Frontline Roundtable

Frontline Fall Retreat Audio Available

2009-09-29T11:05:00.005-04:00

Good news! If you missed the Fall Retreat (or just wanted to hear the sessions again) the audio is now posted at Frontlinedc.com in the Sermon Archives.

John McGowan, the Director of The Gathering and Frontline Creative Arts spoke in the four main sessions on Loving God.

If you'd like to subscribe to our podcast in iTunes, simply click here to visit our iTunes page and click "Subscribe".

Walking Away [Katy Kirk]

2009-08-28T09:42:00.002-04:00

Katy Kirk is the Associate Director of Frontline and MBC Women's Small Groups.

By about the age of 3, we are already choosing to go our own way, refusing to follow the rules, or give up anything that might require sacrifice on our part. Don’t you remember from a very early age inherently wanting your way and when things were asked of you that required any sort of sacrifice- you were out the door, right? I know I was and am still that way today…unfortunately!

Last weekend I went to see my parents in my hometown Kerrville, Texas. We went to the church I grew up in, Trinity Baptist, which is your typical small town Texas Baptist church. My pastor, John Petty, gave a message that was one of those that impacted me in a life-altering way. He was using the passage in the book of John (John 6:56-67) where Jesus is teaching the disciples that He is the “Bread of Life” in the synagogue at Capernaum. Jesus, is for the first time, giving the “hard to swallow and comprehend” truth about Him being the only way to the Father. They didn’t understand His metaphor about being the genuine, life-giving “Bread of Life” nor did they want to accept it. Very quickly the popular, miracle-performing, healing man of Jesus was not so popular. Jesus’ followers and much of the crowd began getting up and walking away. Can you imagine people just two by two getting up in the middle of Frontline and walking out? This is what was happening in this scene.

These people had had enough. They didn’t want to hear it. The disciples said to Jesus in verse 60, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” It was just too difficult to hear or accept for them. Have you ever asked this question? What about in your heart or mind when reading Scripture? What about when you know God has asked something of you that just seems way too hard or difficult? Sometimes it just seems a little too much to ask, doesn’t it?

Jesus then goes on to admonish them with the truth of Himself once again- that He is the only way to eternal life. As many of his followers (disciples) grumbled and walked off…Jesus then turned to His twelve disciples and asked them, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Can you imagine Jesus Christ asking you this question? It pierces my heart and brings tears to my eyes to think of this image…to think that my Lord would have to ask me that. Although, I know that I have left Him many a time…choosing my own futile will over His. I can think of so many things in my life that God has asked me to do for Him that required sacrifice on my part- yet I said to Him, “Now that’s asking just a little too much, don’t you think? I don’t think so…” Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to die for my sins so that I can live eternally with Him is the ultimate sacrifice. Anything I “sacrifice” for Him on this earth shouldn’t even be considered a sacrifice after what He has done for me. He wants us to follow Him- that is it. We have a choice in every single thing we do- to follow Jesus or not. It is really that simple.

Is there anything that Jesus could say to you that would cause you to walk away?

After Party Q&A #4: Should We Try to Contact the Dead?

2009-08-27T09:12:00.001-04:00

As I said in the forth message of our recent series, “The After Party,” The short and simple answer to this question is “NO!” God makes it plain that we should not try to contact the dead by any means. Any effort to do so is sin and very dangerous.

The following passages (and others) speak to the issue:

Deuteronomy 18:10-12
There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or bone who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD.

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

We are to avoid any form of sorcery, divination, fortune telling, seeking mediums to contact the dead. Modern forms of these things such as Ouija Boards, Tarot Cards, Seances, Palm reading should also be avoided. God has given us the Bible as our most specific assurance for us to understand the afterlife. There is a separation between us and the deceased that should not be crossed and according to the clear commands of Scripture, any attempts at circumnavigating this gulf in order to contact the dead (or “spirits” or “ghosts”) is sinful.

