A Nonreligious Approach

Grateful to the Core

2009-11-04T08:07:00.000-08:00

I was taught a little rhyme as a child. It went like this:

Thank you and please
Are two little keys
And when you use these
You may do as you please.

Notice how gratefulness is offered as a means to an end. If I really want something, I should act grateful. Selfishness, not gratefulness, is at the core.

That's a struggle for me. Sometimes gratefulness becomes a performance to keep others happy, an act to hide my shame, or to get what I want. But when I put on a facade, my heart is hardened. And then I'm easily embittered when I don't get what my good performance deserves.

Everywhere in the Bible, gratefulness is linked with Jesus. What He has done for us is indescribable and unbelievable. What He has won for us is imperishable and inestimable. No matter what we're going through, He's been through worse. And He did it so that we wouldn't have to. As we put our hope in Jesus and contemplate all that He's done for us, there's no room left for selfishness. Why would I hold anything back from the One who has given His all for me?

Although I regularly find myself whining and griping about problems, pains, and people, I am powerfully brought back to humility and gratefulness when I remember how much I've been forgiven and at what cost. For someone like me who is being healed of gratefulness-as-an-act, those moment of true gratefulness-to-the-core are precious beyond words.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9

Notice how Peter does not just command us to "be thankful." It's not a legalistic, performance-oriented requirement. Instead he's saying, "When life stinks, remember that Jesus died for you!" When we worship Jesus in the middle of our pain, He empowers us with peace and joy that are beyond our natural ability (which is the same empowerment He received from His Father when He worshiped in the midst of His suffering).

Strength in Jesus

2009-10-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

I don't consider myself an expert on the subject of suffering. Despite my lack of first-hand experience, I want to learn from Jesus so that I "may know how to sustain the weary one with a word" (Isaiah 50:4). When we're suffering, the enemy tries to convince us that it would be better to just "curse God and die" (Job 1:11, 2:9). Being a good friend in those moments requires sensitivity and wisdom. To fight the enemy's lies, our friends need us to help them find some higher caliber ammo than just telling them to "keep their chin up" or the more religious version "have faith and trust God." Yes, have faith! But when we say it too quickly or easily, it can sound like we're telling them to suck it up and be happy.

So how do we help our suffering friends toward faith and hope without putting pressure on them to act happy? Cliches and platitudes almost always put pressure on people. Instead what we want to do is help our friends find Jesus, who takes all the pressure on Himself, and who comes as our Rescuer.

Jesus promises that He is "near to the brokenhearted" (Ps. 34:18). When we're suffering we have an ability to connect with Jesus that's more intimate and tangible than at other times. He knows better than anyone what it feels like to have a desperate prayer rejected (Matt. 26:39). People who are suffering feel betrayed and forgotten by God. Jesus knows what that feels like too (Matt. 27:46). He agonized, wept, and questioned God. When we're trying to help people who are suffering, we must be very careful that we don't speak the kind of religious platitudes that will actually keep people from being able to identify and relate with Jesus.

Here's the real kicker: where Jesus suffered perfectly, none of us will. We will inevitably fail. In that sense, Jesus is NOT our example. We're NOT supposed to try to live up to the standard that He set for us. That's why He is our Savior, not just our teacher or mentor. Since He suffered infinitely, He can relate with us perfectly. But Jesus is the only One who is faithful all the way to end. At many times and in many ways we all falter. But as we rely on His faithfulness to us in times of suffering, He will make us faithful. If we try to encourage people who are suffering to be strong on their own strength, or even for the sake of their loved ones, those motives will fail them. The only way to strength is to find it in Jesus -- who is strong for us when we are at our weakest (2 Cor. 12:9).

Couple more tips:

When in doubt, just listen. We can't mess up by just being there and being a friend. Problems develop when our insecurities rise. Their pain makes us uncomfortable and we want to fix it. But it's best to release ourselves from the pressure to say something that's helpful. Just being there is HUGE. Remember, Job's friends did great until they opened their mouths!
Be encouraging and normal. If we're trying too hard to help people with their discouragement, it increases the likelihood that we'll say stuff that isn't helpful. Talk about the baseball game, the kids, the weather, whatever. People who are suffering don't want their suffering to be the only thing about their life. It's really refreshing for them to feel connected to normal life (even if it's just vicariously).

