Christmas Pagan

On the night there was no room at the inn for Joseph and Mary... I will be travelling to a hotel to celebrate Christmas the next day. I could help myself feel better by rationalizing that you will be overeating after overspending on the holiday and I won't be but I still feel pretty paganistic.

Advent Hope

Excerpt from A. W. Tozer

It is precisely the "yearning" and the "fainting" for the return of Christ that has distinguished the personal hope from the theological one. Mere acquaintance with correct doctrine is a poor substitute for Christ, and familiarity with New Testament eschatology will never take the place of a love-inflamed desire to look on his face.
If the tender yearning is gone from the advent hope today, there must be a reason for it; and I think I know what it is, or what they are, for there are a number of them. One is simply that popular fundamentalist theology has emphasized the utility of the cross rather than the beauty of the one who died on it. The saved man's relation to Christ has been made contractual instead of personal. The "work" of Christ has been stressed until it has eclipsed the person of Christ. Substitution has been allowed to supersede identification. What he did for me seems to be more important than what He is to me. Redemption is seen as an across-the-counter transaction which we "accept", and the whole thing lacks emotional content. We must love someone very much to stay awake and long for his coming, and that may explain the absence of power in the advent hope even among those who still believe in it.
Another reason for the absence of real yearning for Christ's return is that Christians are so comfortable in this world that they have little desire to leave it. For those leaders who set the pace of religion and determine its content and quality, Christianity has become of late remarkably lucrative. The streets of gold do not have too great an appeal for those who find it so easy to pile up gold and silver in the service of the Lord here on earth. We all want to reserve the hope of heaven as a kind of insurance against the day of death, but as long as we are healthy and comfortable, why change a familiar good for something about which we know very little? So reasons the carnal mind, and so subtly that we are scarcely aware of it.

A Pastor's Vacation - II

so here's what I did...

drove to Vegas, ate at a buffet, didn't exercise, walked the strip, joined the journey church staff prayer time, went off my medication, hung with dave c., went to a bookstore, ate memphis bbq with steve p., visited an antique bookstore, checked out central christian church (a seeker sensitive MEGA church), saw the James Bond movie, played $20 at video poker (lost $17), walked around retail outlets, ate taco bell, drove home.

watched judge judy, went to the gym, hugged the kids, kissed the wife, missed wed church, hung with chris c, dropped the dog off at my mom's, went to the doctor to check my testosterone, went to the gym, packed.

drove to San Diego for Point Loma's homecoming and Kristan's 15 year college reunion, changed my name to jimmy waldfogel, had Miguel's white sauce, met a pastor who got burned because he wanted the church to help the poor, went to the park, saw some good friends, went to the baseball game then basketball game, heard my testosterone is low (188), attended Smee Hall dedication, ate at Adalberto's, made smores, went to 1st church (classic and contemporary service), checked into a hotel, drove to Coronado Island: visited Hotel Del, walked the beach, picked up sea shells with kennedy, buried jameson in the sand, held kristan's hand for a few paces, ate a big dinner, then a big breakfast, exercised and drove home.

watched tv, had lunch with some pastor types Ron Lush gathered, got a prostate check, ate wings, went to the gym, tried to avoid phone calls and emails from people who know I'm on vacation but think I should still be working, slept in, went to the gym, hung with some old biltmore friends at EJ's : david, bonnie, chantelle, jimmy, bj, kathy, brent and kristan.

had Thanksgiving with kristan's family and my family combined at our house, remembered some were without food and family, watched football, sang the doxology, went to a movie with the kids (Bolt)

stayed in bed and watched the Mork and Mindy Marathon, went to gym, dinner (yard house) and movie (4 christmases) with Kristan, didn't shave, went to City of Grace church (saw Gary K who cancelled preaching at my church; thanks scott), went shopping with the kids, visited the emergent desert cohort with dave, saw ron and sarah, cancelled staff meeting, ate chipotle, watched the suns game, went to bed hoping to wake up ready to head back to the church office.

A Pastor's Vacation - I

Why does a guy who only works one hour, one day a week need a vacation???

First because of comments like those plus...

I'm burned out; addicted to thinking about church; too attached to my phone, email and the clock; life and work are out of balance; people withdraw more from a pastor than they deposit; I don't have a hobby; I care much about people and the organization's future and need a space where I don't have to care; I haven't taken a vacation this year; I've worked extra hard this fall; I'm taking an anti-depressant; My wife told me to; My counselor told me to; I need to clear my head; I have nothing left to give; I'm empty and drained; I am always tired; I need new clarity and focus; My staff needs me to be nicer; My kids need their dad to have more energy; I haven't taken care of myself; I need to re-prioritize marriage and ministry; To love others I have to love myself; I need to stop. I'm stopping.

ReClaiming Paul Conference

Nazarene Theological Seminary and Emergent Village partnered together to host the conference devoted to a fresh look at the apostle Paul. Some have viewed Jesus and Paul as being antagonistic towards one another or telling a different story of God. I have never had issue with Paul while looking at him through the lens of Jesus.

The presentations were academic and the conversations were practical. It was beneficial for all of us to mix university and church worlds, Nazarene and Emergent worlds. It seems to me, this is what is needed to advance peace talks rather than smack talk.

It was fun to visit with Ron Benefiel, Tony Jones, Doug Paggit, Tim Keel and hang with friends Brent Peterson, Jim Wicks, David Charlton, Dave Curtis, Scott Comfort and Dave Sharpes.