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!),
Todd Phillips

Frontline Worship Band Auditions

2009-08-26T20:46:00.003-04:00

Hello! My name is Tony Alany. I have had the privilege of being a part of Frontline Creative Arts for some time now. Most recently as the Worship Leader and Creative Arts Director for Frontline Arlington. On behalf of the Frontline Creative Arts team, we are incredibly excited about the things God is doing in Frontline, and we need your help to reach the goals that we believe God has impressed upon us! How can you help? Well, if you play drums, bass, or guitar, we want to know about it! Please click HERE to tell us more about yourself and what you do! Also, please feel free to pass this along to anyone you think may be a fit. We look forward to partnering with you to do God’s work of reaching secular Washington for Christ!

-Tony

After Party Q&A #3: Will We Remember Our Lives When We’re in Heaven?

2009-08-26T09:06:00.001-04:00

As we continue our Q&A session the next question is, “Will we remember our lives when we’re in heaven?” I want to address this question from the perspective of what we will ultimately remember in eternity. By this I’m referring to what we’ll remember after we face judgment before Christ as believers and receive our heavenly rewards.

In the “After Party” series we reflected on the passages in the Bible that speak of all believers standing before Jesus and receiving rewards in Heaven based on our action in life. Paul speaks to this issue in his second letter to Corinth, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10) Again, we don’t stand before Jesus to be judged as to our entrance into Heaven. This judgment speaks to rewards that we receive from Christ. However, we will reflect at this time on the totality of our lives and therefore will remember everything about our lives during this judgment.

After we stand before Christ at this judgment the question of our memories then becomes an interesting theological discussion. Those who claim that we will, from that point on, forget the sins of the past, refer to the passage in Revelation that states, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) Therefore, the argument goes, we cannot possibly remember sin and tragedy if we will live a life without tears or sadness. After all, how could we remember the tragedies of life and not experience sadness?

Paul helps us here a great deal. Paul commend s believers to forget the past when he write to Philippi, “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) Yet, he tells the Ephesian church to remember their former lives: “Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh...were at that time separated from Christ.” (Ephesians 2:11-12) Even though Paul is speaking here about our earthly lives while we’re still on the earth, we can draw form this some application to eternity.

Paul seems to condone the forgetting or remembering of life’s circumstances based not on the condition of “bad” or “good,” or even the remembrance of “righteous” acts and forgetting “sin.” Instead, he implores us to remember the moments in our lives that remind us of God’s love and leads us to worship him. So, if the memory of a tragedy leads us to worship God, then we’ll remember it. If the event does nothing to increase our appreciation or worship of God then we may forget.

I say “may” because it is not clear exactly how our memories will work and yet it seems clear that we will remember at least most of our lives. In other words, the memory of our earthly lives will continue, but it will be altered in light of being in a resurrected state free from sin and death and being in perfect fellowship in the presence of Jesus.

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!),
Todd Phillips

After Party Q&A #2: Can People in Heaven See What We’re Doing on Earth?

2009-08-25T09:02:00.003-04:00

In my last blog, we tackled the question, “Do babies and special needs people go to Heaven since some can’t understand or respond to the Gospel?” Please make sure to read my last post on the subject. Another popular question was, “Can people in Heaven see what we do on earth?”

Usually I start with Scripture that either speaks directly to the issue at hand or I’ll cite passages that give us some theological insight on the subject. Unfortunately, there aren’t any passages that speak this question directly. So, in short there are no biblical texts to support the idea that people in Heaven can see what we do on earth. In fact, the two passages that are often cited in reference to this question suggest that those in Heaven cannot see what we are doing here on earth.

The first passage that is often referenced is the Luke 16 story of the Rich Man and Lazarus:

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31)

There is no indication that the Rich man in Hell, Abraham, or Lazarus can see what is happening, for example, to the Rich Man’s five brothers. We simply don’t have an indication here of the potential for them to see the living.

The other passage comes from Hebrews 12. After writing of the many faithful men and women of God form the Bible – what many call the members of the “faith Hall of Fame” from Hebrews 11 - Paul says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1) When Paul speaks of these people, now in Heaven, as the “great cloud of witnesses” this does not mean they are currently spectators of what is happening on the earth. Instead it speaks to the fact that they witness to us by their lives of faithfulness and endurance and set a lofty standard by which we should model our lives.