International Day of Non-Violence

2009-10-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

I just returned from St. Francis High School where I was alongside a Buddhist monk, several folks from Temple Beth El, and several close Catholic friends celebrating the International Day of Non-Violence. The reps from each tradition shared for a few minutes about the call to peace within their faith. I shared about how Jesus told Peter to put away his sword (John 18:10-11) because God had called Him to suffer and die (ultimate pacifism).

Receiving the forgiveness that was bought at the ultimate price empowers us to honor and welcome people even when we're suffering unjustly at their hand. True peace only comes when someone is willing to pay the price. But we can't give what we haven't first received. In other words, if I am choked with bitterness at the wrongs that have been done to me, I probably don't understand how fully and freely I've been forgiven for the wrongs I've done against God and others.

Three Angles for Bible Reading

2009-09-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

Here are three things I'm looking / listening for as I read my Bible:

Listening for God's voice of encouragement, direction, or correction for my own life. This will probably always top the list for me. Sometimes I catch myself just going through the motions rather than really approaching Scripture as an opportunity to connect with the Lord. When I'm in this mode, I do my best to try to connect with what's written and find application in my life. For instance, with the story of David and Goliath, I try to put myself into David's shoes and learn from his example of faith and courage.
Learning about Jesus and how He works. The stories in the Bible are not random. On each page, something is revealed about how Jesus thinks, feels, and acts. The whole book is one grand Story of the world that created by and for Jesus. The goal of every word and phrase on each page is for us to *know* Him, to understand Him, to be able to anticipate what He would do in a given situation. For example, from the same story of David and Goliath, I would see in David a picture of Jesus (the Son of David), who stands and fights against the enemies who are too great for me. Just like the Israelites who stood behind David that day, I get in on a victory that I had nothing to do with fighting! In a similar way, every person who is used by Jesus throughout the Bible somehow reveals His heart for us. We can also learn from the negative examples in Scripture (i.e. Saul, Ahab, Korah, etc.) about who Jesus isn't.
Listening for verses to give to others. It's so exciting when God alerts me to a verse for another person! This doesn't happen very often, nor do I approach the Bible with this goal in mind. However, I always want to be open to it!

One Reason I'm a Pastor

2009-09-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest privileges of my life is to be cheered on by guys like this! Feel the LOVE!

If you can't see the embedded video, here's the YouTube link.

Shaping Up

2009-09-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

I'm down about 5 lbs. and about 10 minutes in the last two weeks I've been riding my bike to work. Couple quick thoughts:

Progress, not perfection, is the goal. I get discouraged easily. Discouragement is all about unmet expectations. If I expect to be LeMond right away, I'll give up quickly. But if I make improvement my goal, I'll feel successful more often. I think that's what Paul is saying when he encourages "each one [to] examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another" (Galatians 6:4). In other words, if I compare myself to other people (who seem perfect), I'll get discouraged and quit. But if I compare myself today to where I was last week or last year, then I'll be stoked on how far I've come!
Everything is spiritual. As I wrote on Tuesday, I tend to think that some things are more spiritual or important than others. But that attitude is untrue and unhelpful. Like many Christians, I'm actually fighting an interior battle with a modern version of the ancient Manichaen heresy, which taught that our bodies (and all physical stuff) are evil and our spirit / soul was good. But that's not what the Bible teaches! Our physical bodies are actually part of Christ's body (1 Cor. 6:15) and are the pinnacle of the entire creation God declared as "good" (Gen. 1:31). One of the main reasons Jesus came in the flesh was to show us how to live a completely spiritual life while still in a mortal body (1 John 1:1-4). So while physical exercise alone is only of "little profit," if I'm truly growing in God, then I'll end up benefiting in "all things" (including my physical shape) (1 Tim. 4:8).

OK... maybe that wasn't just a "quick" thought. All that to say... I'm really enjoying riding my new bike. :)

Getting Pumped... in Body, Soul, and Spirit

2009-09-01T11:25:00.001-07:00

I’ve been riding my (new) bike to work lately. Trying to get this flab into a more decent shape. I’m making progress… I actually made it up all the hills today without getting off and walking!

