first storm of the battle

June 23, 2008 at 6:42 pm (church plant, spiritual battle, spiritual storm)

Have you ever had one of those defining moments? An epiphany of sorts, a sudden and intuitive realization.

One that was undeniable, even undesirable and yet you knew something had changed..

There was no warning. No forethought of the dark clouds. No anticipation of any change in temperature. Just one of those storms that rumbles in and astounds you with it’s ferocity. You find yourself in the aftermath of broken branches and overturned flower pots – wondering what happened? Where did all that come from?

Storms are not fun, they wreak havoc in our lives while they are moving through. They can cause panic, anxiety, even physical pain. Storms are no picnic. But storms do clear out the cobwebs, dust off the dirt and leave us with a sense newness that we get to re-group, re-think and possibly re-do in preparation for the next one.

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, [2] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing……12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Today I look behind me at the storm that has already passed, and the piles of brokenness left behind. Piles of emotions that just sit there, waiting on the spiritual cleansing that only God can give. Not understanding why some storms carry considerable debris within them and why so much is left behind rather than being washed away clean.

Then there it is.

That wonderful smell. The aroma of protection, the scent of relief. The wonderful smell of clean air and rain, wet grass, wet pavement, wet dirt and maybe even a wet cat. (Okay, maybe not the cat.)

But you can’t deny there is definitely a smell when the rains are gone and the coolness of the water drips from every leaf. There is a cleanness that wasn’t there before the storm. There is a freshness that has been uncovered.

Derek has been heard to say on many occasions, “I’ve not heard of anyone receiving Christ right after winning the lottery.”

Nope, we are drawn to God in the midst of our thunderstorms. During those spiritual flashes that remind us of the Gospel and bring us back to the Truth. The storms that bring us to our knees in confession, repentance, adoration and selflessness.

This first storm of the spiritual battle has come and gone. I am stronger for it and I’m healthier because of it. I get it now. The storms are for my benefit. They are actually a grace shown to me by God for the protection of His people. I can’t attack a storm with wind and rain, but I can certainly stand strengthened under the protective cover of God’ word.

Something has changed. An epiphany has happened. I am more aware of being made in His image and not in the image of “approval” or the “fear of man.” I am a new creation in Christ. My position is one of spiritual authority over satan and is supported by the unity within the Body of Christ.

The battleground might be invisible, but it is definitely real and it is now.

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ye ole worship video shop

June 20, 2008 at 7:34 pm (music)

This week I’m sharing some of my most favorite songs with y’all. I took refuge into music this week as the spiritual battle is just heating up. I will write more about that later, but for now I am sharing my heart with you through music.

One of the most powerful songs and videos on the net. Jeremy Camp is one of favorites – his testimony is awesome.

Dave Crowder reminds me who I am serving
(besides, ya gotta love the hair…)

This one is written by Chris Tomlin, but I think this is Matt Redman singing – who cares? It’s fabulous!

Last one…this is just good for my soul to be reminded of who I am
(and I would really like to see the movie, too.)

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community of saints

June 13, 2008 at 3:48 pm (church plant)

What does that mean? Is it limited to a local body of believers? Is it a label we use to describe church membership? What exactly does the term, Community of Saints bring to mind?

1 John 3:11-18 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (Emphasis mine)

This is what community is. This is what community will be at Oasis. The body of Christ, the community of saints, in my opinion is not limited to membership or tithing or some other prerequisite that tradition dictates. If a fellow brother or sister in the Lord has a need that I have been made aware of, then I am responsible to an Almighty God to take action regardless of their religious or denominational affiliation.

On a random rant, I am so grieved and angry (maybe even righteously so) that so many of the churches today give lip service to community, give lip service to serving their members, give lip service to pretty much all of the “one anothers” in scripture, but can’t be bothered with actually doing anything about it. Living in community is not convenient, it might take a sacrifice or two. Do you think Jesus with His arms outstretched on the cross knows exactly how ya feel? duh…

Make the willing sacrifice, do what God has commanded you to do and get over your pettiness.

