One Solitary Life

* * *
He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty

He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never travelled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself

He was only thirty three

His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing
The only property he had on earth

When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race
And the leader of mankind's progress
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life

“Glory to God
in the highest,
and on earth peace,
good will toward men!"

Christian Community as a Colorful Quilt

I am from a Christian tradition where the women of the church used to get together to create beautiful, hand-crafted quilts. Over the years I have seen some pretty amazing quilts lovingly stitched together by sisters who laughed, talked, prayed and sang together as they gathered around the quilt frame. To my eye, the most beautiful quilts are the ones that have a great variety of colors and shapes stitched together. I think the same thing is true of the Church. Christian Community is most beautiful when it is composed by people of different sizes, shapes and colors who are carefully woven together by the love of Jesus. Why have Christian folk worked so hard through the centuries to make sure that everyone looks the same, acts the same and thinks the same.

I think there are a couple of reasons why we work so hard to look and think alike. The first has to do with the sin of self-centeredness. The first murder recorded in the Bible was committed by Cain who lashed out at his brother, Abel. Cain was a tiller of the ground and Abel was a tender of sheep. Rather than celebrating what was different about his brother, Cain hated what was different. That was the beginning of a conflict that continues to this very day. Cain and Abel were the first conflict between Farmers and Ranchers. That conflict continues to this very day along with others like Labor vs Management, North vs South, White vs Black, Christian vs Moslem, Democrat vs Republican, Pro-life vs Pro-choice... It is a sin to assume that being different is a bad thing, and those who are different from us are necessarily our enemies. It is the sin of self-centeredness; the belief that the world must revolve around the way we look, think and act.

* * *

Another reason we are attracted to those who look, think and act like us is because it is a whole lot easier to be "In Community" with those who are like us. If we are all conservative Repulicans or all liberal Democrats, its a lot easier to get along with each other. We can afford to be intellectually lazy because the people we hang out with readily support our point of view. If we are all middle class, white protestants or all working class, hispanic catholics we don't have to work at understanding and practicing cultural sensitivity. We can afford to be insensitive and biased. But when we come together as different shapes, sizes and colors in the same quilt, the red squares need to be connected to blue triangles. Lord have mercy! How can that be Right let alone Possible? It is Right because God purposed to created each of us as a unique, one of a kind, custom designed child of God. And it is Possible only as we are willing to be woven together by the hand of God with other parts of the quilt. And we will only stay connected if we are held together by the amazing bond created by the love of Jesus. -- Bob

Looking for Information or Transformation?

The focus in many of today's small groups has shifted from Spirit-led transformation to just another teacher-student Bible study. But exercising every member's spiritual gifts is vital to the effectiveness of the group. With insight born of experience in more than twenty years of small group ministry, Joel Comiskey explains how leaders and participants alike can be supernaturally equipped to deal with real-life issues.

Notable Quotes

"Only God's supernatural power can draw people to the truth and liberate them to be all that God wants them to be."

"What excites me most about small group ministry is the intimate home atmosphere in which God has the perfect opportunity to change people's lives, prepare them for ministry and further His kingdom work."

"People are inundated with information; what they need is transformation."

"Sensitive small group leaders ask the Holy Spirit to manifest the needs of the members, knowing that the best agenda is the one that meets the needs of those present."

"The church is a hospital-not a performing arts center."

"Gifts are not primarily related to institutional maintenance. Gifts are related to the building up of persons and are best exercised in direct person-to-person contact."

"In a loving environment, group members are willing to risk and use the gifts they have."

A Story Worth Telling and Hearing

How should Christians respond to violence? Many of us are still locked into an Old Testament way of responding: "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But Jesus clearly calls us to make a different kind of response. The following story illustrates a Christ-like response to violence during a very tense time in Jos, Nigeria. Carol and I lived in Jos before returning to the States several months ago. The story is shared by Dr. Danny McCain, a friend of mine who teaches New Testament Theology at the University of Jos. -- Bob

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

During the religious crisis in the city of Jos, Nigeria in 2001, the closest church to my house was burned. This was the Emmanuel Baptist Church. The pastor there is a young man who is one of my former students at the University of Jos. His name is Sunday Gwona. I was very proud of the way Pastor Sunday led his people during and after the crisis. I want to tell you a couple of stories associated with him.

On the second Sunday of the crisis, which was the first Sunday that we could go to church, Pastor Sunday assembled his congregation in a little mud walled community center about one kilometer from the burnt church building. There were no seats in this building. Some sat on logs. My wife and her mother and I were given the seats of honor which were little low benches about ten inches high. The service was all in Hausa and my Hausa is very poor. However, I understand enough Hausa and the pastor slipped into English enough that I understand what he said. Before he preached his sermon that morning, he said he wanted to make three statements. He said, “First, I am grateful that no one in my church killed anyone.” Certainly many Christians had blood on their hands on that Sunday morning. However, Pastor Sunday said that he had gone around through the community where some of his church members lived and some of the Muslim people in that area said, “Pastor, thank you for the way you taught your people. Your people helped to protect us.” So Pastor Sunday was proud that his people did not kill any Muslims.