It’s definitely true that getting in shape physically helps in every area of life. I feel more energetic, cheerful, and faith-filled when I’ve recently gotten sweaty. The physiology / psychology / spirituality link is undeniable. We are three-part beings. Ignoring any part of our being messes with the whole system. If you want to read more, Adrenaline and Stress by Archibald Hart does a great job of tackling all this from a practical, medical, and theological angle.

Bottom line: working out, forming authentic relationships, and spending time in the Bible are all equally vital to our overall health. None or more or less important—they simply focus on establishing health in different aspects of our total being. Although I’ve often thought and taught this, frankly, my physical body has been getting less attention than it needs. Feels great to begin practicing what I preach!

Under a (Kind) Shadow

2009-08-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

One of the men that I look up to as a mentor and friend, Stan Miller, has recently faced huge health challenges. A few weeks ago, the hepatitis C infection he has long suffered from began to cause liver failure and internal bleeding. It's been touch-and-go as he's been in and out of the emergency room several times.

Then just a couple days ago Stan successfully underwent a liver treatment that will restore him to ongoing stable health. Even now he's back home resting. Praise Jesus!

The following are some thoughts Stan wrote about what he's been going through. I was so happy when he asked that I share them with you...

Hello Friends-

I recently found myself in a dark place. Now for many of us that means the enemy must be creating this darkness. Not so for me, not this time. It was different. There was Peace in this darkness.

I have a common practice I use during these times. First I ask the Lord, "What is going on?" At this particular time I didn't hear a word. So my next thing is to start thinking of Scriptures that have something to do with my situation. Bingo. David wrote in Psalms 17:8, "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings..." David was asking for a covering. That was it--He was sheltering me from what the enemy meant for evil. His covering over me was to keep me from seeing things He didn't want me to see. I felt the presence of evil for a moment; then He covered me, protected me from something I was afraid of.

You know when you're laying on a bed and helpless, I think that's when God wants us to take a good look at our trust in Him. You are forced to look under the hood and see what you really believe. It becomes painfully obvious God's in charge no matter how much it hurts. He's not wanting to point out our failures; He's wanting to show us that we are a people with deep convictions. He wants us to see we're not just a bunch of nice people doing this thing called church. We're not suppose to act like everyone else.

There are those times when we do get it right. I'm thankful for that because I really need to offset the other time. As we grow in Him, it's so important that we grow closer to each other.

I will forever be grateful for all He has taken me through. And Judy and I want very much to say to all of you, "Thank you!" I might not have been able to see everybody that came into the hospital to see me, but believe me--I felt the LOVE. Judy would come and tell me all who came by and the conversations that took place. It warmed my heart.

Also, the emails that were rolling in from all over saying, ''We're praying for you.'' I've never felt so loved.

It's a beautiful thing to have a family, but also so easy to take it for granted. I want to be a man that is a deep lover of people.

For I have been forgiven much, now I want to love much,

Stan

God is the Ultimate Giver!

2009-08-18T08:49:00.002-07:00

Our friends at the Shelter Alb church in southern Germany recently moved into a new building (such a bright, beautiful space! That's Juergen at the lectern at the front of the room). How exciting! As an expression of our love and excitement for this big transition for them, our Council decided to send a small housewarming gift to them. It was a bit of a stretch because things are really tight for us financially... but we really didn't want to miss the opportunity that we felt God had put on our hearts.

Then last week, we discovered an account with one of our long term vendors that had an incredibly huge positive balance. Somehow we had been overpaying them on a monthly basis for 15+ years. Interestingly, we're going to be getting a check from the vendor that is exactly 10 times what we were able to give to the Shelter Alb church.

Coincidence? I think not... ;)

Launching Forward

2009-08-14T08:26:00.000-07:00

I dropped Asher off for his first day of school this week. What a fun moment! I am so excited for him growing up. He's loving his new friends, the unknown toys, the books with pictures he's never seen before, new playground, and of course the school garden (he's never even heard of gardening before -- not really Hils' or my thing).

A few weeks ago, the Lord gave me a picture of where we are at as a church family--at the top of a water slide. He was encouraging me that all the work we've put in (climbing the flights of steps to the top) are going to have a readout. There's a wild, fun ride ahead of us that's full of refreshment and excitement.

The verse in my mind is:

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm then... Eph. 6:13-14

I like how it repeats the phrase, "Stand firm." After you've done everything in preparation to stand firm, don't forget to actually stand firm! Sometimes I get confused and think that prepping for battle is the whole point. But that would mean all work and no victory!