Isn’t that the very core of the Community of Saints? Living life out loud. Sometimes, very loud – warts and all. We work alongside each other in ministry and service to others and to each other. We do it with a genuine love. Not because it is a duty, but because it is a privilege to do so as a fellow brother or sister in the Lord.

The expectation of spiritual attacks in our daily lives as Christians becomes almost normal as we mature. Unfortunately, the origin of those attacks can take us by surprise. And the personal affect of those attacks can break our hearts and destroy relationships.

The love and community we will be sharing throughout Oasis might sometimes be misunderstood. But it will be up to us as the body of believers to remain strong, steadfast and filled with compassion for those we are loving on, living with and serving.

I can’t wait!

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babies and their bathwater

June 6, 2008 at 6:26 pm (rant)
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How many times have we heard, “don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater?” And how many times have you scratched your head and thought, “what baby?”

I do nearly every time I hear this phrase. Usually because of the context of the conversation and the fact that this phrase makes little sense to me. The actual meaning states: to get rid of the good parts as well as the bad parts of something when you are trying to make improvements.

So how does this phrase get used in Christian circles today?

I know you were waiting to see how I was going to parlay that one into a spiritual discussion.

A perfect example is ridding the church of today’s pop psychology. I’m not talking about medical conditions, I am talking about convenient labels, excuses for behaviors and an overall worship of what a man in a lab coat says over what the God of the universe has already stated.

When psychology/psychiatry is combined with the bible or you actually use the belief system (meaning Christianity) of a state licensed psychologist/psychiatrist as a descriptive label, i.e. “Christian” Psychologist/Psychiatrist then you get what is commonly referred to as an Integrationist – someone who attempts to take what they learned for their state license (complete with Freud, Jung, Wundt and a host of others) and fuse it with the “principles” of scripture. Confusing? Absolutely.

I’m addressing the baby of sound doctrine and the bathwater of psycho-babbled nonsense that inhibits the Gospel and weakens the body of Christ. The bathwater that encourages us to look to labels and personality tests rather than God’s word and the instruction found there. The bathwater that does not include spiritual affirmation within the body.

But the baby states very clearly:
2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

The bathwater further frustrates the Gospel in our lives by allowing us the sinful excuse to blame our past for the way we live our lives today. We can justify and rationalize our behavior because of some past abuse or the way our parents raised us or because we didn’t get enough ice cream as a child. Who knows…everybody’s got some traumatic experience relevant only to them. (And I am not making light of any real tragedy in someone’s life – I am addressing the dwelling on the past via whatever excuse we might have in the present.)

However, once we have learned the truth of our sinful hearts, the godly way to handle our past and even the biblical way to move through life . . . then, we become responsible for it. We no longer have the convenience of “blame” and therefore, as Christians we must look to God’s word for the answers. We find and know the Truth and the Truth should lead to obedience. The Truth never encourages us to wallow in our past. I capitalize Truth because in scripture it is referring directly to Jesus as the Truth.

So, while we are encouraged by many of our Integrated friends to not be so hard on ourselves because of something in our past, we must first look to God’s word as our foundation and learn what is at the heart of our current state. I know for me, it’s usually a pride issue or at the very least an area in my life that I am clinging to because I don’t want to do the work it takes to rid myself of it. Laziness. Sloth.

Many of us are like that. Yes, we can be free from depression, but it’ll take some work. I will have to admit my own sin in the midst of my suffering in order to gain clarity about it. I will have to confess any unforgiveness and move through obedience and trust God for that outcome. It’s work and there’s always the personal luggage that we’ve dragged behind us for so long, we can’t even begin to think who we’d be without it.

Can’t I just take the blue pill?

God has reassured us of our freedom. Part of that freedom is having the faith to trust God!

So, throwing out the baby with the bathwater?

The reality is that I love the baby too much to NOT throw out the bathwater.