“Second,” he said, “I am grateful that they did not burn my church.” We all looked at him a bit incredulously. We were meeting in this little small uncomfortable place because the church building had been burned. But Pastor Sunday continued. He said, “Inasmuch as no church member died during this crisis, they did not burn our church. They only burned the building. We can rebuild the building but we could not bring back to life any of our members who die. So I am grateful that they did not burn my church.”

He continued. “Third, I am grateful that they burned my house as well.” He had been living in the parsonage and the parsonage was burned with everything in it. Pastor Sunday continued, “If they had burned your house and not my house, how would I have known how to serve you as a pastor? However, because they burned my house and all my possessions as well, I know what you are experiencing and I will be able to be a better pastor to you. So I am grateful that they burned my house as well.” To me, these were amazing statements coming from a young pastor. And they were an illustration of true Christianity. Who can find fault with this kind of Christianity. This is not just a veneer of Christianity over evil thoughts and attitudes. It is a true reflection of Jesus’ teachings.

About a year ago, Pastor Sunday was invited to make a presentation to the state administrator while the state was under a state of emergency. In fact, all of the community leaders in the Angwo Rimi area were invited, both Christians and Muslims. When it was Pastor Sunday’s turn to speak, he said something like this. “It is an unfortunate reality that my church was burned twice but that is not what I want to talk about. Your excellence, I want to tell you about the third time that people came to burn my church. On their third attempt, one of my Muslim neighbors came out and said to the would-be arsonists, “You are not going to burn this church. If you want to burn something, there is my house. You can burn my house if you need to burn something but you cannot burn a house of prayer.” This immediately got the acting governor’s attention and he demanded to know the name of the person who had done such a thing. His name was supplied to the governor.

After the meeting, the Muslim community leaders came up to Pastor Sunday and said, “Pastor, thank you very much for what you said to the governor. We are most grateful.” Pastor Sunday said, “There are other things that I could have said. I could have told him about the thieves that keep breaking into the church and I could have told him about some of your boys who come into the church compound and defecate. However, I thought that we are all mature people and we can solve these problems ourselves.” The Muslim neighbors assured him that that is what they wanted to do. So on the following Sunday afternoon, Pastor Sunday invited them to his church. He reported that several of the Muslim leaders came and entered the church. When they entered the church, they all removed their hats. And they all took refreshments from Pastor Sunday. The pastor showed them where the people had been breaking into the church and where the youths had been defecating on the church ground. And the Muslim neighbors assured him that this would never happen again.

About three weeks ago, during the church service, a Muslim child threw a stone over the church wall and broke a window of a vehicle. A few minutes later, a little Muslim girl came and knocked on the church gate. She reported to someone inside that she had seen the boy who threw the stone and she could take the church members to him. They followed and they soon caught the boy. He admitted that he was the one who threw the stones. The case was taken to the police. However, as soon as the service was over, Pastor Sunday was informed. He went to the police station. He learned that there were two boys involved and that their parents were Muslim neighbors to the church. The parents soon came and were very chagrinned over what had happened. Pastor Sunday immediately withdrew the case from the police, assuring them that they were mature people and could handle the situation.

The church estimated that it would cost about 15,000 Naira to replace the wind screen. The Muslim families were poor families. Between the two families, they were able to come up with only 10,000 Naira. The windscreen eventually cost 20,000 to replace. However, the church absorbed the rest of the expense. When the Muslim neighbors discovered that the church had paid the other 10,000 Naira to cover up for the bad behavior of their own children, they came back to Pastor Sunday with the greatest humility and gratefulness. They told him that they never wanted him to leave that community and that they would do all in their power to make sure that the Immanuel Baptist Church stays in the community and is protected from any further damage.

The Muslim neighbors saw a true picture of Christianity. I do not know whether any of them will become Christians. However, I know that there is certainly a much greater likelihood that they will become Christians after these incidents than before. Pastor Sunday and the Immanuel Baptist Church are well on their way to rehabilitating the image of Christianity in the Angwo Rimi community.

WHO
is on the
Lord's Side?

One of the Latin America's cruelest dictators died yesterday. General Augusto Pinochet, the former Chilean dictator, lead a military regime that killed thousands and detained and tortured tens of thousands of his fellow countrymen. His reign was one of the bloodiest in our hemisphere. The thing that I find most disappointing about Pinochet's reign of terror is that his military coup was supported by the CIA and indorsed by the U.S. government.

Pinochet is one of a long list of unsavory characters who have been indorsed and supported by our government. In the name of political expedience our government put Sadam Hussein into power; the same Sadam Hussein who became known as the butcher of Bagdad. Not long ago we sold weapons to Iran; the very same Iran that is part of today's "Axis of Evil." Our political loyalties and alliances change from season to season because they are often based on short term political goals rather than time honored values. The reasons given for this politcal shell game go something like this: "We need to hold the line against Communism... We need a friend in the Middle East... We need to protect American interests in the region..." What about, "We need to do what is RIGHT, no matter what!"

As followers of Jesus we are called to seek first the kingdom of God. This means that our view of the world is shaped by the values of Jesus and the ethics of his kingdom rather than the shifting sands of political expedience. -- Bob

Are you in tune with God's Mission?