The only passage that hints to the potential of people in Heaven being able to see what we do on the earth is from Luke 15, “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7). However, we cannot from this passage conclude that the joy experienced here is by the children of God currently in Heaven witnessing the salvation of an individual on earth. The passage could speak to God and the Heavenly Host rejoicing or it could include our loved ones who have heard of our salvation, but again, does not speak to the ability of believers in Heaven directly witnessing our activities.

So, is it possible that people in Heaven can see what we do on earth? Possible? Yes. Likely? No.

More answers to come!

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!),
Todd Phillips

Locker Room Moments [Mike Kelsey]

2009-08-24T13:16:00.002-04:00

Typically, before every event, there's that "locker room" moment where you gather all your volunteers to give last-minute instructions, pray, etc. Here's some steps I go through (in addition to prayer) to prepare for those times. I also included some examples from a locker room moment i had today:

1. Think through what your team might face.
How might they feel throughout the event (tired, discouraged, etc.)? What situations might they have to deal with? Who will they interact with? For example, earlier today we had teams of people going to do work at public schools in Washington, DC. I knew they would definitely be talking to and working with unbelievers.

2. Think about how God would want them to respond.
If you know they'll face frustration at some point, what would God want them to do or not do with that frustration? If they'll experience a lot of crowds, how did Jesus handle crowds? Knowing that our folks would be with unbelievers today, I wanted them to be sensitive to opportunities to share the Gospel.

3. Find a passage that clearly articulates that response.
Here, you're looking for a biblical idea to brand into people's minds that will hopefully inspire them to see a situation the way God would want them to see it and respond the way God would want them to respond. For our event today, Colossians 2:5-6 fit the scenario perfectly.

4. Summarize it into a concise, memorable phrase.
Hopefully that phrase will come to their minds throughout the day. It doesn't have to rhyme or work its way into a melody; it's just something to emphasize a driving "God idea." Today, mine was "Make the most of every opportunity." I repeated that over and over again and then had them repeat it to each other. I was hoping, for example, that they would be talking to an unbeliever, quietly hear "Make the most of every opportunity" (in a scary whisper voice) and then hopefully that would encourage them in that moment to share Christ.

Locker Room moments have so much potential. Be prepared!

After Party Q&A #1: Do babies go to heaven?

2009-08-19T12:59:00.002-04:00

The series we just completed, “The After-Party” has been a tremendously exciting series to put together over the past several months. The series has led to a lot of emails asking specific questions about Heaven, Hell, and death in general which is why I decided to end the series with a Q&A session. I originally planned to speed through 10 to 15 questions during the message but there was just too much to address in each question so I only answered the five most popular questions in the service.

I’ll spend the next several weeks then answering many of the questions I was unable to address from the stage via our Frontline blog. Depending on the day, I’ll have one or several questions answered each day.

Here we go…

What happens to babies/special needs people who cannot understand the Gospel?

This was the sixth most popular question until this week. It’s now become one of the top three questions in light of emails I’ve received in the past few days. This is one of those very important questions that I wish God would have dealt with directly. However, God chose in His infinite wisdom to leave the answer to this question somewhat ambiguous from a strictly scriptural perspective.

There is some biblical evidence that those who cannot make a decision for Christ are covered by Christ’s atoning work on the cross. When King David speaks of his dead son, he claims, “But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” We see here David understanding that he will go to be with his departed son when David dies. David knew that his right standing before God came by faith and we see him included in what some call the “faith Hall of Fame” in Hebrews 11. We can then surmise that, based in the inspired Word we read here, that David would indeed see his son again in Heaven when David dies as one who is saved by faith.

Secondly, there is no question that Christ’s death on the cross is sufficient payment for the entirety of mankind’s sin. We find this in 1 John 2:2: “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This does not in any way negate the need for every human being to come before God in repentance and accept Jesus as their Lord. However, it opens the possibility of God applying Christ’s atoning work to those who are incapable of understanding and therefore responding to the Gospel. This would include babies and some children as well as special needs persons.

I believe that this view is completely consistent with God’s character. This idea – some call it the age of accountability – puts forth this assertion, that Christ’s death on the cross covers those who die before reaching the maturity to understand their sinfulness and their need for Christ. We cannot though be dogmatic in our assertion of this view. We can though lean on the fact that our God is always holy, just, merciful, loving, and gracious. Whatever He does is always right and good.