A Politcal Prayer

Found this on Tim Keel's blog who found it on J.R. Brigg's blog:

A Prayer of Confession

Forgive us O Lord: A Prayer for American Politics
Forgive us O Lord, for being divisive rather than working to build unity.
Forgive us O Lord, for striving to be right more than striving to be kind.
Forgive us O Lord, when we desire to be understood more than to understand.
Forgive us O Lord, for placing our hope in a person, a system, a government - rather than in you alone.
Forgive us O Lord, for complaining about politics rather than thanking you for our freedom.
Forgive us O Lord, when we use our mouths - and our email forwards - to tear down "the other."
Forgive us O Lord, for spending more time and energy thinking about the Empire than the kingdom.
Forgive us O Lord for speaking poorly and wishing ill will on another candidate.
Forgive us O Lord, when we are known more for following a party than for following the Risen Christ.
Forgive us O Lord, for claiming that God is only on "our side."
Forgive us O Lord, for claiming and proclaiming that one political party completely and accurately represents the politics of Jesus.
Forgive us O Lord, when we forget that the heart of the king is in your hands.
Forgive us O Lord, for being more excited to speak to others about our candidate than about our Savior.
Forgive us O Lord, when we think this prayer is for someone else we know and not for ourselves.

Give us grace to treat others with dignity and respect, even in the midst of our differences. Give us wisdom - not just with what we say and do, but how we say them and do them - so that we may not represent our political party, but that we may represent the one who has given us True Life.
Amen.

Kansas City Trip

Kansas City BBQ!!!















Jacob's Well -
Host of ReClaiming Paul Conference

Global Ministry Center

From Headquarters to Global Ministry Center.

From Inner city to Suburbs.

From American centric to American centric.

Cross Style Splits or Cross Style(s)

Resetting the American Dream - V

10 Practices to Reset our Standard of Living:

1. Work - Get the best paying job possible and work full time with at least one day off per week.

2. Family - Life is easier with a partner and it's cheaper to stay married. Then raise kids and teach them your values.

3. Education - Get then give your children an education (12 free years of public school plus life lessons at the dinner table) that prepares them for character choices and career opportunities.

4. Thrift - Live simply, within your means by saving money to make purchases and avoiding consumer debt.

5. Morals - Do not break the law, practice ethics and love your neighbor.

6. Health - Maintain your well being with prayer, proper rest, diet, exercise and recreation.

7. Responsibility - Keep your word, pay your bills, stay committed to relationships and make things right when they go wrong.

8. Give - Tithe, give to charity and volunteer to serve in the community.

9. Prosperity - Use your wealth to bless others and to maintain justice rather than creating a class system.

10. Remember - it's a dream, not a promise or an entitlement. Be thankful and content.

Resetting the American Dream - IV

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

- Emma Lazarus

Resetting The American Dream - III

Presidential Quotes:

"That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves."
- President Jefferson
"May our country be always successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right."
- President Adams
"Wealth can only be accumulated by the earnings of industry and the savings of frugality."
- President Tyler
"It is the responsibility of the citizens to support their government. It is not the responsibility of the government to support its citizens."
- President Cleveland
"The prudent, penniless beginner in the world, labors for wages awhile, saves a surplus with which to buy tools or land, for himself; then labors on his own account another while, and at length hires another new beginner to help him. This…is free labor--the just and generous, and prosperous system, which opens the way for all."
– President Lincoln
"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."
- President Kennedy
"We are a nation that has a government—not the other way around. And that makes us special among the nations of the earth."
- President Reagan

Resetting the American Dream - II

"I just wanna prove somethin'—I ain't no bum . . . It don't matter if I lose . . . Don't matter if he opens my head . . . The only thing I wanna do is go the distance—That's all. Nobody's ever gone 15 rounds with Creed. If I go them fifteen rounds, an' that bell rings an' I'm still standin', I'm gonna know then I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood . . ."

- Rocky Balboa

Resetting the American Dream - I

Buzz words have been added to our currency of words... foreclosure, bailout, rescue plan, corruption, partisan, debt, trillion, rights, bankruptcy, 401k, crisis, financial markets, recession and depression.

Who's to blame?
wrong question (if I answered it would hurt your feelings)
What can we do?
I think it is the right time to reset The American Dream.

The definition of The American Dream has changed. It was "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". It is now lust, license and the pleasures of huge debt.

In the next 5 posts, I'll give you some things to think about and 10 ideas to adjust our standard of living.

Movie Theatre Church - Week 6

The end of the Story: God's Coming

John 3:16,17 summarizes the story of God's love mission to heal the world. He does not have our faces on his divine dartboard! He will re-create a new heavens and earth and we get resurrected bodies, just like Jesus.

Word of the Day: INFLUENCE

We are asked to join in the work of the Lord. We get to co-re-create!

"Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can."
- John Wesley

Religulous

Just saw the movie/documentary with some friends. A few thoughts...

Bill Maher is a smart man and surprisely did not offend me as expected. He was more honest than most and came from a position of doubt and "I don't know" about religion.

It seems to me he asked some tough questions any normal, thinking human being would ask. Questions about talking snakes?, living in a big fish for 3 days?, virgin birth?, similar religious myths?, homosexuality in nature?, prosperity of the religious not helping the poor? and end times violence???

Bill is not the only one with questions of doubt. I think a more helpful posture to have is one of seeking truth with him instead of arguing truth against him.

Some principles...

1. Drop the Fundamentalism. Admit that we have doubts too. Go beyond the I'm right and you're wrong debate posture. Seek truth, don't defend it militantly.

2. Deepen our Folk Religion. Give Biblical answers rather than bumper stickers. Read the whole counsel of God, engage in challenging dialogue and develop a sound theology.

3. Depend on Revelation. Truth is greater than the western mindset of the scientific method. God reveals himself in a Person not in arguments of doctrines, tenets or practices.