What images do the terms Mission and Missionary conjur up in your imagination? For the past hundred years or so, most Protestant churches in North America have understood the church's Mission as the the sending of Missionaries to Africa, India or some other exotic places to share the gospel and win people to Jesus. We only refer to those who head off to foreign destinations as Missionaries. The rest of us stay home, go to church, try to be good Christians, and occasionally contribute money to those who are engaged in "Real" mission work.

Two things have happened to change our understanding of mission. First of all, many of the places where North American missionaries have gone, now have thriving churches with gifted indigenous workers and leaders. That has greatly diminished the need to send missionaries from North American. And secondly, many of us recognize that we need to develop a more adequate understanding of our mission as followers of Jesus. After living in Africa, I am convinced that those of us who live in North America live in one of the most challenging mission fields in the world. All of us need to think, work and live as missionaries in our increasingly lost culture. In recent years a lot has been written about the Missional Church. If you do a Google search you'll find numerous blogs, websites and articles that focus on the Missional Church. Here is how some define Missional Church:

• Being Church rather than going to church
• Equipping for mission rather planning church activities
• Community of faith rather than Sunday gathering
• Meeting others needs rather than meeting our needs
• Incarnating Jesus' values rather than doing religion
• Lifestyle evangelism rather than evangelistic programs
• Priesthood of all believers rather than professional clergy
• Growing Disciples rather than adding members
• Working for social justice rather Christian consumerism
• Living as servants rather than going to a Sunday service

You can go to Africa if you want. You will meet some incredible people and have some awesome experiences. But you don't have to go to Africa to live the life of a missionary. Every time you walk through your front door you enter one of the most challening mission fields in all the world. -- Bob

Americans are really into makeovers. TV shows that have cashed in on the makeover mania include: Extreme makeover, I Want a Famous Face, Nip/Tuck, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and The Swan. But one show we'll never see on TV is Extreme Makeover: Church Edition. If the scenary at Church is going to change, it will be up to those of us who are serious about following Jesus to change it.

Jesus was pretty clear about the "Religious Makeover" he wants to see in the lives of those who follow him:

• Our ACTIONS need to match our WORDS (Matt 23:13)
• TANSPARENCY needs to replace HYPOCRISY (Matt 23:14)
• SPIRITUALITY must replace MATERIALISM (Matt 23:16)
• FAITH must replace religous FORMALITY (Matt 23:23)
• MAJOR issues trump PETTY problems (Matt 12:24)
• What'sINSIDE matters more than what's OUTSIDE (Matt 12:25)
• RIGHTEOUSNESS replaces mere RELIGIOUSITY (Matt 23:27)

Even though Jesus addressed these problems centuries ago, they still persist today and will continue well into the future unless we throw away our Religous Makeup and ask God to do an Extreme Makeover in our lives. -- Bob

Want GOD, but not Church?

You're not alone. Millions of people sincerely want to grow spiritually, but many rarely if ever attend church services of any kind. If this sounds like you, there is hope and help... There is a movement rising of people who are finding faith in a revolution that is both ancient and new. This is life out-of-bounds, beyond imagination, and more dangerous than ever before.

There are almost as many reasons why people don’t go to church as there are people. Some have been hurt or disappointed by church problems or abuse. Others don’t trust clergy or church leadership. Many have discovered hidden motivations like greed or ambition and different kinds of hypocrisy. A big percentage feel that the church hasn’t lived up to its promises to do good in the world and has, instead, sometimes been a force for evil. For some, it just feels like a waste of time or an annoying social event. There are even those who feel like their faith would actually be healthier outside the walls of the church. A large number of people simply fail to see how church makes a real difference — does it really matter or change anything?

If you listen carefully to all the reasons that people don’t want church, there is one thing you will not hear. No one says the problem is Jesus. That’s because most of us know deep down inside that all these church problem’s break Jesus’ heart. How can we know that? Because the problems with organized religion in Jesus’ day hurt him deeply and even angered him. He wasn’t shy about pointing out the sickness of religious leaders and their abuse of their followers.*

The good news is that Jesus didn’t come to sell us church. Although some people use Jesus’ name to say “be nice” and “go to church,” nothing could be farther from the true message of Jesus of Nazareth. So if Jesus didn’t come to make us into mild-mannered church goers, what did he come for? In his own words: “I came so you can have real and eternal life, more and better life than you ever dreamed of.”†

In other words, Jesus came to start a revolution — forever changing life on planet earth. For centuries since he has been calling people to “come, follow me”‡ on his amazing and aggressive mission to remake the world. He calls his followers into a lifestyle of a deep connection to God that overflows into the lives of others for their real good. This is not about becoming a boring person. Nor is it about knowing certain thoughts about God or keeping a list of rules. It’s not even about regularly attending a worship service. It’s about becoming a traveler with God himself in his grassroots movement to transform our grey existence into vibrant, bold living.

Thousands of people who want God but not church are joining Jesus’ revolution. They are learning a radical lifestyle of purpose and meaning right where they live — among their friends, family, and coworkers. They are courageously engaging people’s problems through brave and innovative action. They are connecting with others around dinner tables, beside backyard grills, in living rooms, and many other places.

(I really liked this and other blogs at rUrevolutionary.com. Check it out. -- Bob)

We Need Jesus!