Frontline Baptisms

2009-08-17T11:15:00.002-04:00

If you missed the baptism service from last week, we've posted it here and also uploaded the video to YouTube. It's definitely worth checking out!

I Hate Corporate Prayer! [Mike Kelsey]

2009-08-01T18:52:00.002-04:00

If we’re all honest about it, praying with a group of people can people very weird. Someone always prays the thing you were waiting to pray for. There’s always those unbearable moments of awkward silence when noone knows what’s next. Inevitably two people will start praying at the same time and then they’ll both spend the next 5minutes saying “no, you go….no, you go.” It’s just weird.

So here are a few tips I’ve learned through my experiences to help make that time more effective (and bearable):

(1) Choose someone to open and close the prayer time.

This is so huge. It gets the time going without the dreadful moment where noone has enough courage to pray first. And it alleviates the pressure of not knowing how and when the praying is supposed to stop. Everyone knows to keep praying until “Jack” closes it out.

(2) Pray one topic at a time (conversational style).

How would this conversation sound? “Hey, did you see the basketball game last night?” “I bought some amazing furniture this weekend.” “My back hurts.” That’s soooo random and the conversation would never deepen and progress because it’s bouncing from topic to topic. That’s how most corporate prayer times are. No focus, just random things blurted out. Instead, choose a specific prayer topic/need and have everyone focus their prayers on that, then move to the next one. That allows for a cumulative effect in prayer, where all the prayers build on each other and the Lord can give wisdom even in the process of praying.

(3) Don’t be afraid to pray again!

There’s some unspoken rule that each person is only allowed to pray once. You might pray and then a few minutes later God may put something else on your heart to pray for, but you’ve already “had your turn” so you stay quiet. WHY?! Pray again! Yes, sometimes it’s rude to go back for seconds, but not in prayer!

(4) Avoid praying for too long.

There’s limited time for a prayer gathering, so don’t monopolize that time by praying for too long. We’ve all been there. Someone up front says “I’ll give you a few minutes to pray together and then I’ll end the time by closing it out.” Five minutes later, the first person is STILL praying and as soon as you finally get to chime in, the prayer time is over (and you’re left trying to figure out “Should I still finish my prayer or just stop?”)

[Note: This is in reference to INDIVIDUALS being insensitive to the fact that others also want to participate in prayer. This is not to say that corporate prayer times should be short.]

(5) Don’t be afraid to break the connection.

When prayer starts we feel like there’s this formal connection to God that shouldn’t be broken until the prayer time is over. So, for example, you’re supposed to be praying for Joe but as soon as you start praying for him you realize you don’t remember his name!!! Ahh you’ve been there. So you just start praying in very vague terms: “Lord, thank you for my brother.” Break the connection!!! Just stop and ask him what his name is and then keep praying. That’s MUCH better than not being able to pray wholeheartedly and specifically because you’re trying to figure out how to keep it general!

(6) Let Scripture inform your praying.

As verses come to mind in your corporate prayer times, either read them aloud or simply use them to guide what you pray for. God has obligated Himself to respond to His Word and when we pray his Word, He uses it to shape our desires and give us wisdom for how to pray according to His will.

Those are just a few things I’ve learned that make praying with others less dreadful and more effective.

After Party Blog Response, Part 1 [Todd Phillips]

2009-07-27T09:08:00.004-04:00

Last night at Frontline we started a series called The After Party, covering subjects like “What Happens the Moment We Die?” and “Is there a literal place called Hell?” and "What will Heaven be like?” Last night we covered a great deal of information and one of the areas I didn’t have the time to explore was the rewards that we may qualify for in heaven. Several Frontliners emailed me last night asking for more detail so here it is!