I feel like He's encouraging me (and us) not to get tired or discouraged. The reward for our hard work is just ahead of us. Now is not the time to sit down in exhaustion. It's a time to sit down and lean forward. The ride is going to be great!

Ahhh, Summertime...

2009-07-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

Tuesday night we kicked off our summer Bible study series, Soul Food (Tuesday evenings through August 4th, starts at 6pm and includes dinner for $5). We had a dozen small discussion groups in the sanctuary and I gave each group a different chunk of Isaiah to study together. Honestly, I was a bit nervous about whether it would "work" -- whether conversation / discussion would flow. It could have been laborious (getting to know a group of people while chewing through a chapter of Isaiah is a big stretch...), but instead it felt so easy and fun!

That's the flavor everywhere in our church right now. Easy. Fun. Relaxed. The jazz classic "Summertime, and the livings easy..." has been running through my brain. While many of us are facing difficult situations, somehow God's grace is covering us... even if it's a bit bumpy.

Virtually all my favorite memories from childhood are when things went awry as we were on some adventure... which in the moment was stressful, but in the end became the highlight! Like when we went off-roading in the wilderness and got stuck and it took us a couple of days of piling rocks to build a ramp to get us unstuck. Or when we didn't pack enough food and actually HAD to catch fish to survive. Or when my brother forgot to pack a sleeping bag and was forced to share.

So if things get stressful, let's not get overwhelmed! Let's decide instead to enjoy being together and working together... then it will end up being easy, fun, and joy-filled. What made those moments as a kid memorable and fun was the camaraderie that developed as we tackled the challenge. If we had blamed one another for the problems or tried to solve the them by ourselves, it would of been a nightmare.

So let's take full advantage of the grace that God has on our church right now. It's not a time to sit back or be alone. Like being at the top of a water slide, this is a moment to lean in and enjoy the ride!

If you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:10-11

Total Sweetness

2009-07-01T11:34:00.001-07:00

The other day I got a thank you note from one of the moms who sent her daughter to VBS. She included this photo of her daughter who had fallen asleep while reading her Bible (she promises that the pic wasn't posed... *smile*). Our theme this year was, "It's in There!" -- all the answers we need for life are in the Bible. I'm actually quite inspired by this little girl's totally sweet example... and jealous (in a good way) of the peace she feels.

I don't know about you, but my thoughts and feelings are so persuasive. When fear grips me, the verdict of doom is irresistible. I can spiral into a grumpy, depressed place for hours or days. When I think I'm right and others are to blame, my own logic can't teach me grace or patience.

But thankfully God has given a resource that's more powerful than my thoughts or feelings. When I choose to rely on them, His promises and instructions can secure me and guide me no matter how chaotic my thoughts, feelings, or situation. When I'm trusting and obeying His instructions, I get in on His peace, which defies all logic (Phil. 4:7).

I am praying daily that I would have more courage to reject my own thoughts and feelings and choose instead to rely on His promises and instructions. One of the lies that's been beating me up lately is that I'm not good enough, smart enough, holy enough... or *whatever* enough to do what God is asking me to do. I get no peace by trying to tell myself that I really am doing well. That just adds fuel to the fire...

The other day I came across Ezekiel 36:22-38, and I've been hanging onto it since then. In that section, God promises to do some incredible, miraculous stuff... But the part that really has my attention is where God repeats, "It is not for your sake that I am about to act..." (v. 22, 32). In other words, all the awesome stuff God is doing is NOT a reward for my good behavior. That's not a shameful condemnation... it's a hopeful promise! If the good stuff God is doing hasn't been earned, then it also can't be lost. I don't have to be good enough, smart enough, or holy enough... I just have to keep my eyes on Him!

Love is the Greatest Miracle

2009-06-17T06:08:00.001-07:00

I've read stories about amazing miracles. I've seen some pretty amazing stuff that God has done, too (my own son was miraculously healed when he was a couple months old). That stuff is fantastic... We pray for miracles of healing, provision, and breakthrough all the time. However, the greatest miracle of all is love: when God takes a heart that is hardened by selfishness, fear, grief, pride, shame, and hurt and softens and heals it so that it can beat with compassion, absorb affection, and shout out joy.