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if we are the body

June 3, 2008 at 8:12 pm (church plant, evangelism)
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I read one magazine. Only one. Real Simple and yes, I do take a little too much pride in the fact of buying just one magazine per month. Course, that one magazine is like $5 or something ridiculous.

This months edition has a great article in it about improving relationships by listening. I mean it. It’s very practical, simple language, great application. So why does that article set my teeth a little on edge? Why do I wish that magazines and other such publications would just stick to issues of politics and economics or the latest recipe of the month?

Because…

Because in my most personal of opinions, Christians should be the ones leading the pack and demonstrating to the world how to improve relationships. Seriously, we have the owner’s manual for it and yet, how many times is a Christian the last person we want to hear from regarding relationships. Why is that?

What have we, as a church culture, so misrepresented to the world that it’s not even interested in asking us about our lives or our convictions?

Well, let’s see …

Do our marriages show Jesus as alive and well? When’s the last time you heard a wife (even in a church setting) say something nice about her husband in a public way and not quickly apologize for it. Many women feel embarrassed that their marriages are good. It’s far too trendy to complain about everything. How many women would be so blessed to hear about how wonderful marriage is, how strong the committment is and how loved they feel.

Do we as parents show Jesus to our children? Has anyone ever heard a parent or anyone else, for that matter say something good about a teenager. What we normally hear are groans and mutterings and a little fear slipping into our lives when it comes to the dreaded teen years. I’ve done it myself. Someone tells me they have a teenager and I’ve found myself responding with a humorous, “I’m so sorry…” That might get a smile, but it’s certainly not very godly. Has anyone bothered to actually have a conversation with a teenager without turning it into a debate. Teens love to talk about fashion, music, sports, where they might live after they leave home…anything. Just let them talk. And then shut up.

Do we as Christians love our neighbors? Do we really? Would you be willing to drive a neighbor to work for a week if they lost their car? Would you include them in your meals for a month, if their health went downhill? Would you do more than wave, more than a fleeting prayer, more than a dismissive “how are ya” when you see them? All this without a bitter thought, an angry comment or some harbored resentment.

Do we as Christians love the Lord? Openly, with conviction and without reservation?
I have a book study every other week at a local coffee shop. Along with my book, I also bring my bible. There has been a time or two when walking into the crowded shop, I’ve thought to minimize the fact that I have a bible in my hand. Even if I don’t do anything about it, I still have the thought of wondering if anyone is staring at the lady with the huge purse and big bible. What’s that all about?

I don’t know why. I love the Lord. I’m not afraid to pray in public. I’m not afraid to talk about Jesus. So why…why does that initial entrance just make me twinge ever so slightly?

hmmmm ::evasive maneuver:: well, that’s enough about me…

Back to the original thought of something about magazines and Christians having the owner’s manual. Oh yeah…

What does it say? Open it up, read it, check the index for words that lead to verses that in context, will help you grow. Become convicted. Have spiritual conversations.

If we want to impact our communities, we gotta get our hearts right. We have to learn to listen to people with real interest, with a genuineness of heart and spirit. Listen to their emotions, listen to what is left unspoken. Get rid of the scarlet letters and targets on their foreheads. Allow our marriages to be examples, allow our teens to serve and take ownership in our church body and community.

Let us, as His Body be the dearest place on earth.

I love this song by Casting Crowns – Derek and I were singing it on the way to dinner and a movie Saturday. It’s perfect for today.

yes, yes, I stole the dearest place on earth from CJ Mahaney…although, I’m sure he won’t mind.

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messy people

May 28, 2008 at 3:45 pm (church plant)
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Sometimes, in our Christianeze way of talking, we stumble across a phrase or description that actually says what we want to say. I’ve heard the terms marginalized, fringe, unchurched, etc. and somehow those terms don’t sound very God-glorifying. But as a people, we do love our labels and categories. Helps us make sense of the messiness of life.