There are five crowns (rewards) shown in Bible – but there could be more:

1. The Incorruptible Crown – 1 Corinthians 9:25 – This reward is given to those seeking maturity in Christ with every fiber of their being. They read God’s Word and meditate on it daily, pray without ceasing for themselves and others, fast. They pursue solitude, submission to God’s Word, and simplicity in life. This crown is for those who press ceaselessly to know Jesus more intimately with each breath.
2. Crown of Righteousness – 2 Timothy 4:8 – This crown is for those who know that this world is not your own; joy is not found in the things of this world. These followers of Christ hold loosely to the things this world offers and hold tightly to the things of God. They long for the return of Christ and the redemption that comes with Him.
3. Crown of Rejoicing (or the “soul-winner’s crown”) Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:19 – This crown is reserved for those who care for others who don’t yet know Christ. These followers of Christ dive into the lives of non-believers looking moment by moment for opportunities to show the love of Christ in acts of kindness and share the Gospel through these relationships.
4. Crown of Glory – 1 Peter 5:4 – Those who care for others – believers and non-believers. This is also called “The Shepherd’s Crown.” Small group leaders, ministry activists, pastors – these are the types of followers who receive this reward.
5. Crown of Life - James 1:12; Revelation 2:10; 3:11 – This reward comes to those who endure trials and unspeakable hardships and hang tightly to Jesus through it all. Martyrs for the faith in history and those who will die for Christ before this day is done will receive this crown.

Have you lived lives worthy of the rewards of God?
Some of us have, some have not done these things.

Remember 1 Corinthians 3:13-15:
13 (a person’s) work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Some believers will be rewarded so handsomely by Christ that it will take ten million years in eternity to even begin to wrap their minds around what they’ve received. Others, who have received God’s gift of salvation but have done little with the gift they have received will “be saved, but only as one escaping from the flames.”

Believer, would God say “well done my good and faithful servant” for the life you’ve lived in the past seven days? Or, have you accepted His love and forgiveness and done little with the gift you’ve received?

Be sure to attend one of our campuses (Tysons, Silver Spring, Arlington and Internet) in the coming weeks as we tackle the tough topics of Heaven and Hell straight from the pages of the Bible. See you there and be sure to invite your friends!

Carpe Deum! (Seize God!),
Todd Phillips
Frontline Pastor

Internet Blitz Tonight!

2009-07-21T10:19:00.002-04:00

Join us at 7:30 PM ET tonight on the Internet Campus for our After Party Internet Blitz!

This is the Internet Campus's version of a metro blitz. It will be an interactive time of coming together virtually to spread the word about Frontline's upcoming series, After Party.

If you've never been on the Internet Campus, this will also be a great time to check it out!

To participate, just go to www.frontlineic.com tonight at 7:30 PM ET.

See you online!

Pretty And Polished: Liberia

2009-07-13T08:59:00.002-04:00

Pretty & Polished founder Christina Holder has been serving in wartorn Liberia, West Africa over the last year. There she has been working as a freelance journalist, covering the post-war development of this nation traumatized by 14 years of civil war, and volunteering as a counselor to war-affected people. She shares how the Pretty & Polished concept has made the transition from elderly women in the United States to vulnerable, forgotten women in Liberia.

Here at Frontline, Pretty & Polished is a volunteer group that visits nursing homes in the D.C.-area and gives residents simple manicures. Painting nails speaks powerfully to women who no longer feel beautiful but still long for beauty. Pretty & Polished volunteers remind these women that they are, indeed, beautiful and are Jesus' treasure.

It's a burning day on the outskirts of wartorn Liberia's capital city of Monrovia, and Haja is working under the shade of a rainbow patio umbrella pitched along a dirty street.

Every day she is here on this street in my neighborhood selling sundry items each for several pennies — bread, roasted peanuts, butter in thumb-sized plastic bags. She makes small money to feed her family and somehow makes it through another day in her war-ravaged homeland.

In Liberia, a 14-year civil war that ended only about five years ago has left this nation with historic ties to the United States mostly without electricity, running water and critical infrastructure like navigable roads outside of the capital. Most Liberians live in the ruins of buildings that were burned and looted by rebel factions. They are desperate to make money in a country with an estimated 80 percent unemployment rate. Their daily struggle is to live among the poverty and disease and trash that has infiltrated their communities.

I met Haja last year on the eve of the U.S. presidential election. She was pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy. She named him Obama, after our President. Almost every day I am in Monrovia, I pass by her rainbow umbrella to see her.