Jeanne Guyon wrote Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ in 1685. For more than 300 years this little book has helped thousands of people to have a deeper and more intimate walk with Jesus. Here is an excerpt from the first chapter. -- Bob

Once the Lord spoke and said, "I counsel you to buy from me gold tried in the fire that you may be rich." (Revelation 3: 18) Dear reader, there is gold available to you. This gold is much more easily obtained than you could ever imagine. It is available to you. The purpose of this book is to launch you into this exploration and into this discovery.
I give you an invitation: If you are thirsty, come to the living waters. Do not waste your precious time digging wells that have no water in them. (John 7:37; Jeremiah 2:13)
If you are starving and can find nothing to satisfy your hunger, then come. Come, and you will be filled.
You who are poor, come.
You who are afflicted, come.
You who are weighted down with your load of wretchedness and your load of pain, come. You will be comforted!
You who are sick and need a physician, come. Don't hesitate because you have diseases. Come to your Lord and show Him all your diseases, and they will be healed!
Come!
Dear child of God, your Father has His arms of love open wide to you. Throw yourself into His arms. You who have strayed and wandered away as sheep, return to your Shepherd. You who are sinners, come to your Savior.
I especially address those of you who are very simple and you who are uneducated, even you who cannot read and write. You may think you are the one person most incapable of this abiding experience of Christ, this prayer of simplicity. You may think yourself the one farthest from a deep experience with the Lord; but, in fact, the Lord has especially chosen you! You are the one most suited to know Him well.
So let no one feel left out. Jesus Christ has called us all.
Oh, I suppose there is one group who is left outl
Do not come if you have no heart. You see, before you come, there is one thing you must do: You must first give your heart to the Lord.

Searching for a Healthy Chistian Community?

Jamie at BeChurch describes healthy Christian comunity in the following way:

People were designed to need each other and rely on each other. People were designed to learn and grow from loving interaction with other people. That is why a safe and loving family is such an important thing for children. they need those relationships to develop properly. It's the same with us as believers... we need healthy relationships with other followers of Jesus to experience all of the blessings and freedom that God has in store for us as his people. When we find ourselves in a loving relationship with other believers, we begin to live life in a new way, a more freeing way...

However, Christians community can be pretty messy because the lives of those of us who make up the community are generally pretty messy. If we are going to experience authentic Christian community, it will only happen through the grace and power of God, and with great intentionality on the part of those who want to be part of such a community. You can read a great blog on how to get started here. -- Bob

The Biggest Sunday Spectator Activity?

What is the biggest Sunday spectator event in North America? It's not football, Nascar or any other sport. More spectators attend church services on a typical Sunday than those who attend football games, Nascar races and all other professional sports events combined. Some may think that speaks well of the impact Christianity has in our culture, but I think it underscores one of the flaws of the cultural Christianity of North America. A typical Sunday morning worship service reduces most of us to mere spectators who show up at our favorite house of worship to watch a handful of gifted Christians perform for us. We are told where to park our cars, warmly greeted, directed to an empty pew, encouraged to worship, prayed over, sung to, inspired, entertained, sermonized, blessed and sent on our way. For the most part we just sit, watch and listen, hoping that our time in church will help us deal with the challenges we'll face during the coming week. Unfortunately, the Sunday worship event can lead to what Jason Zahariades refers to as non-authentic and impotent faith. Check out Jason's article entitled "Detoxing from Church." Jesus hasn't called us to be mere Sunday spectators, but full participants in the vibrant life of the Body of Christ. -- Bob

Turkey... Tryptophan... and
Toxic Religion...

If you have turkey for Thanksgiving dinner and get sleepy after the meal, it could be the tryptophan in the turkey. Here is how it works: tryptophan is an essential amino acid found in turkey meat. The tryptophan produces niacin (vitamen B) which helps the body to manufacture serotonin. Serotonin is a remarkable chemical that calms the brain and helps you to sleep. Now you have some trivia to share around the dinner table when there is a lull in the conversation.

The tryptophan found in turkey has a mild sleep-inducing affect. But some of the toxins found in church-centered religion (as opposed to Christ-centered faith) can have a lethal affect. Here are some typical toxins to watch out for:

• self righteousness
• Self-importance
• Religious manipulation
• Insincerity
• Arrogance
• Finger pointing
• Intolerance
• Bitterness
• Deceit
• Shame
• Guilt
  

This stuff won't put you to sleep. It will quench the Spirit of God and kill your passion for Jesus. Some of us need to detox from church-centered religion so we can pursue Christ-centered faith. Take a look at this blog: Life After Detox. -- Bob

(When I heard about Cuddle Parties on the news this morning I got online and checked it out. I found numerous websites that advertise Cuddle Parties. One of the adverts offers the following description:

Cuddle Party:
Empower Yourself.

• Meet fascinating people in a friendly, light-hearted setting
• Learn to ask for what you want
• Develop deeper respect for yourself, your body, and your boundaries
• Have fun sharing affectionate touch in an open communication, no-expectation environment!

Here is My Spin on the Cuddle Party Phenomenon...

Clearly, people need to be cuddled. Several years ago a George Gallup Poll asked Americans to identify their biggest problem. The poll found that LONELINESS is the single greatest problem identified by adults in North America. Many of us long for a deeper level of healthy intimacy. Unfortunately most churches are unable to provide any real intimacy for those who attend. A typical Sunday worship service offers little intimacy with God and with others. That is tragic because if there is one place where people should be able to experience healthy intimacy, it is among those who are called to "Love One Another" the way Jesus loves us.