After Jesus is raised from the dead, we find this verse in Matthew 28:17, "When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted".

Movie Theatre Church - Week 5

God's Church.

She's a Gomer of a gal but ain't she beautiful!

Word of the Day: INSPIRATION

Pentecost is the restoration of divine respiration. God Breathed... over creation, into man, to divide the sea, into Christ's dead body, into the disciples of Jesus and into the Church.

Take a deep breath. God's Spirit is forming us into being...

A Jesus Community

always seeking to know God,

connect with people and serve others.

Family Tree

On October 5th, the Church of the Nazarene celebrates its Centennial Anniversary. You can trace her roots back to Jesus and the Early Church through the Holiness Movement, John Wesley and the Methodists, The Anglican Church and Reformation and The Catholic Church.
Happy 100th!

Movie Theatre Church - Week 4

The climax of the story: God's Christ.

A monarchy, an occupied nation and hope for a coming king.

Enter Jesus.

Instead of political power and peace through victory he uses the power of presence and peace through death.


Word of the Day: INCARNATION (think carne asada burritos)


The cross was more than an event one day in the life of Jesus; it was and is His continual style. Are we still arguing to be the greatest or looking for a place to serve?


Baby dedications help church attendance:
Thank you Jay Delbridge Benson!

Movie Theatre Church - Week 3

Today we focused on God's Covenant relationship with people such as Abraham, Joseph, Moses, , David, Isaiah and Hosea. Scott helped me tag team preach and it was fun.

Word of the Day: Interaction

God has demonstrated He never quits interacting with us. Even when we could not care less, He has given Himself to us 100%. The Cross is the ceremony of becoming blood brothers and Jesus' offering of all of Himself for all of us. What a deal!

Levels of Interaction...

• Couldn't Care Less


• Curious


• Casual


• Commitment


• Covenant

What covenant relationships are you interacting with?

4 Kinds of Emerging Churches

Mark Driscoll just wrote a descriptive article for Christian Research Journal on What is the Emerging Movement. Driscoll states that the movement started as a dirt path and is now a 4 lane highway. You can see his synopsis here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bie-Wu8S20E
Mark is kind and honest (unusual for the "cussing pastor") and believes the first 3 Lanes are Orthodox and the 4th is not (while admitting he doesn't know Bell).


1. Emerging Evangelical
Lane: Start new churches with cool services
People: Dan Kimball, Donald Miller

2. Emerging House Church
Lane: Against church buildings and institutions
People: Shane Claiborne, George Barna

3. Emerging Reformed
Lane: Reformed theology, Charismatic, Only Male Pastors
People: Mark Driscoll, John Piper

4. Emerging Liberal
Lane: Questioning Orthodox beliefs, Ambiquous answers
People: Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, Doug Pagitt


I WANT A 5TH LANE!!! Emerging Wesleyan
Lane: A middle way of Truth and Love between the Reformed and Liberal
People: so far...me and a few friends

OR... No label or lane at all that will further divide God's people, thus making it harder to answer Jesus' prayer in John 17 (that they may be one as we are one). Even better... "By this all men will know you are my disciples, by what label you subscribe to" (John 13:35)

Spending Fast

As politicians wrangle over economic words, it was not a good week for America's financial sector. The national deficit is close to 10 trillion dollars and climbs over 1 billion every day.

As the government spends fast on bailing out financial institutions my family is doing a spending fast. We gassed up our cars, went grocery shopping and put away the debit card for one week. Kristan is happy to save money and I am challenged in my unconscious consumerism.

The beginning of the week is always easier than the weekend. No movies, caramel macchiatos, chipotle steak tacos, gum, parking downtown, ice cream after school and my gas tank is already half empty.

If we get together this week, you buy, and I'll get you back next week. Thanks!

Movie Theatre Church - Week 2

God's Crisis - He created people and the world "very good". What the heck went wrong? It unravels through the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and the Tower of Babel.

Word of the Day: INCURVATURE
We have a "craving to get into trouble" called original sin or selfishness. This has caused separation between us and everything else.

Jesus is the mediator. He describes sin as disease (Mark 2) and is the cure for our demise (Romans 7).

Attendance is still strong and I'm hoping we remember the most important part of church gathering is loving God (in the service) and loving others (after the service). Or for the anti-dualists: loving God as we love people.

Marriage and Ministry

In Ireland, I had my first sip of whisky. It was terrible, so I added lots of Coke. This made it bearable. Sometimes ministry is like that. There are weeks of unkind comments and people acting like people and it gets very tiresome. I could not survive working at a church without my wife Kristan. She is lots of Coke to me.

At our wedding reception, Kristan's sister, Angie, toasted us with, "your ministry will only be as strong as your marriage". True. We have experienced both results of this statement.

The battle for balance in a pastor's home is ongoing and can be more challenging when both are pastors. Our kids have attended more church services and events than most people in a life time. We continue to find the key is the same as in all of life: Focus on Jesus and let him do through us rather than us frantically doing for him.

My daughter turned 6 today! On her wall are the pencil marks of how tall she has grown this past year (about 5 inches). Other than a few late nights and ministry trips, I've been able to watch her growth. And hopefully she senses our growth as marriage and ministry are mixed together.

Movie Theatre Church - Week 1

We focused on God's Creation in Genesis 1.

Word of the Day: Image

God created us in his image and we are to reflect his goodness.
Jesus is the image of God (Colossians 1:15).

Great turnout. Great help. Great time. New friends!

Already worth all the praying, planning and perspiring (preacher's like to use alliteration).

Now Showing!

Tomorrow, NorthGate church hits the road to host their worship gathering at Harkins Theatre. We will be there for 5 weeks for a morning service at 9:30 followed by conversation at lunch.
Here's the rundown...