“Haja, how the day?” I say in the informal Liberian English used on the streets.

“I alright-o,” she responds.

“How the business?”

“Alright.”

“How Obama?”

“He fine.”

All our conversations start like this. But everything isn't always fine. The life of a woman in wartorn Liberia is difficult and very painful at times — and it's unlikely she will tell you that her life is, in fact, not “alright-o.”

In the process of building relationships with Liberian women, I've seen that it takes time for them to tell you the deep hurts of their lives — husbands that leave to spend the night with girlfriends, the memories of being raped during the war, how they blame themselves when they have family problems.

While so many women are hurting on the inside, they appear tough and resilient on the outside. Maybe it's the war that made their gazes so fierce. Maybe they are just trying to survive.

Most women here spend all day working in the hot sun. They farm or tend to gardens they've planted on the roadside. They spend hours washing clothes with washboards and buckets of cool, soapy water because they don't have washing machines.

They can spend half a day cooking. A Liberian woman goes to the market every day to buy a few cups of rice and ingredients to make different toppings, generally called “soup.” Often, a day's meal is all she can afford.

Most Liberians don't have refrigerators to keep leftovers, and even if they did, they would need extra money to power the refrigerator with a generator. Today, the lights are coming back on in Liberia after the country's power grid was destroyed during the war, but only for the people who can buy expensive generators and the fuel to run them. The typical Liberian woman works from sunup to sundown, always with the hope that she can sell enough to feed her family.

Her plight is similar to that of many women in Africa. She feels vulnerable, marginalized, forgotten.

And with all the dirt under her nails, the dust on her feet, the sweat on her brow — she hardly feels beautiful.

She sits like Haja under her rainbow umbrella ... trying to escape the sun ... trying to make the best of her circumstances ... trying to believe that one day she will see a restored Liberia.

I know Haja doesn't think she is beautiful.

Or special.

Or wanted.

And that's why I sit down with her under the rainbow umbrella.

I take the lid off a jumbo Blue Plate mayonnaise jar filled with hot water I boiled in my apartment and pour it into a large plastic bowl. I foam the water with some olive soap. Haja plunks her feet into the warm water. Some children in the yard occupy Obama's attention. Passersby look at us with curious stares and smiles.

I focus on Haja's hands. First, a hand massage with cocoa butter creme, a favorite of Liberian women. (“It fine-o!,” Haja says.) Then I wrap her hands in a warm towel. Next, I free the dirt from under her nails with a bobby pin I pull out of my hair. (Next time, I'll remember to bring orange sticks from the States). Finally, the polish. Cherry, magenta or a glittery gold. She chooses magenta for her fingers and cherry for her toes.

“Haja,” I say, trying out my Liberian English again, “How the day? You feeling fine?”

“Yeah-o. I fine.”

“How the business?”

“Fine.”

“How Obama?”

“He alright.”

I continue to paint. Later, I scrub her feet in the warm, soapy water and massage the cocoa butter into her rough heels. We talk about where she was born in northern Liberia, about her family, about her boyfriend, Shariff, who has just pulled up on a motorcycle.

“Haja,” I say, “Tell me about Shariff. Tell me how you met.”

She smiles. Surely, Shariff can't hear us talking.

“I will tell you next time,” she insists.

“OK,” I say. “You promise? I want to know!”

Soon the simple manicure and pedicure is finished. The sun has baked the pink polish on her nails and the red on her toes. She is ready to get back to work.

“Haja,” I said. “You like it? You looking fine! You look fine-o!”

“It fine,” she said. “Thank you.”

She is happy. I can see it in her smile. I can see it in her eyes. I can see it as she wraps her shiny pink fingers around Obama and pulls him close to her heart.

She feels beautiful.

“Haja, I want you to know why I doing this,” I try to explain. “You know, I believe that no matter what you go through, that even though life can be hard and even though you may not feel beautiful ... that God thinks you are beautiful, Haja. He looks at you, and He says you are beautiful. He sees you as His treasure. I want you to know that.”

“Thank you,” she says.