One of the reasons I want to be a part of the house church movement is because house churches can provide a more natural and biblical setting to cultivate the deep level of intimacy provided by a healthy Christ-centered community. A House Church is designed to offer:

Christ-Centered Community

People Helping People to be Empowered by Christ

• Meet ordinary and fascinating, interesting and weird people who long for an experience of authentic community
• Learn to ask, "How can I help you to find security and significance in Jesus?"
• Develop the capacity to get filled up by pouring yourself into others
• Have fun sharing affection, laughter, grief, and all that REAL life has to offer in a safe, healthy Christ-centered gathering!

I know tons of people who would love to be cuddled, cradled and cared for within a safe, healthy, authentic Christ-centered community. How about you? -- Bob

Wolfgang Simson's, Houses that Change the World, is an excellent primer on the Who... What... When... Where... Why... and How of the House Church movement. Here are a couple of quotes from Houses that Change the World:

Millions of Christians around the world are aware of an imminent reformation of global proportions. They are saying, in effect, “Church as we know it is preventing Church as God wants it.” Amazingly, many are hearing God say the very same thing to them. There is a new collective awareness of an age-old revelation, a corporate spiritual echo. . . I am convinced that it reflects a part of what the Spirit of God is saying to the church today…

The house church reflects God’s qualities and character. This community lifestyle is molded in the spirit of love, truth, forgiveness, faith, and grace. House churches are the way we love each other, forgive each other, mourn with those who mourn and laugh with those who laugh, extend and receive grace and constantly remain in touch with God’s truth and forgiveness. It is a place where all masks can fall, and we can be open to each other and still keep loving each other...

You can order this book from Amazon, or download a free draft copy at Dawn Ministries. You can also read some excerpts at Next Reformation. Also check out the Simson's 15 Theses. -- Bob

Jesus posed a question to the religious folk of his day: "What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard...' 'I will not,' the son answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go... Which of the two did what his father wanted?" The answer is too obvious to miss.

The day has come to stop talking and to start doing. Its one thing to sound like your a Christian, but something all together different to live like a follower of Jesus. Bono is a challenging figure to those who are content to merely sound like Christians. He may not always sound like one, but he sure acts like one. Someone said, "I went to see Bono to find out what kind of Christian he was. I came home asking myself what kind of Christian I am." Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom, but only he who does the will of my father who is in heaven." Today is Monday. It is a very good day to ask ourselves, "What kind of Christian am I going be this week?" Mere words can never adequately answer that question -- Bob

Where Two or Three Gather...

Jesus said, "Where two or three gather in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Pretty incredible statement. The Lord of Life... The Alpha and the Omega... The One who is above all Rule and Authority, Power and Dominion is fully present with us when we gather in his name. Amazing! You mean we don't need magnificent church buildings with stained glass windows and cross adorned steeples to feel the presence of God? No, just two or three gathered in his name. What about pipe organs and colorfully robed choirs? No. Well, we certainly need preachers to expound upon the Word of God. No, no, no! We just need a few people who are willing to hang out with Jesus and seek to understand his ways and try to live in the power of his name. Way too many Christians are so busy going to church meetings, fund raising banquets, ladies aid meetings, men's fellowship, choir practice, Sunday services and a dozen other things, that there is little time left to just come together in the presence of Jesus. Actually, that's one of the main things that is wrong with many churches. We make time for everything BUT hanging out with Jesus. What would happen if a bunch of us decided to stop doing all of that other stuff so we'd have more time for Jesus? I believe it would revolutionize our lives and make a difference in our world. That's why I love the idea of doing church in the context of a simple House Church. Just think, no more pointless committee meetings... No more fund raising campaigns... No more cold, damp church buildings... No more boring sermons... No more spectator religion. Just a small group of devoted believers sitting at the feet of Jesus, seeking to understand his ways and tryng to walk together in the power of his name. -- Bob

The Kingdom Conspiracy

"This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how." -- Jesus

Religion is man's attempt to analyze and simplify the mysterious ways of God so they will be easy to understand and effortless to put into practice. Jesus took a much different approach. He calls us to embrace rather than analyze... celebrate rather than simplify... unleash rather than understand the mysteries of the kingdom. God longs to plant the seeds of the kingdom in the soil of our souls so that the kingdom of God will grow and thrive within us. -- Bob

THE KINGDOM CONSPIRACY

Powerful heavenly forces are working in concert... conspiring to do something significant in your life. Don't settle for a life of mediocrity! Do not settle for mere fame or fortune! Don't settle for the expensive toys and trinkets some sell their souls to possess. God has something remarkable planned for your life. Look at this promise:

No eye has seen...
No ear has heard...
No mind has conceived...
What God has prepared for those who love him... (I Corinthians 2:9)

After you have hiked through a Redwood forest, artificial Christmas trees aren't all that impressive... even with glittering ornaments and twinkling lights. God has Redwood dreams for your life. Don't settle for an imitation of real life. More to come on The Kingdom Conspiracy... -- Bob