9/7 - God's Creation
9/14 - God's Crisis
9/21 - God's Covenant
9/28 - God's Christ
10/5 - God's Church

The big question... WHY? valid question but hard to answer succinctly.

• We sense God leading and we are being obedient
• Shift from "come to us" to "go to them"
• Reach people, get our name out, meet new friends
• An opportunity to serve
• Better to die trying than live dying
• _____________________

I'm praying for an unexplainable success and asking people to pray and participate with me. I'll keep you updated.

Church HOPPING

During our Staff Staycation last weekend we visited 4 churches.

Radiant Church, Christ Church of the Valley, Life Church and Genesis.


Being a sensitive (or defensive) pastor I don't want to pick on any of them. So here are some general observations without identifying which church I'm describing.

VANILLA - everything is so predictable at church. I'm all for liturgy but does it have to be so bland?

PRODUCTION - churches work hard behind the scenes. all the churches used videos and click tracks and lighting effects and "quiet please, ready...action..."

QUALITY - from the bulletins to the programs things were done well.

PREACHING - disappointing. one pastor showed pictures of political figures to cartoon characters and explained why they could be the anti-Christ. two used scripture to get across the point they wanted to make. one taught the word with depth, insight and passion - i liked that.

PEOPLE - kind cattle.

Visiting other churches was a great experience and think everyone should take a weekend every year to do it. It was fun to be unknown, like a mystery shopper, and see what God is doing in Phoenix. If I didn't have a church home, I don't know where I would go. This reminds me that church is not a place to go, but relationships shared.

The Extreme Center

Why do people leave the church?
Many reasons, but this is what I have heard...

You are too CATHOLIC, You are too NAZARENE, You are too CHARISMATIC, You are too EMERGING, You are too CONSERVATIVE, You are too CONTEMPORARY, You are too EMOTIONAL, You are too MISSIONAL, You are too RELATIONAL, You are CHANGING too much etc. etc.

Fascinating because I also hear we are too the OPPOSITE of the above concerns. I sense the reformation in the Church and society today is leaving behind this dualistic thinking. This is the day for Believers of the EXTREME CENTER to quit being polarized by preferences and embrace Christ as our identity and not any other label.

The Church's unity will be found in answering Jesus' prayer in John 17 and not in doctrinal disputes or finding the gathering that meets all my intellectual needs. I resonated with Rick Warren's comments while interviewing Obama and McCain when he said that we need to learn again how to disagree without demonizing the other. AMEN!

Wesley spoke of this a long time ago:

"Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences."

I am not there yet, but want to be. I look forward to the day when we are too JESUS.

What a Friend Needs...

I was hanging with two friends (Gabe and Tom) awhile back and we came up with a list of what a friend needs. When one is hurting we all want to help but don't always know how or what to do. We thought it is helpful if one person tells the other specifically what would help. Here's our list...

JUST LISTEN, initiate sex (from spouse of course!), Brainstorm Options, agree, SYMPATHY/EMPATHY, speak Truth, Remind me Who/Whose I am, real Prayer NOW, S-P-A-C-E, BE with me, RESOURCES - books, quotes, music, bible verse, ADVICE or Wisdom, Go with me, Do the hard thing with me, FUN/Pleasure, getaway-escape, Permission to EXPRESS!!! the good, bad and ugly W/OUT Judgment, BRUTAL Honesty, CHALLENGE me to ACT, relieve me of a responsibility, Discern my place/purpose in God's Story, Bible character Association, SHOOT the BREEZE, Give me a SECOND+ chance, FORGIVE me, REmind me to Forgive...

Campmeeting

The AZ/So. Nevada Nazarene District of 60+ churches gathered in Prescott for 10 days of services and fellowship.

Dr. Schortinghouse brought in 2 speakers: Jack Eyestone and Gary Haines.

Some thoughts:

• God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Campmeeting was geared towards the Abraham generation with a few appearances for Isaac.
• Being a lover of expositional studies, I received little help from the preached word.
• Being Wesleyan in theology, I received little help from the "semi-eradication" in the American Holiness sermons.
• The Abraham generation was negative about the new proposal for a gymnasium and dormintory for children and youth. One pastor responded, "Why, ya'll be dead in 10 years!"
• There was wide consensus of disappointment, yet the regulars will return next year.
• Re-creation is needed not evolution.
• Self fulfilling prophecy from the denomination's decadel emphasis on children and youth: "You're Losing Us."