And the sun still burns down on the rainbow umbrella. And there still is so much work to be done. The selling. The washing. The cooking.

The surviving.

But my prayer is that there also is hope that comes with the knowledge of how God really feels about His daughters. I hope that Haja comes to believe more and more that she is beautiful because she is a child of God. I hope that she will trust that He can restore all of the years of war and pain and suffering that she has endured. I hope that she will be prompted to seek out Jesus every time she looks at her shiny fingernails and toes.

And I hope that as I continue to find her along the dirty street and duck under her rainbow umbrella, that we will get into the “not-alright-conversations.” I hope that I will be able to encourage her and to pray with her and to remind her of her true worth.

But until that time, it's enough that her nails are polished.

And it's enough that she feels beautiful today.

Mormonism vs. Christianity

2009-06-17T15:20:00.002-04:00

Note: If you are viewing this blog via email, click here to watch the video.

Sowing Some Seed [James Misner]

2009-06-10T10:46:00.001-04:00

Note: James is the Director of Groups and Teams for Frontline's new Silver Spring Campus.

This past Monday morning I was reading Mark’s account of the parable of the sower in the Bible. You know the one. This man goes out to sow some seeds in a field. Some of the seeds fall on the road and birds eat them. Others fall on rocky ground, sprout up and then die. Some seeds fall in patches of weeds and thorns and are choked, yielding no crops. Finally, some seeds fall in good soil and yield crops and produced 30, 60, and 100 fold.

On Monday afternoon I was thinking about this during our metro blitz. For a while it was just Mike, Kate and I out there. We were having a blast. Mike was hot as he wore black jeans, black shoes and a black t-shirt in the blazing hot sun (not a wise choice). Kate and I were bouncing around and being goofy. Anyway as we were handing out tons of promo cards, our best blitz yet. And as we were handing out those cards I could not help but remember what I had read that morning. We were sowing seeds out there. Some would not grow, some would not even make it into the ground but others would take and produce 30, 60 or 100 fold! How cool is that to see what you learn in scripture in the morning applied in the afternoon! God just asks us to keep sowing seeds and praying that they take. He is the one that makes them grow.

We saw proof of this on Sunday night. A few hours before our service someone handed an individual a promo card in Silver Spring. This person ended up coming to our service and accepting Christ. They walked into the Roundhouse Theater spiritually dead and apart from God. They walked out a new creation and alive in Christ! In fact seven people took ‘new believer kits’ this past Sunday! All because some people sowed some seeds, invited their friends or handed out some promo cards.

We have 3 more metro blitz’ coming up this week so if you want to take part in sowing some seeds in Silver Spring there are opportunities to do it with some other people and make some new friends:

Wednesday before Summer Bible Study from 6-7:15. We are meeting at the fountain.
Thursday Morning at the Silver Spring Metro from 7:30-8:30.
Thursday Evening at the Silver Spring Metro from 5-6.

If you are interested in serving this week please shoot me an e-mail at James.Misner@mcleanbible.org or simply post to this blog and let me know you will be coming and I’ll send you the details.

Sin is a Predator, Not a Pet [Mike Kelsey]

2009-06-08T14:14:00.002-04:00

Note: Click here to check out Mike's Frontline Silver Spring blog.

I was reading Genesis 4 this morning and God’s description of sin really stood out to me. He was warning Cain and said:

“…sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you…”

“Why would it be crouching at my door?” you may ask. Multiple choice:

(a) To give me a hug
(b) To say “boo!” and see if I’ll get scared
(c) Because it’s a surprise birthday party and other people are crouching at my door too
(d) none of the above

You answered correctly (i.e. “D”). Its crouching because “its desire is for you”, like a predator waiting and desiring its prey. Sin desires us much more than we desire it.

NIV says “it desires to have you.” And Satan’s deception is to make us think of sin in terms of what it could give us (satisfaction, money, status). The reality is that sin only gives bait so that, in the end, it can have us.

How do you see the sin in your life? Are you playing around with it and letting it hang around your house like a pet? Or are you treating it like the predator it is?

When you sense sin lurking and luring, get away from it!