What the ??? Who are these people and where do they come up with such bizarre portrayals of Jesus? The Lord of Life reduced to a knick-knack? Never! As hard as some Christians have tried to restrain, contain or constrain him, Jesus doesn't fit into any of the tiny boxes we have created for him. In his book, Pagan Christianity, Frank Viola writes: "In Jesus, we have a Man who refused to bow to the pressures of religious conformity. A Man who preachd a revolution. A man who would not tolerate hypocrisy. A Man who was not afraid to provoke those who suppressed the liberating gospel He brought to set men free. A Man who did not mind evoking anger in His enemies, causing them to gird their thighs for battle. What is my point? It is this: Jesus Christ came not only as Messiah, the Anointed One of God to deliver His people from the bondage of the fall. He came not only as Savior, paying a debt He did not owe to wash away the sins of mankind. He came not only as Prophet, comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. He came not only as Priest, representing man before God and representing God before man. He came not only as King, triumphant over all authority, principality and power. He came as a Revolutionary, tearing apart the old wineskin with a view to bringing in the new. Behold your Lord, the Revolutionary!" Wow! Now that's the Jesus I will forsake everything to follow. -- Bob

Who Cares What You Look Like... God doesn't! That's probably not very good news if you are someone who puts a lot of importance in the way you look. But it is very good news for those of us who never looked cool, stylish, sexy, hip, classy, handsome, beautiful, athletic or at least interesting. The Lord is neither impressed nor put off by the way we look. God is much more concerned about the condition of our hearts. According to I Samuel 16:7, "The Lord does not look at the things a person looks at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." I'm looking for a church where people aren't judged by the way they look, but are loved just the way they are, and encouraged to love God with all their hearts. That's the kind of church where you are likely to find Jesus. -- Bob

"You know that the rulers of this world love to exercise power over others. But that is not the way it will be for those who follow me. Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. And the one who puts himself must be willing to be last if he wants to follow me. I did not come to be served. I came as a servant, to lay down my life for others." -- Jesus

There was another breaking story last week about a Christian leader who was involved in a smutty sex scandal. Ted Haggard, pictured above in the lobby of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, was the founding pastor of New Life and also president of the National Association of Evangelicals, an organization with a membership of 30 million. He has been identified by Time Magazine as one of the 25 most influential men in America. However, last week he resigned as the president of NEA and was dismissed as the pastor of New Life Church. It is a sad story. I have been seriously praying that Ted and his wife Gayle and their five children will survive this messy episode in their lives. The national response to Ted's misdeeds has been predictable. His supporters are caught somewhere between denial and heartbreak. His antagonists are caught somewhere between smugness and delight. When I read Ted's book, Primary Purpose 10 or 12 years ago, I thought he had a pretty good grip on the kind of life we are called to live as followers of Jesus. But he recently confessed, "There is a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I've been warring against it all of my adult life." The biggest problem here is not that Ted Haggard has dark and repulsive issues in his life. A bigger problem is that Christians are in denial about how flawed most of us really are; and then we have a tendency to point our fingers at those who aren't as practiced as we are at hiding their flaws. Here's how we need to response to this recent scandal:
- We need to focus on Jesus as our first love.
- We need to repent of "Christian Hero" worship
- We need to realize that the heroes we create are flawed
- We need to spend more time reaching out to the poor and needy
- We need to spend less time consorting with the rich and famous
- We need to be completely honest about our flaws
- We need to deal with our flaws with transparency and grace
- We need to stop pointing our fingers at others
- We need to invite all who are flawed to find healing in Jesus.
Please pray for Ted and Gayle Haggard and their children-- Bob

"But when they said, 'Give us a king to lead us,' this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: 'Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejectd me as their king.'" (I Samuel 8:6-7). The kingdom of God can have only one king. His name is not Saul or David or George. The first Christians referred to Jesus as "King of kings and Lord of Lords." Christians can have only one king. His name is Jesus. The politics of Jesus can be summed up in one phrase, "Seek first the kingdom of God." What does that mean? I believe it means that we pledge our allegiance to the kingdom of God rather than to a flag or a nation or a president or a party. One of the problems with the politics of the "Christian Right" is that it values the politics of King George over the politics of King Jesus. -- Bob

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR JESUS IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES?

The Great Physician doesn't just slap bandaids on our wounds!

He doesn't hang with the beautiful people!

He is far more than a colorful cartoon character!

A Jesus belt buckle won't help you to keep your pants on!

Jesus footware won't really help you make your mark on the world! So I guess you may as well throw away all your Jesus Junk and try to actually following him! -- Bob

When I was a little boy, my uncle taught me a finger game where you bring your hands together to form a fist like church building with your two thumbs forming a stubby little steeple. Then you say, "This is the church, this is the steeple open the door and see all the people," and open your fists to reveal tiny fingers that represent "all the people." If you know this little game, you were probably just filled with a surg of nostalgia. If you're not familiar with this game you probably don't have a clue about what I've just tried to explain. Well here is the point... We live in a land that is dotted with all sorts of beautiful church buildings with steeples that reach for the heavens. But when you open the doors you wonder what happened to all the people. North America is in the midst of a pretty significant exodus from traditional, institutional churches. In the past 6 to 8 years, millions of Christians have discontinued their regular Sunday morning routine. In his book, "Revolution," George Barna says that many people long for a deeper spiritual experience, and many churches are either unwilling or unable to offer it to them. According to Barna, people are searching for:
- Intimate worship
- Faith-based conversations
- Intentional spiritual growth
- Opportunities to serve
- Investment of their resources in people
- Family focused faith
The house church movement has emerged as one response to this spiritual quest. An increasing number of people are opting for the intimate community and nurturing relationships that are part of a healthy house church experience. -- Bob