As for me, I embrace the phrase, “messy people.” I love it. Probably because I’m messy. Not physically, although I do make a mess when I cook. But I mean more emotionally messy or things happening in my life that can be messy. Even my relationships are messy. I don’t always say the right things to people, I don’t always glorify God with my speech and I don’t always have my heart right in matters that well…matter.

So I repent and start over. Daily.

Back to my sphere of messy people. I love them all. The messier, the better. The messier, the more honest the relationship. The messier, the more transparent we are. The messier, the more we express our need for a Lord and Savior.

And I desperately want Jesus in all of my life.

Messy people readily acknowledge they don’t have the answers, they don’t have a clue most of the time. Messy people just love the Lord and try to cling to one another, stumbling, falling and supporting one another through this life. We cling to the truth that is our hope. We cling to the community God has provided for us. And we glorify Him in the process. It may not be pretty, it might even be covered with tattoos or piercings, or have a strange hair color, but it’s genuine. It’s real and of course…it’s forever messy.

When the Lord called me, He received me just as I am – despairing and chaotic. But now that I know His truth, I am responsible for that truth in my life and I should be striving to boldly walk out my salvation with fear and trembling. Does that prevent messiness? No, but it is a beautiful reminder of my need for a Savior, everyday, in all of life.

Our Father calls to Himself messy people and He has allowed us the opportunity to have a heart close to His with a passion for the lost, a passion for His kingdom.

A passion for messy people. A passion for His people. That is the bottom-line, no-frills or fancy theological statement of our proposed church plant. It’s simple.

Even a messy person such as myself can remember it. Can I get an Amen from the messy people over in the corner!

Thank you Jesus by Keith Green is a powerful ending to today’s blog:

Thank You Jesus, for what you’re doing for me,
Thank you Jesus, I want the whole world to see,
That you’re not just a picture on the wall in my room,
That you’re faster than lightning, and you’re coming back soon.

Thank you Jesus, for all the good things you do,Thank you Jesus, I wish they all could know you,
That you’re not just a book collecting dust on the shelf,
And if they don’t want to read it, you’re gonna be back to tell them yourself.

I don’t understand, why my fellow man, had to turn away,
From all the good things that you say,
They’re still trying to find a better way, but you know they won’t,
Unless they invent one, then we’ll have to patent it.

Thank you Jesus, for all the good things you’ve done,
Thank you Jesus, I really want to tell you Lord,
I’m having so much fun, loving You.

Thank you Jesus, for this here smile on my face,
I really want to shout it to the whole Human Race,
That you’re not just this building on the corner where we meet,
They can know You in person, You’re a pleasure to meet.

Thank you Jesus, Oh thank you Jesus,
Thank you Jesus, I only want to thank you Jesus,
I don’t care what they say,
They’re gonna call you a cliché,
I’m gonna love you anyway!

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peace in our mourning

May 23, 2008 at 4:17 pm (music)

I’ve been thinking and praying about my own steadfastness of faith with regard to church planting and all of the elements that will be going into it. I even started this blog to journal through it and it seems that every day, there is something else that is more important than me and my personal stumbling around trying to figure out how to be what God has called me to.

Today and yesterday, the Christian world continues to mourn with the Steven Curtis Chapman family as they face what many consider, unbelievable grief over the tragic loss of their 5 year old daughter, Maria. I pray that the hearts of this family recieve the peace that only our Lord and Savior can give in these times.

Below is a link to a precious video that Steve and Maria made together a few months ago, just hanging around the house and goofing off.

In Memory of Maria

We love you Lord and we call out to You!

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resting in music

May 22, 2008 at 7:29 pm (music, praise)
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After yesterday, I’m enjoying a day in music and I just wanted to share my absolute favorite song with everyone. After all…it is all for Jesus, isn’t it?

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Why isn’t my anger righteous?

May 21, 2008 at 7:22 pm (wife)
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As a wife, I oftentimes find myself taking a defensive position of my home and marriage.  And, to be quite frank, I have enjoyed some of those times.  I can feel a sense of righteousness in my anger against that which comes against my marriage, our home and our spiritual lives.