Like the miracle of a flower blooming, this process often happens in quiet, almost imperceptible ways. A conversation here, a hug there, a decision made in a personal moment to think differently or to try something new. Hands are raised. Hearts are opened. And God in heaven does a little dance as we come to life in love...

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

VBS Monday: Creation Sequence

2009-06-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

This was such a cool moment! I got goosebumps watching it live. The fact that God made the world and each of the kids' lives was totally new for many of them.

I had a conversation with a parent as they were dropping off their child in the morning, and they were telling me how grateful they were for this event. They explained that they had realized that their child had no concept of God or Jesus at all... they didn't plan to not teach their child, but that with all of the stuff going on in their life, they just hadn't gotten around to it.

These are the moments that the Truth that God made them, knows them, and loves them begins to sink into little hearts & minds... I am so grateful for all the hard work and creativity of the hundreds of volunteers who are helping to put this all together! Go God, Go Team!

How Long Will I Hesitate?

2009-06-15T02:43:00.000-07:00

Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:21

The thing I love most about VBS is that it's a chance to launch in with my whole heart. There's something about being surrounded by hundreds of screaming, jumping, dancing kids and adults that opens up a fresh possibility for my heart to enter into pure servanthood (working for others rather than myself), pure worship (working for God rather than myself), and pure joy.

Although I believe everything I teach, I still have areas of my heart that are so stubborn, so proud, and so selfish. Those parts of my heart hesitate to launch in to Jesus. Part of me likes to hang back in the shadows, evaluating and critiquing everything that's going on around me, rather than just going for it.

So if you see me this week jumping a bit higher, shouting a bit louder, and getting a bit messier than I have in the past, it's because I'm desperate! I want so badly to have Jesus cleanse my heart of selfishness, pride, and stubbornness. I want to get rid of the arrogance that makes me hesitate and second-guess with God. I want the humility and joy of a child (Matthew 18:3).

VBS Fast Day

2009-06-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

They will be as mighty men,
Treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle;
And they will fight, for the Lord will be with them…
And their heart will be glad as if from wine;
Indeed, their children will see it and be glad,
Their heart will rejoice in the Lord. Zechariah 10:5, 7

Today is our church's VBS Fast Day. We are praying for God to do the impossible. But it's not just up to God... He invites us to fight with Him! So we're rallying together to contend for the breakthroughs God wants to do.

There are hundreds of kids and volunteers registered. Each one needs a touch from God. Families are breaking apart, homes and jobs have been lost... the future seemingly unsure for so many. The desperation in our lives is palpable.

The enemy says that we don't have the time, energy, or money to pull off VBS. He speaks despair to tempt us to isolate in fear. But VBS is an opportunity to reject his lies and step into the battle for these little ones' hearts and lives. As we serve the kids, God will do the miraculous, empowering us to crush the enemy's hopelessness under our sweaty, dusty feet.

In the end, we'll be drunk with joy, and our kids will come to know God. Awwww yeah! That's going to be some serious F-U-N!!!

God Teaches Me to Lead

2009-05-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit,
Who leads you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17

In lots of areas, I'm on a very steep learning curve. This goes without saying, but if I'm learning, that means there's lots of stuff that I don't know yet. Also, it means that I'm making a lot of mistakes.

I like to know everything and be fully qualified before I step into leading others... But that isn't God's pattern. He loves to promote humble people who have lots to learn.

One of the lies that comes at me is that since I'm making lots of mistakes, people would be better off without me... that somehow I'm going to mess things up to the point that I should quit while we're still all ahead. But this verse says that there is "profit," even in the learning curve. Other verses say it even more clearly (2 Cor. 12:9, Judges 6:14-16, Ex. 4:10-12, Phil. 4:13). The enemy is trying to get us to quit by making us feel like we have nothing to offer. While we don't have much to offer, if we offer it in Jesus' name, He can take it and multiply it (Matt. 14:13-21, Acts 3:6). These are verses I'm holding onto for dear life...

On the other hand, the enemy is also happy if we refuse to learn from our mistakes. He says that we are free to take advantage of God's grace and that there won't ever be any consequences if we continue to fail. This is also a lie (Rom. 3:5-8, James 2:26, Heb. 5:11-14, Zech. 7:11-14)! If the disciples made lots of mistakes in their learning process of becoming apostles, I should be willing to do the same. However, they eventually grew in wisdom and authority through the humble learning process. If I'm really changing, the same will be true of me.