As hard as we try, all the kings horses and all the kings men won't put the air back into the church again. All of the "Purpose Driven... Seeker Sensitive... Organic Church" books, tapes and seminars ever produced won't put the air back into the church again. We need a fresh wind, the wind of the Spirit to breathe life into the church. What we don't need is more hot air. Let's just stop it! Let's stop trying to reinflate the Church of the Living God with MORE HOT AIR! Talking about God and faith and prayer and sin and worship and community might make us feel good about the Christian experience, but most of our talk is little more than hot air! We need to stop producing books and tapes and seminars that aim at merely reinflating the church. Let's start walking by faith, living lives that are devoted to the ways of Jesus and asking God to fill our lives and empower our mission with the wind of the Spirit. -- Bob

ATTENTION!!! God is moving his church to a house near you. That was always God's plan for his church. He doesn't need us to "Build" a building where people can attend a religious meeting. God wants us to "Be" the church that offers help, healing and hope right where people live. The New Testament church wasn't a network of buildings, but a network of people who met from house to house. The evidence of this is clear:
- Pentecost took place in a home
- The Last Supper took place in a home
- The wedding feast of Cana took place in a home
- Some of Jesus most important teachings were given in homes
- The first Christians met in homes for worship, teaching and prayer
- Paul wrote, "Greet the church in your house"
- The New Testament church was a "House Church"
Believers-Church-Network is an attempt to respond to what God is doing in the world. I don't think Jesus ever intended for his Church to be a group of people who remained paralyzed within the four walls of a building. I think it has always been his intention for us to become a network of brothers and sisters who are being transformed by the love of Jesus and sent out into the world. -- Bob

"The kingdom of God belongs to them." That's what Jesus said when his disciples tried to get between Jesus and some children who were crowding around him. "Let the little children come to me," he said, "don't forbid them because the kingdom belongs to them." What are some of the kingdom qualities that Jesus treasures in Children. How about enthusiasm, spontaneity and curiousity? Or what about the capacity to be authentic, uncomplicated and trusting. I believe these are a few of the qualities that Jesus treasures in those who choose to live as the children... of God. -- Bob

“Our whole being… is one vast need…crying out for Him who can untie things that are now knotted together and tie up things that are still dangling loose.” -- C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Do you know this face? His name is Wyatt Earp; not the famous law officer and gun slinger who lived in the wild west, but another Wyatt Earp who is far less famous... except in the eyes of God. Jesus said that God notices the Wyatt Earps of the world. He notices every sparrow that falls to the ground, and he knows and values the nameless, homeless, yet priceless men and women who live on our streets. During the height of his popularity, Jesus was passing through a village where a huge crowd had come out to see him. There were two blind men in that crowd, but they had been pushed aside by the mob. Somehow, Jesus heard the men's cry for help over the noise of the crowd and went to their aid. Those who are serious about following Jesus need to be on the lookout for fallen sparrows and anonymous characters like Wyatt Earp. Both are priceless in the eyes of their creator. -- Bob

BALANCE... when you live aboard a sailboat, you don't take it for granted... you have to work at it. Balance is even more important in the life of a Christian. Jesus said, "I am the alpha and the omega." Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Jesus led a balanced life. He wasn't a single issue Messiah. He didn't focus on the alpha issues and neglect the omega issues. He came to guide us through all of the complex twists and turns of life; from alpha all the way to omega. Jesus was comfortable dining in the home of a rich man, and he was comfortable hanging out with the poor. He came to save the lost and he came to proclaim the way of peace. He called people to walk by faith and he challenged them to love justice. He exposed the hypocrisy of some religious leaders who wanted to stone a woman who had committed adultry, but he also challenged the woman to, "Go and sin no more." Jesus came to bring life and to oppose death. I believe that means he is opposed to anything that might kill, steal and destroy. He came to say no to abortion... child abuse... capital punishment... hunger... terrorism... wars and rumors of wars. Jesus is the alpha and the omega. We can't afford to get so caught up in the alpha issues of life that we neglect the omega issues of life. There is no such thing as an Alpha Christian or an Omega Christian. Anyone who follows Jesus needs to follow him from alpha all the way to omega. -- Bob

Jesus doesn't ask us to "Go" to church. He wants us to "Be" the Church. But there is a lot of confusion about what it means to "Be" the church. Most of us identify "Church" as the building where we meet for worship. Even though I've been critical of that definition, from time to time I slip and do the same thing. But the church is never identified by a building in the New Testament. The New Testament identifies the Church of Antioch... Corinth... Ephesus... by the Christians who gather in each of those communities. The first church building wasn't built until around 234 AD. That means the church experienced great vitality and growth before a single building was built. You could argue that the bigger and more beautiful our church buildings have become, the smaller and weaker the church's impact has been. After spending a couple of years worshipping in the tiny mud church buildings in the mountains of Northern Nigeria, I thought it would be great to worship in one of Europes great cathedrals when we traveled through Europe a few years ago. However, we were disappointed when we showed up for Sunday morning worship and found the building locked. We learned later that the cathedral functioned as a museum Monday through Saturday, but it was closed on Sundays. No matter how grand and glorious church buildings may be, they cannot compair with the strength and vitality of 2 or 3 Christians who gather in the name and focus on the mission of Jesus Christ. -- Bob