A.W. Tozer's Ordination Prayer

O Lord, I have heard Thy voice and was afraid. Thou hast called me to an awesome task in a grave and perilous hour. Thou are about to shake all nations and the earth and also heaven, that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. O Lord, our Lord, Thou has stopped to honor me to be Thy servant. No man takes this honor upon himself save he that is called of God as was Aaron. Thou has ordained me Thy messenger to them that are stubborn of heart and hard of hearing. They have rejected Thee, the Master, and it is not to be expected that they will receive me, the servant.
My God, I shall not waste time deploring my weakness nor my unfittedness for the work. The responsibility is not mine but Thine. Thou hast said, “I knew thee—I ordained thee—I sanctified thee,” and Thou has also said, “Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” Who am I to argue with Thee or to call into question Thy sovereign choice? The decision is not mine but Thine. So be it, Lord. Thy will, not mine, be done.
Well do I know, Thou God of the prophets and the apostles, that as long as I honor Thee Thou wilt honor me. Help me therefore to take this solemn vow to honor Thee in all my future life and labors, whether by gain or by loss, by life or by death, and then to keep that vow unbroken while I live.
It is time, O God, for Thee to work, for the enemy has entered into Thy pastures and the sheep are torn and scattered. And false shepherds abound who deny the danger and laugh at the perils which surround Thy flock. The sheep are deceived by these hirelings and follow them with touching loyalty while the wolf closes in to kill and destroy. I beseech Thee, give me sharp eyes to detect the presence of the enemy; give me understanding to distinguish the false friend from the true. Give me vision to see and courage to report what I see faithfully. Make my voice so like Thine own that even the sick sheep will recognize it and follow Thee.
Lord Jesus, I come to Thee for spiritual preparation. Lay Thy hand upon me. Anoint me with the oil of the New Testament prophet. Forbid that I should become a religious scribe and thus lose my prophetic calling. Save me from the curse that lies dark across the face of the modern clergy, the curse of compromise, of imitation, of professionalism. Save me from the error of judging a church by its size, its popularity or the amount of its yearly offering. Help me to remember that I am a prophet; not a promoter, not a religious manager—but a prophet. Let me never become a slave to crowds. Heal my soul of carnal ambitions and deliver me from the itch for publicity. Save me from the bondage to things. Let me not waste my days puttering around the house. Lay Thy terror upon me, O God, and drive me to the place of prayer where I may wrestle with principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world. Deliver me from overeating and late sleeping. Teach me self-discipline that I may be a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
I accept hard work and small rewards in this life. I ask for no easy place. I shall try to be blind to the little ways that I could make my life easier. If others seek the smoother path I shall try to take the hard way without judging them too harshly. I shall expect opposition and try to take it quietly when it comes. Or if, as sometimes it falleth out to Thy servants, I shall have grateful gifts pressed upon me by Thy kindly people, stand by me then and save me from the blight that often follows. Teach me to use whatever I receive in such manner that it will not injure my soul nor diminish my spiritual power. And if in Thy permissive providence honor should come to me from Thy church, let me not forget in that hour that I am unworthy of the least of Thy mercies, and that if men knew me as intimately as I know myself they would withhold their honors or bestow them upon others more worthy to receive them.
And now, O Lord of heaven and earth, I consecrate my remaining days to Thee; let them be many or few, as Thou wilt. Let me stand before the great or minister to the poor and lowly; that choice is not mine, and I would not influence it if I could. I am Thy servant to do Thy will, and that will is sweeter to me than position or riches or fame and I choose it above all things on earth or in heaven. Though I am chosen of Thee and honored by a high and holy calling, let me never forget that I am but a man of dust and ashes, a man with all the natural faults and passions that plague the race of men. I pray Thee therefore, my Lord and Redeemer, save me from myself and from all the injuries I may do myself while trying to be a blessing to others. Fill me with thy power by the Holy Spirit, and I will go in Thy strength and tell of Thy righteousness, even Thine only. I will spread abroad the message of redeeming love while my normal powers endure.
Then, dear Lord, when I am old and weary and too tired to go on, have a place ready for me above, and make me to be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting. Amen.

Nazarene Regional Prayer Summit

Just got home from San Diego after hanging out with a bunch of pastor types. The denomination scheduled 8 prayer gatherings across the US with no speaker, agenda or program. They capped each summit at 200 clergy but was unnecessary because no gathering was that large.

It was facilitated by Daniel Ketchum, Tom White and Dan Copp. Tom facilitated and initiated the time by declaring us to be "off duty". As pastors we all have tendency to take charge, lead, make transitions, teach and talk even without the prompting of the Spirit.

Even after the admonition to wait on God and then submit, defer and prefer one another, as soon as the floor openned it was like the kid's boardgame hungry, hungry hippoes - all vying to eat the marbles and win.

We were hungry to find a word, give a word, look good, lead, get something out of it and we missed God. There was the crazy lady singing off key, the young and brash man wanting to show off so he could climb the ladder and the old man trying to make us believe everything is just fine.

The question was posed after 8 prayer gatherings for the Church of the Nazarene are we more pessimistic or more hopeful for the denomination. One of the facilitators lamented..."slightly more pessimitic".

Covenant Prayer

Lord, I am no longer my own, but Yours.
Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for You or set aside for You.

Exalted for You or made nothing for You.

Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

For I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
You are mine, and I am Yours.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

Africa - Final Thoughts

• We are shaped by our cultures. There are comparisons in American and African cultures and both contrast the Kingdom Culture.


• The call to live in God's story of Creation - Incarnation - ReCreation is for every person.


• Law and order is good for a society. Driving in Uganda was scary as many followed road rules as suggestions.


• God is good no matter how bad it is. (remember Africa if you think you've got it bad)
• I've lived in the excess of American culture rather than the Kingdom culture of faith, hope and love.
• I want to live in eternal life today by loving God and loving others not just confessing with my mouth or believing in my heart Jesus is Lord.
• I am not called to move to Africa but came home with a greater passion to serve my church and community (while hoping to visit Uganda again to visit my new friends and encourage their ministry).

Africa - 12

The story of Kampala, Uganda is filled with drama. It is symbolically a city set on 7 hills. Until 1875 it was believed that the tribal gods lived on these mountains. That is when the first Christian missionaries arrived. Believing that Jesus is Lord and teaching that he climbed the mountains to pray to the Most High God, they built their churches on these places as a witness to Ugandans.

At first, Catholic and Protestant missionaries fostered competition for converts. That was until the persecution began and they united in the person of Jesus. A group of 45 Anglican and Roman Catholic martyrs were executed during the persecution of Christians under Mwanga, kabaka (ruler) of Buganda (now part of Uganda), from 1885 to 1887.