While I don't want to write myself off for my mistakes, I also don't want to pretend that they aren't there or that they don't matter. I want to walk right down the middle of the straight, narrow path... Willing to learn and also willing to lead.

A Deceived Heart Can't Deliver Himself

2009-05-07T07:01:00.001-07:00

He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?" Isaiah 44:20

When I've been deceived, I am feeding on ashes. My "deceived heart" believes that these ashes are tasty and satisfying. The lie is that there is power in an idol (read the context of the verse). An idol is the product of my effort and imagination.

When I am eating ashes, I need help to see it. I tell myself that my hard work and creative thinking will solve problems. It's easier for others to see when I'm choking on my efforts than it is for me. I imagine myself to be diligent. Others (especially my wife) can see when I'm fooling myself.

That's why I want to constantly maintain a posture of humility and vulnerability with people who know me and love me. Sounds good, right? It is good, but it's very difficult and painful at times... because it tends to be that the things I'm working hardest on and care the most about can most easily become "ashy." Being open to hearing about that is tough.

Day Off

2009-05-06T09:27:00.001-07:00

It's been a long haul the last couple months for the Millikan fam. Between sickness, Easter, FMA, and lots of other little meetings here and there, it just feels like we haven't had much family time. So we're taking the day off together...

This morning I'll be trimming the tree in the back yard to prep it for swing-installation. Then this afternoon we'll be making our first trip to Pump'd in Watsonville.

I am determined for my kids to grow up feeling happy that daddy is a pastor. I want them to understand that saying yes to Jesus opens up all kinds of incredible possibilities and fun that we could never get on our own!

Field Ministry Academy

2009-04-30T14:29:00.001-07:00

Last week was one my favorites! I spent the week with eleven other pastors being coached by Daniel in how to think and live in this wild world of ministry. While I could write pages about what I learned, let me share just a couple of the highlights:

Relationships, relationships, relationships. While structure, strategy, and theology are important, the laughter and joy that come from affectionate connection is vital! The picture that kept coming to me is how a skeleton is ugly and empty. So is structure without love and affection. On the other hand, a body without a skeleton won't make much progress! Both the structure and the heart are vital. My vulnerability is putting too much thought, effort, and trust in the structure.

My hope and prayer is that the friendships that are being forged among us pastors will have a long-lasting impact on our Foursquare movement. Our hope and strength is not in any particular structure or strategy (these tend to come and go on a regular basis), but in vulnerable, affectionate, active, and lasting connection with each other. Friendships like these make Foursquare a movement rather than merely an organization / denomination (bylaws, procedures, theology, etc.).
Preparation and flexibility. One of the things I've always admired about Daniel is how he is so prepared and yet so flexible! When I'm highly prepared, I sometimes get rigid in my plan. Last week, I felt so cared for by the immense amount Daniel had prepared for us to go through... and I felt so cared for in that he was willing to let it go (because he allowed us lots of time to interact with each other and also to answer our questions).
Ministry is about raising people up to do more ministry. As a pastor, it's so easy to lose sight of the goal! Because there's so much work (logistics, administration, etc.) involved in church, it's easy for church to become the end rather than the means. We use church to grow and shape incredible people, and we reject anything that uses people to grow and shape an "incredible" church.

Repentance

2009-04-17T14:58:00.001-07:00

Just this afternoon, a friend of mine emailed me and asked what repentance is... I felt so encouraged as I wrote out some thoughts for him, that I decided I would share them with you. Enjoy!

*************

Contrary to popular thinking, repentance is not an angry or judgmental word (picture the angry dude on the street corner yelling at people to "REPENT!"). It's God's promise that life can be different (and better) than it is right now. To "repent" simply means to have a change of mind, to turn around, to go another direction from where we were headed.

The essence of what repentance is all about is saying to God, "My way hasn't worked, I've tried as hard as I can, and I've come up short, so I'm going to stop what I'm doing and ask for Your help." Even our most noble and honorable efforts fall insanely short of how God thinks and acts (Isaiah 64:6, 55:9), so there is room for repentance all the time. That's why repentance isn't a sporadic event driven by guilt and shame, but an ongoing process of being instructed by God in how to live, think, and feel.