When our walk with Jesus becomes a lifestyle rather than a weekend religious exercise, we begin to enjoy the priceless treasure of life in the kingdom of God. Jesus says it is like discovering a pearl of great price. Juan Carlos Ortiz provides an interesting adaptation of that parable.
"I want this pearl. How much is it?"
"Well," the seller says, "it's very expensive."
"But, how much?" we ask.
"Well, a very large amount."
"Do you think I could buy it?" "
Oh, of course, everyone can buy it."
"But, didn't you say it was very expensive?"
"Yes."
"Well, how much is it?"
"Everything you have," says the seller.
We make up our minds, "All right, I'll buy it," we say.
"Well, what do you have?" he wants to know. "Let's write it down."
"Well, I have ten thousand dollars in the bank."
"Good- -ten thousand dollars. What else?"
"That's all.
“That's all you have?"
"Well, I have a few dollars here in my pocket."
"How much?"
We start digging. "Well, let's see--thirty, forty, sixty, eighty, a hundred, a hundred twenty dollars."
"That's fine. What else do you have?"
"Well, nothing. That's all."
"Where do you live?" He's still probing.
"In my house. Yes, I have a house."
"The house, too, then." He writes that down.
"You mean I have to live in my camper?"
"You have a camper? That, too. What else?"
"I'll have to sleep in my car!"
"You have a car?"
"Two of them."
"Both become mine, both cars. What else?"
"Well, you already have my money, my house, my camper, my cars. What more do you want?"
"Are you alone in this world?" "No I have a wife and two children....."
"Oh, yes, your wife and children, too. What else?"
"I have nothing left! I am left alone now."
Suddenly the seller exclaims, "Oh, I almost forgot! You yourself, too! Everything becomes mine--wife, children, house, money, cars--and you too." Then he goes on. "Now listen--I will allow you to use them for the now. But don't forget, they are mine, just as you are mine. And whenever I need them you must give them to me because now I am the owner." -- Bob

Where can we find the spiritual firepower to live above our human frailties so we can faithfully follow Jesus? There is a story near the end of the Gospel of Luke that offers some clues. After Jesus' death most of his followers went into hiding. Two of them decided to head for the village of Emmaus a few miles from Jerusalem. They had heard rumors that the tomb was empty, but they weren't willing to stay around to find out what had happened. As they walked along the road to Emmaus, discussing what had happened, Jesus met them along the way. Since they were convinced that he was dead, they didn't recognize him. They continued to walk with him and talk with him and were so taken by this "stranger" that they invited him to stay with them. As they ate together that evening, Jesus took bread and blessed it. When he broke the bread and gave it to them, their eyes were opened and they finally recognized Jesus. Their encounter with Jesus kindled such a passion for him that they had to share it with others. We will develop the spiritual firepower to live above our human frailties as we walk together with others who are committed to walking with... talking with... staying with... eating with... burning for... and telling others about Jesus. -- Bob

"Christianity" is often referred to as a major world "Religion." But I have a hard time thinking of Christianity as a religion because of the toxic affect that religion can have on those who long to be religious. Religion requires people to practice rules and rituals that often move them further away from God rather than drawing them closer to God. Someone has said, "Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship." I agree with that statement, but it doesn't go far enough. I believe that Christianity needs to be a lifestyle; the "Lifestyle of those who follow Jesus." However, the Christian lifestyle needs several things to make it practical, functional, sustainable and enjoyable. First, we need to have the kind of relationship with Jesus that provides the spiritual firepower to move us beyond our own human weaknesses. Next, we need to be part of a community of others who are committed to following Jesus. We also need to live within the guidelines of the scriptures so we can be mentored in the ways of Jesus. And then we need to practice a lifestyle that is "about others" rather than "about ourselves." Finally, we need to make a daily commitment to prayerfully, faithfully, enthusiastically long for and live out the values of Jesus... No Matter What! -- Bob

What should those of us who are trying to follow Jesus call ourselves. The term "Christian" carries so much baggage with it. Do we really want to identify ourselves with the "Christian" Crusaders who raped and pillaged their way through Europe? Do we really want to be identified with the "Holy Christian Church" that helped to create the Dark Ages rather than reflecting the light of Jesus into the darkness? Do we really want to identify with a movement that, over the past 2000 years, has executed an estimated 25,000,000 "Heretics" who refused to support or participate in the politics of the Church? And what about the "Christian" right? Should the followers of Jesus be identified with a movement that is much more about political ideology than solid New Testament Christianity? So what should we call ourselves? Jesus People? Jesus Freaks? Followers of Jesus? Disciples of Jesus? Do we need a new name for those of us who are reluctant to identify with what Chrisitianity has become? Until we figure out what to call ourselves, let's continue to lift up the name, reflect the values and follow the way of Jesus. -- Bob

“For many years now I have taken to going to church less and less because I find so little there of what I hunger for. It is a sense of the presence of God that I hunger for.”

-- Frederick Buechner