We stayed at a guest house on the foot of the mountain where the first Christian church still stands beautifully as a testimony to the faith of those pioneers. I attended a Wednesday morning communion service where they shared from the gospel of Mark, took in 2 new members and welcomed me like one of their own.

Even now with some of the mountains hosting Islamic Mosques, the Church is still being built and is strong in Uganda.

Africa - 10

ROAD TRIP

We woke up to no electricity or hot water. We planned a trip to Jinga and thought gas at $7 per gallon was a good deal so we went.

We met with Pastor Hanington and Pastor Godfrey at the Source Cafe. They both pastor village churches and are connected with Cross Style Ministries. I enjoyed exchanging stories of family and church. We also introduced them to two African ministers associated with Amahoro for possibly a future partnership. Hanington summarized it when he said, "we digested the cross".

We then left for rural Uganda and saw a new water well put in a village for $5000. This gives clean water to 80 families or 400 people.

Then further down the dirtroad to a house where Paul and his wife live. They have 4 children of their own and two years ago brought in 20 children who were orphaned due to hiv/aids. They make necklaces to sell and farm their own food to survive.

We headed back into civilization and stopped to see the Nile River and subsequent falls. It was weird to see it with my own eyes after seeing it on a map for so long. Breathtaking and beautiful!

After a coke (made with sugar not corn syrup) we crammed back in the vehicle and headed back to the guest house. We stopped to buy a stalk of sugar cane which makes for a great appetizer when after a week I'm over the food. Very tired but a good day!

Africa - 9

SATURDAY/ SUNDAY

We met for services at Kampala International University, home of the Giraffes! Scott preached Saturday evening on God's creation story and his calling of us to join him in co-creation. I preached Sunday morning and spoke out of Mark on being captured by God's love and joining Jesus in his revolution of mercy, justice and reconciliation. Both crowds were made up of students that number 200+. The welcome was warm and we made many friends and will stay in touch through email.

Dave and Breilan both preached at a village church called Disciples of Christ Fellowship. They shared out of Philippians. Breilan spoke first followed by worship and then Dave spoke. Again a crowd of 200+ and they were asked if we could all return for a pastor's conference. It was Breilan's first time preaching and I heard he did a great job!

Pastor Kennedy of University Family Church at KIU has been gracious and hospitable along with his staff in caring for all our needs. He concluded our service with a phrase that is working on me...

"The church sleeps in the light, as the world is dying in the darkness".

Africa - 8

We drove through the slums last night. We saw kids younger than Kennedy and Jameson on the streets who were abandoned and begging for food. Our host said, "the mothers love them but cannot provide for them. When a home no longer has food it is no longer a family." The mothers leave the kids on the street hoping that someone would take care of them.

Today we saw some SUCCESS STORIES...

First, our new friend, Caleb, took us to some of his homes for boys. Caleb rents a home, brings in abandoned boys and raises them as brothers in a family. They focus on education, health, God and community service (luke 2:52). As a boy gets older he becomes the mentor and Caleb starts another house to multiply the ministry. There are now 200 kids in homes with no more than 20 in each one so it doesn't feel like an orphanage.

Then, we took a boat across Lake Victoria to the Bethany Village. Churches and other ministry organizations banded together to create a village for orphans with a school, church and homes.

Last we met Mary. She was a school teacher and hosted a group of children teaching them. When funds went away, she quit her job and invited 15+ children to live with her. They live in one room of her house and rents out the rest to pay for food. These children were full of joy, singing and dancing for us.

I will upload photos and video when the internet connection is faster.

Why do these people give so much?

Caleb explains... he says there are 2 formulas to receive eternal life in scripture. The first is Luke 10 stating that we should love God and others. The second is Romans 10 that says if we confess and believe we will be saved. Caleb teaches Luke 10. Caleb lives Luke 10 by loving these kids (even the non - Christian kids and knowing 25% of them are Muslim).

America is Romans 10. Africa is Luke 10.

Africa - 7

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

I arrived in Entebbe Tuesday night, finally catching a flight through Amsterdam. Our host, Kennedy Kirui, and Grace picked me up from the airport and I was happy to see a friendly face.

Driving - I seriously thought we would die driving on the dark roads or kill any group of people walking or on a scooter. I was told that there are rules of the road but no one follows them.

People - not enought adjectives; friendly, joyful, hospitable, knowledgable, articulate, conversive

Worship - everyone participates, true communal celebration, expressive while intimate

Teaching - very biblically literate and not willing to swallow anything without reasoning it out and making sure it is practical

Food- beans, rice, boiled bananas, meat (with lots of bones), bottled soda

So far I'm loving it. We just finished the Amahoro Institute and are staying in an Anglican guest house in Kampala, Uganda. We will next go to a children's ministry in local slums, attend a University Church and then head to Jinga on Monday.

Africa - 6

A resource I'm using while I teach on The Image of God in Africa.

Eikon is Greek for Image. The idea is that humans are like "icons" on your computer desktop. When clicked on they open up to a new world. The world of God.

http://www.theopedia.com/Scot_McKnight
click on "The Story of Eikons" (mp3)

Africa/Europe - 6

I think we need a THEOLOGY OF INCONVENIENCE. A Biblical perspective when we are uncomfortable, undone, and undercared for.

Like when your stuck in a foreign country alone, people make you late, you missed your favorite t.v. show, you have to park farther than you like, you've missed your exit, the waiter forgets your order, your alarm clock doesn't go off or your dog eats your homework.

You hear people's theology speaking things like..."he's unlucky, she deserves it, what goes around comes around, lucky dog, the enemy's attacking me, I'm blessed, I'm favored, this always happens to me, it's not fair" etc.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks of blessings being beyond our circumstances. What if this is true? Can I live beyond my circumstances and quit complaining, feeling sorry for myself or blaming others. This theology could even affect my bad mood, hopefully!