Frontline Silver Spring Launch Service

2009-05-28T13:30:00.002-04:00

So we've been praying and prepping for the launch of Frontline Silver Spring for weeks now and, finally, this Sunday night, we kicked off our first worship service at 7:30pm in the Roundhouse Theatre. I was running around trying to make sure things were straight, but as the clock neared 7:30, the lobby was a-buzz with young adults from around the DC metro area. Here's a few pics from the night:

In the Lobby Before the Service

Ashley and the Band

Todd Preaching on the Screen

For more information on the Silver Spring Campus visit www.frontlinesilverspring.com.

21 Days of Prayer for Frontline Silver Spring

2009-05-18T22:29:00.000-04:00

Pray for our community events. Pray that we would create events that are welcoming to everyone and that build community within Frontline Silver Spring.

Acts 2:44-47:

"All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone in need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

Going Before Us [James Misner]

2009-05-18T14:36:00.001-04:00

Note: James is the Director of Men's Teams and Groups for Frontline's new Silver Spring Campus.

We have been praying for the past several weeks that the gospel would go before us as we launch Frontline Silver Spring. We have posted this prayer on the Frontline blog, and prayed it countless times. This past Tuesday morning during our latest Metro Blitz we saw a glimpse of God’s answer to this prayer. It was getting close to the time when we were going to wrap up our morning and a woman walked up to me and asked, “Are you the man who handed me one of these cards a few weeks ago?” I didn’t know for sure, but said yes just to keep the conversation going. After I answered the woman got a look on her face and said that she wanted to show me something.

I have to admit, my first thoughts were not that she was going to show me a glimpse of God’s answered prayer, but rather her fist, the finger or some other gesture. I was wrong. This woman pulled out her Blackberry, opened up the calendar, went to May 24th and scrolled down to 7:30 pm and asked me to look at it. Right there in her Blackberry was “Frontline Silver Spring, Round House Theatre”.

I was not able to get into a long conversation with this woman, as she was running off to catch the Metro. However, she did tell me that she had been feeling the need to seek God out. What an answer to prayer! God does move before us. The spread of the gospel is His passion, even more so than it is our passion. This was not the work of a promo card, a clever marketing strategy or even a person handing out the card early in the morning. God used those things, but ultimately this is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Our first few weeks at Frontline Silver Spring will deal with who Jesus was and what Jesus did. Our continued prayer is that the Holy Spirit would be convicting our neighbors, co-workers and family of their need for a savior and that He would draw them to us. Please join us in this prayer and join us in the work that God is doing in our midst.

21 Days of Prayer for Frontline Silver Spring

2009-05-17T23:37:00.001-04:00

Pray for the Connect Room. Pray that as people come to FL Silver Spring, they would want to get connected, that we would be efficient and caring in connecting them, and through small groups and serving people would grow closer to God and to each other.

Colossians 2:2-3:

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

21 Days of Prayer for Frontline Silver Spring

2009-05-16T18:17:00.000-04:00

Pray for our small group and mid-week Bible Study that through Biblical Study people would grow deeper in the Word and grow together in community.

Colossians 3:16:

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."

Hebrews 4:12:

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

21 Days of Prayer for Frontline Silver Spring

2009-05-15T22:57:00.001-04:00

Pray for the people that visit FL Silver Spring that they would feel welcome and loved and know immediately that they are part of a community.

Colossians 3:12-14:

"Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

21 Days of Prayer for Frontline Silver Spring

2009-05-15T00:27:00.000-04:00

Please pray for our conversations as we launch our Silver Spring Campus. Pray that we would always be full of grace as we share the truth of the gospel. Pray that we would follow this command while serving for the Silver Spring campus and while we are simply living our lives.

Colossians 4:5-6:

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Frontline Silver Spring Video

2009-05-14T13:23:00.001-04:00

Note: If you're viewing this blog via email, click here to watch the video!

21 Days of Prayer for Frontline Silver Spring

2009-05-14T13:14:00.001-04:00

Often time in the church we view sharing the gospel as an event, a onetime deal. Please pray that the Frontline Silver Spring community would make sharing the Gospel a lifestyle. And that our community would continue to share the good news well after we launch our campus.

Acts 5:42:

“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”