Then I remember James 1:19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

And I want to know, “why not?”  Why doesn’t the anger I have towards sinful behavior produce righteousness?  Why is my anger about slander and defamation of character any less righteous?

Again, there’s that voice…you are not responsible for the sins of others, but you are responsible for how you respond to being sinned against.  I am accountable to God for my actions, regardless of the sin being tossed in my general direction.

Something the majority of church planters share in common is being sinned against…anonymously (as though being anonymous makes the person somehow invisible to God.)

We have had many stories shared with us about spiritual attacks, unsubstantiated gossip, unbiblical accusations and if none of those worked to the devil’s benefit, there were the many personal attacks against the marriages of church planters.  Accusations of adultery, misuse of personal finances, questionable parenting skills, etc.

So, I sit here seething with unbiblical anger.  Anger that I wish could be made righteous, but I know that ain’t gonna happen.  I am far too sinful, selfish and self-absorbed for my anger to be righteous.  No matter how much I justify and rationalize, it just ain’t so.

I cry out to God to help with my anger, to show me mercy by revealing how I might in turn, show mercy to others.  I don’t want to, but I know the true nature of my own heart and at times, the blackness therein could make the devil proud.   But not today.

Today, I will choose to follow the Lord.  Today, I will find comfort in God’s word regarding anger and the mercies He has shown me.  Today I will overlook in others more than God has overlooked in me.

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What if I change my name to Priscilla or Phoebe?

May 20, 2008 at 7:57 pm (church plant, wife)
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I know the Journey to Oasis (the church plant Derek and I are heading towards) will require me to have the heart of a servant. To show the love of the Father to everyone. To be ready with a gentle hand for those in need. Speak with a patient voice amidst the outcry of children…

<screech> wait a minute…

Have you met me, Lord? Are you kidding me? I can’t even figure out the business end of a glue gun, much less how to be the sweet-spirited church lady that it would seem a church plant will demand.

So, I scramble to find the examples in scripture of fellowship with believers:

Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Can I do this? Can I be the helpmeet to organize much of this?

I pray for a Priscilla or Phoebe buried deep within me to emerge as the standard for this journey. In Romans 16, I read where Paul is sending his Personal Greetings to many workers for the body of Christ.

Romans 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert [2] to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, [3] my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, [4] and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers [5] who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

There are many examples here of women and men who served the body of Christ and had the moral standard by which we should conduct ourselves today.

But ya’ know…if planting churches is what God wants us to do, then how come a book detailed with job descriptions and key result areas was not included in the Canon?  I mean, seriously, why not?  Donkeys talked, seas were parted, but no instructions for a church plant.  Why not?

I get that these people were great witnesses, servants and in some cases, even strong leaders.  But where is the formula?  Where are the 10 commandments to planting a church?

And then there’s the other church planters around the world, young couples on fire for the Lord, popping out babies and getting their Master’s Degrees simultaneously.  All of them perfectly capable of taking a Q-tip and a pack of matches and building a church that lines up with the Gospel of Christ.

Again Lord…have you met me?  My house is never really clean and I live in a perpetual state of “doing laundry.”

I just want my sisters in Christ to stop hurting.  My heart’s desire is that they look to You as their hope and their future.  I pray for the people who feel only despair on Monday mornings and quiet desperation on Friday evenings.  I want my life to give hope to the lost.  I want to be willing to jump right into the pig pen of their lives and get messy with them.

I know, believe and trust that God did not bring me through the devastation that was my own life, into a wonderful and God-glorifying marriage only so I can passively sit in His presence. Maybe after all this writing and thinking, I have stumbled (quite by accident) upon the truth behind planting a church.

It simply isn’t about me.  It isn’t about me.  Truly…it’s not about me.

It’s about walking through life with God’s chosen people – the messy ones.

And therein lies our Hope that is Jesus Christ our Lord.

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