Africa - 5

You know you're in Europe when...

...they ask if you want gas in your water.
...you pay $6 dollars for the water
...then wait 30 minutes to order your lunch

...the homeless lady outside the church takes your change and gets in a Mercedes taxi

...churches are now tourist attractions

...you consider starting smoking to be skinny like everyone else

...trip in the street because of the cobblestone

...no shops take your visa or currency

...when English is everyone's 3rd language

...you are starting to enjoy the warm sensations of the bidet!!!

Africa - 4

"DING!"

Our flight was delayed out of the U.S. because the DING didn't work?! When the flight attendants use the intercom to communicate it is suppose to DING. The intercom worked as well as everything else but because the DING didn't we were delayed 5 hours!

We missed our connection out of Brussels, Belgium to Entebbe, Uganda and so we'll be delayed. We will arrive in Entebbe Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. The DING cost us 2 days!!!

This has reminded us that we are out of control and that Jesus is the focus not our schedule.
Scott will start the conference without us but we will be there shortly.

Have you experienced a "DING" today?

Africa - 3

We met Josh McDowell on the airplane yesterday. Josh is a once popular author ("Evidence that Demands a Verdict") and communicator. He is still travelling, writing and speaking. He stopped by our seats after we recognized him and had a chat.

He began by saying how frustrated he was with the new emergent stuff. QUOTING... brian mclaren says truth changes, but truth doesn't only the culture does. Youth pastors are leading this movement and they are not educated enough. modernism and postmodernism are wrong. modernism is a reaction to pietism (feelings, inner spirituality, mysticism) and is rational, logical and absolute (all good things). postmodernism is a reaction to modernism and is emotion and experience based (suspicious). He calls for balance because balance is always biblical and being biblical is always balanced.

I responded that it would be fun to have all the leading thinkers on the subject, including him and mclaren, on a panel and he rejected it. He said he doesn't want a panel but a debate. He then spoke of his son debating all the liberal, gay, evolutionist professors at Berkley and seemed proud. His son is good at this because he can take someone's logic a part because of his degrees in philosophy and systematic theology.

My impression:
I appreciate his influence and heart for truth. He did seem to self-promote and sell his son to us. I felt uncomfortable with the right vs. wrong approach to life and the power involved when you can prove someone wrong. It seemed truth was defined as propositions about truth instead of the person of Jesus. We both share a love for John Wesley and it was good to interact with him, even though he was in first class and we were sitting with the goats and chickens in the baggage compartment!

Africa - 2

Jesus spoke of a city gate called Needle. It had a low head clearance and so if a camel wanted in, it had to stoop low to enter. Jesus uses this picture to describe the rich man wanting into the Kingdom. It is hard to enter the Kingdom like a camel going through the eye of a needle.

I think this speaks more of just our materialism that makes us rich. As we prepare to leave for Uganda, there is a sense of stooping low and humbling ourselves. There is also a letting go of our attachments... packing less, doing without, being uncomfortable, saying good bye.

I'm sad as I take my kids to the movies (Wall-E!), having my mom pray over me and kiss my wife good bye.

For the Kingdom...and to bring back a giraffe for Kennedy and an elephant for Jameson!

Africa - 1

I met Claude Nikondeha at a lunch hosted by my pastor Ron Lush. Claude is from Burundi and we shared similar thoughts on the gospel and the world. I wanted to explore the idea of missional living and after conversing a few times, Claude invited others to share in his work, Amahoro Africa.

The Group:
Grace Scale, Christy Jones, Breilan Rosenberg, Scott Comfort, David Charlton and myself. We will also meet up with others from Amahoro .

The Purpose:
Grace and Christy will be in Burundi serving in an orphanage. Grace is a recent high school graduate and will return to the states after the summer. Christy is an elementary school teacher who is taking a leave of absence to serve the next 9 months (no she is not concealing a pregnancy!)
Breilan is a senior in high school called to full time ministry and will be travelling with the boys as an intern. David, Scott and myself will be facilitating learning conversations with other church and marketplace leaders. We will be discussing Theology - Context - Praxis. With the theology piece we want to unlearn our reduced, western gospel and engage in a more global, robust, Biblical story of God's heart. I will be teaching CREATION, Dave will focus on INCARNATION, and Scott will center us on ReCREATION. Claude's language is a shift from a gospel of "evacuation" to a gospel of "transformation".

The Journey:
We leave June 28 for Entebbe, Uganda. Stay there for the Summer Institute, head to Kampala, Jinga (source of the Nile River), up to Gulu (Invisible Children) then back to Entebbe. We are scheduled to be home July 10th.

Obviously we are out of our element and are ready to humble ourselves, be flexible and come back changed with new friends in Africa.

You can read more about Claude and Amahoro in Brian McLaren's book Everything Must Change or visit his website http://www.amahoro-africa.org/

The Cross Style Message

The cross was more than an event one day in the life of Jesus; it was and is His continual style.

This style was manifested in His constant response to the will and moving of the indwelling presence of the Father. Jesus did not operate on His own or out of His own resource, but lived in the continual flow of what the Father would do through Him.

It is still His style, the "cross style," which He now desires to reproduce as He comes to indwell us through His Spirit. As Jesus lived in this world, so we live in constant response to His will and moving in us, not operating out of our own resources, but in the constant flow of what He would do through us for a time such as this.

www.crossstyle.org

What is a Nazarene?

Everyone who attends the Church of the Nazarene gets asks this question and has a hard time answering. In short, the C.O.N. is a Christian Church.

Some history...
The C.O.N. can trace her roots back to Jesus and his disicples through the Methodist Church, Church of England, Roman Catholic Church and the Early Church.

