’ve been in church most of my life and as my ‘community’ started talking, it was very evident that most of us have never experienced true community inside the church.” I’ve had the unfortunate experience of hearing that conversation a lot over the years.
I don’t have a great handle as to why. Too busy? Too scared? Too naive? I’m not sure how important it is to dissect the reasons why, the results of no biblical community are plain – spiritual death. How many ‘Christians’ have abandoned their faith because the depth of what they’ve experienced as Christianity is to shallow to handle the life they find themselves living.
Christianity without community is not true Christianity. And as such is unable to handle the hell that life can and will throw at us.
So what then is the solution? More to follow…
Sunday Should Be The Most Dangerous Day Of The Week
“There is no way we could ever pull that off.”
That’s a direct quote from a pastor friend of mine when he heard about our current series Sacred Rituals. He saw our trailer for the series and when he heard that we played that music while we shared communion as a church two weeks ago — he said those words again.
So I asked …”How come?”
“It’s too risky. You didn’t pass the communion around, you played a chant, you’re hanging stain glass everywhere…” Then he said those words again – “There is no way we could ever pull that off.”
“I still don’t quite understand. Why couldn’t you?”
“It would be so far outside what people expected….”
Our conversation shifted in the awkward moment of silence that followed. I wish we had continued the conversation…maybe we will one day. I know what I’d say now. I’d challenge him a bit that our role as worship leaders is consistently create a context for others to connect with God. It’s Jesus they need, not another well planned worship service that will teach them another Greek word they will never use.
And by that mandate alone — Sunday should be the most dangerous day of the week for us. If the goal is to connect people with God, who knows what He’ll do when He gets a hold of them. We’re talking about God and He’s ‘not a tame lion.’
The point is – our worship services should be anything but predictable, boring, and static. Mainly because God is none of those things. There is no way on the planet that should be ‘business as usual.’ What is ‘normal’ when talking about the presence of God? I’m reminded of a Sally Morganthaler quote — when we show up for worship, we should be wearing life vests and crash helmets.
There should be a sense of wonder and trepidation every Sunday morning. We want an opportunity for a ‘holy moment’, a ‘thin place’ experience where the veil between the mundane and the Holy is merged. Why? Because it’s the seedbed of transformation. It’s fuel for the soul, sometimes it’s healing for soul. Because people need God Himself more than they need to be informed or entertained.
BUT that’s not ALL that worship is. Worship is larger than just the service, the encounter. It’s also a living sacrifice. Practically speaking, a living sacrifice is when Jesus gets the last word in every decision, thought, and deed in my life. If I start living like that… If I start worshiping like that…
I’m convinced the same sense of wonder and trepidation WOULD be available to me every day. And Sundays would be so much more sweeter, deeper, and yes…dangerous.
More Thoughts on Worship From Sunday
Yesterday was awesome at Western Hills. God continues to blow me away in this series – the depth and meaning of these simple rituals.
Yesterday, after the first service worship set, I could barely talk. I was supposed to ‘wrap-up’ the service with about a 8 minute spiel on worship and completely flubbed it. I was completely torqued and upset at myself after first service when one of our folks interrupted my pity party and said — “That was a home run. Simply awesome. Thanks for creating space this morning for us to connect with God.”
Which was God’s way of slapping me upside the head to remind me — “It’s reallllly, realllly, reallly, not about you. Trust me on this one. If I used a donkey to talk…well, you can figure the rest out from here.” Second service went much better after that wake up call.
2 HUGE shifts that 1st Christ-followers had to make to ‘get’ worship. First, we worship in response to God’s mercy, not to get it. Very different from other religions. Second, Worship is a living sacrifice, not just a specific encounter or moment.
A living sacrifice is when Jesus gets the last word on every one of our decisions. That’s worship. Real worship starts the moment we hit the door to leave a church service.