Religion twists repentance into a shameful ritual -- it's the “price” we must pay to earn favor with God. It’s often portrayed as a cowering, squirming admission of how bad we are, as if God would be happy if we would admit what miserable creatures we are. But God doesn’t need anything from us; it's for our sake, not His, that He offers us this incredible invitation into repentance (Psalm 50:9-15). Not because He’s angry, but because He wants to rescue us from where our natural thinking / living leads us, and teach us on a daily (and hourly) basis a better way.

Once we understand the power of His grace, we become hungry to confess and repent all the time! No longer are we driven by guilt and shame to prove our worth and defend ourselves, but we get to let our guard down with God and other people. We get to confess our faults freely because we don't need to fear punishment (1 John 4:18). Where we previously feared that opening up to God and others would cause them to push us away, we find that it actually opens the door for deeper, more intimate relationship than we had ever dreamed possible. In that love and grace we finally find the freedom to become the people God made us to be.

Look Up!

2009-04-16T16:06:00.000-07:00

This weekend a group of our youngsters will be performing a musical during services. The script follows three characters on a journey full of laughter, surprises, and dangers as they search for the lost cookie jar and rescue a damsel in distress in order to save the day at the Giant Cookie Festival.

"Turtle", a shy little girl, "Little Man" a conquering young hero, and their fearful friend "Princess" encounter situations in their adventure that bring up anxiety, confusion, and loneliness. But in all of these situations, they are reminded to "look to the Lord." As they pray for help, the Lord delivers them and shows them a way through their current troubles. And after each difficult situation is overcome the choir sings praise to the Lord for His grace and His deliverance.

My hope is that through this simple, youthful production we'll be reminded that the Lord wants us to call out to Him in our times of trouble. There's something about the purity and innocence of children that can open our grown-up hearts to the truths of the Kingdom.

One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4

This isn't just about older teaching younger. There are times when it goes the other direction, too! It's going to be a fantastic weekend! Come and enjoy it with us.

Easter Reflections

2009-04-16T15:37:00.001-07:00

This pic is from our Easter Prep day that happened a few weeks back. 100+ volunteers came to weed, plant, trim, and mow our grounds to get ready for the Egg Hunt that we all enjoyed last Saturday morning.

It would be hard to underestimate how much work went into that event. Literally thousands of man-hours of planning and prep, not to mention all the work on the day itself.

You would think that such exertion would leave us drained, yes? But quite the opposite is true. When we are doing things with the right heart, the right motives, it's actually energizing.

It's impossible to out-give God. When we give or serve, He gives more (Luke 6:38). What's draining and exhausting is living for myself.

I am so proud of our church family for how we banded together and put together a wonderful weekend of lively fun for our community. While I don't want to shove it down anyone's throat, I hope the truth isn't lost amidst the festivities: this was far more than a fun event. It was a group of people laying down their lives so that others could be blessed.

The enemy lies to us saying that if we go for it with all we've got, that we will lose... our individuality, our time, our energy, our money.... whatever. But God promises that if we choose to lose our lives for His sake, we will find them in the end.

The Trial of Dismas and Gestas

2009-04-16T15:05:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine recently wrote a parable that summarizes the gospel story. Just wanted to share it because I think it's pretty great stuff... The plot and imagery help clarify many important details of what our faith is all about. Enjoy!

Relying on Grace - Part 2

2009-04-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned in several settings recently how stressful it is preparing for Easter. I want to deliver a humdinger of a sermon that will impact lives with hope. It's not a prideful thing, it's just I want to do a good job because I know that if we can grasp the truth, it will change our lives.

Each time I've shared about my stress, my friends have been encouraging me to trust that God will give me the words to speak. It was nice encouragement. But then last evening at our Council meeting, another of my friends spoke more directly to me. In his words, I heard the Lord gently correcting me, "It's so stressful, Todd, because you're trying to come up with a great sermon on your own. Just ask me what I want to say to people..."

Not only do I need God's grace to cover my mistakes, but I also need His grace to accomplish anything truly fruitful. My best efforts, noble intentions, and hard work will only distract people from hearing God if I'm not relying on His grace to speak through me. A few verses came to mind:

All our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment. Isaiah 64:6

Apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Without faith it is impossible to please Him. Hebrews 11:6

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13