Some theology...
Nazarenes are Wesleyan/American Holiness people. They are not fundamentalists but are liberal thinkers. They are social conservatives rooted in convictions that desire a holy lifestyle. A common quote, "In essentials - unity, in nonessentials - liberty, in all things - charity."

Some story...
Phineas Bresee, a Methodist preacher, focused on serving the poor in Los Angeles which led to him leaving that church and starting a new denomination. J.P. Widney, the second president of the University of California, was a friend and contemporary of Bresee. Widney suggested the name "Church of the Nazarene" citing it was the name Jesus used of himself and symbolized the toiling, lowly mission of Christ.

Some future...
The core values of the C.O.N. are "Christian", "Holiness" and "Missional". The denomination's mission statement is "to make Christlike disciples in the nations". Nazarenes celebrate their centennial October 5th, 2008.

10 Favorite Books

I didn't always enjoy reading. My youth pastor and his wife instilled in me the thought that there is always more to learn and somehow God has given me the desire to learn of him. When I dropped out of school I sensed that I would need to become a reader. The picture of A.W. Tozer on his knees praying that God helps him understand what he was reading has always inspired me. Evelyn Underhill's statement that there is no spiritual growth without spiritual reading has always challenged me. I read at least one hour per day and up to 4 or 5 books at a time. My reading philosophy is some books are meant to be chewed, some swallowed and some digested. Here are 10 books that I've digested...

1. MY UPTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST - Oswald Chambers
My youth pastor would speak from this almost every Wednesday night. He then passed on the devotional to all of us in the youth group. I still use it today.

2. THE PURSUIT OF GOD - A.W. Tozer
My bones burn when I read this book. I feel Tozer's passion in his writings.

3. THE RAGAMUFFIN GOSPEL - Brennan Manning
The heart of the gospel. God's love for perfectionists like me whose cheese is falling off their cracker.

4. CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE - Richard Foster
All is grace, even the discipline to receive more. An oft used resource.

5. FRESH WIND, FRESH FIRE - Jim Cymbala
My family has visited his church and experienced the prayers that bring radical change.

6. SUBVERSIVE SPIRITUALITY - Eugene Peterson
My introduction into spiritual formation studies.

7. HUMILITY - Andrew Murray
Read during my first ministry assignment. Yes, it was humbling.

8. THE WAY TO LOVE - Anthony DeMello
It introduced me to the author and all his other works. My first non-Western thoughts.

9. THE YOUNGER EVANGELICALS - Robert Webber
How can a church be so brutal in firing a God loving, potty mouth associate pastor? Because of his mouth but also because he is a Younger Evangelical.

10. RECLAIMING GOD'S ORIGINAL INTENT FOR THE CHURCH - Roberts and Marshall.
Read while working at Starbuck's eating lunch at Chipotle. Helped focus my vision for a church just before becoming a senior pastor.

Many, many books have help to shape me. There are many I didn't include that probably deserve in my top 10. Above all I wish to be like Wesley, a man of one book, the Bible.

District Assembly

The Assembly for all Nazarene churches on the Arizona District was held in Las Vegas this year. I loved the location even though many other pastors and laymen hated it and made it known.
I should confess this was the first year I wasn't excited about the actual gathering. Since junior high I have attended this annual event with enthusiasm, sitting through the missionary slides, voting by delegates and 4 hour ordination services. Something has shifted in me.
I enjoyed the missionary speaker, Brubaker. I enjoyed the fellowship of other pastors and the leadership of the General Superintendent, Jerry Porter. I even engaged in the voting of delegates as our Distrit Superintendent was reissued the invitation to lead our district with a vote of 187-39. But something was different in me.
The Holiness movement has stalled and is constipated. Aside from the inbredness and unfunny religious jokes we put up with, I sense serious problems. The first is the focus on sin defined as the gambling and prostitution that is legal in Sin City. I struggled with the constant references to sin being an outside, behavior thing - rather than an inside heart condition. Which means sin is not narrowed to a city that celebrates it but can even be found in the church that mocks it.
The second challenge that has me uncomfortable is the beaurocracy that stifles the cure for the disease we all suffer. There seems to be a different philosphy of our association for local churches. Initially we associated to combine resources for better effectiveness. Now the church exits for the denomination and for the preservation of the institution.
I'm glad I went to report what God is doing at NorthGate Church, hang out with my wife by watching a movie in a casino, and connecting with others who with me are discerning how to follow Jesus while serving in his church.

The Story of God

What is the Gospel?

The death of Jesus on a Roman cross is the climax to God’s story of world restoration, not just an event of individual forgiveness. By proclaiming the whole counsel of God, our gospel shifts from a story of evacuation to good news of transformation.

The Bible – God/man
Genesis through Revelation


The Story We Find Ourselves In – Brian McLaren
Creation
Crisis (the fall, sin, disobedience)
Calling (of Abraham and the Jews)
Conversation (with priests, prophets, poets and philosophers)
Christ
Community (of the church)
Consummation

Static – Ron Martoia
Creation
Fall
Redemption
Restoration

The Story of God - Michael Lodahl
Creation
Sin
Covenants
Christ
Church
Last Things

Ancient-Future Worship – Robert Webber
Creation
Incarnation
ReCreation

The Christian Story - Gabriel Fackre
God
Creation
Fall
Liberation and Covenant
Incarnation
Church
Commonwealth of Love and Justice

Simply Christian - N.T. Wright
God - Creation
God - Israel
Jesus - Kingdom of God
Jesus - Rescue and Renewal
Holy Spirit - Church
Holy Spirit - Spirituality
God's New Creation