Don't Bury the Gospel!

On Thursdays I get the privilege of working from home and caring for my mother in law who is joyfully anticipating leaving this earth and joining her savior as her time on earth is coming to an end.

This means a lot of quiet time and I'm thankful to capture this time to pray for her, the church, read, study, work on church systems, write and pray some more.  

"The Master said 'Well done my good and faithful servant!'" 

I think about this phrase a lot because I wasted decades of my Christian life pursuing the form of Christianity rather than the heart of my Master.  I feel like we risk falling in to the comforts of American "Churchianity".    

The phrase is from a parable told by Jesus in Matthew chapter 25:14-30 (included at the end of this post). 

It's a parable about some employees who proved either trustworthy or untrustworthy to their boss based on how they took care of the bosses treasure.  One was told "well done good and faithful servant, because you have been faithful with little, I have set you over much".    

Something inside of me aches to hear "Well done Mike. I'm proud of you". from God.   I get choked up even thinking about it now. 

I know that I have such a limited time on this earth, I wrestle with whether or not I'm being a good and faithful servant to God.  Our biggest failure would be to take the precious thing (gold in the parable) God has given us to use for His purpose and bury it in the ground and thinking that we are being "responsible" and calling that good.  However that's who the master called evil. 

Here is one example where the "safe" way can be the direct enemy of the way the master would call "good and faithful". 

I've spent years of my life being drawn in to the cozy and safe places of Christian cultures.  Of course I wanted to hide there! Christians are very nice.  They have to be.  They aren't rude, aren't going to ask me to do anything illegal and if I do make a mistake, God himself tells them that they can't reject me!

One place we bury our gold is in Christian clubs that invite people to a life disconnected from the world which we are here to serve.  

My deepest desire for my time on earth is to be useful to God.  I want join God in bringing His Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. I want to be engaged in bringing HOPE to people who are struggling in this world!  I want to be a constant reminder to people of the hope available in Jesus.  I want to serve as a conduit for God to show His love His children.  

There are many programs, movements, clubs, tribes and groups that may be comfortable places for us to hide, but it wasn't the gold in the ground of comfortable places that made the master call the servant "good and faithful".   It was his usefulness to master in trusting, risking and working to multiply the treasure that prompted that affirmation of the master.

Our gold is the gospel of Jesus. The good news that He is the answer to the questions our hearts are longing to have answered.  

We are not called to go and share the gospel with other Christians in a safe bubble of christian community.  If we share the gospel only among safe Christians we end up focusing on the wrong thing. It becomes this strange and even mystical effort to manufacture Holy Spirit experiences that may give us goose bumps but does it help us invite our neighbors to church?  Does it help us be present with and empathize with the struggles of our neighbors?

With my growing understanding of who I am in Christ and what God has called me to do with my time in earth,  I just don't see God commanding me to ensure that I have a full Christian social calendar, lots of Christian friends and spend all of my free time with other Christians judging proper worship styles, bible interpretations and rightly classifying different theologies.   

Now, along the road and on my journey to make disciples of Jesus, I am invited to live my life in the spirit of God and along the way, I need true fellowship, iron sharpening iron, encouragement of a church family, inspiration from sound personal leading by someone who knows me and loves me.  

But to take what God has given me and bury it in safe and sheltered "christian life style", is a complete waste of the only chance we have to shape eternity.  I honestly don't think God would call me trustworthy with what he has given me if I am not useful with it for His purposes. 

Continuing in that Matthew 25 parable, the servant answered:  "I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground". And the master responded "You wicked and slothful servant".

Did you get that?  His fear is what made him slothful.  Is it fear that makes us avoid the word 'evangelism'?

Comfort vs Community: 

True Christian Community has a mission that is outside of itself. 

 I LOVE THE CHURCH!   

Don't get me wrong, I value community, theological discussion and worshipful, potluckful christian community.  I absolutely love it!   I need it!  Without it, the journey to disciple making would be impossible, difficult, lonely and full of mistakes.  However these "cushioned" buried environments aren't what makes me useful for the Master. 

We get to help God love His people!  When we do that  we are a light to their world. (MT 5:14)   But unless the light is coming to them and loving them to it, that light seems far off, unattainable and offers no hope whatsoever.   

Matthew 28:18-20  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

As a Pastor, I pray that those whom I serve will not get wrapped up in the delusion of phony christianity where this is no risk, no sacrifice and no cost.   We have been given the precious Gold of the very Holy Spirit of the God of the universe!  Jesus reminds us that He has all authority in heaven and earth and he promises to be with us until the end of the age!  So we get the privilege  to take our treasure and go and make disciples of Jesus.  

Fear stops us, and Jesus offers us himself to remove all fear. He says "I am with you, I have the authority".  

But we so easily elevate our own fears & insecurities and allow them to overcome our desire to do God's will.

So in that fear we look for something we will call "the good commission" so we don't have to do what we fear. Which we will call "the great commission". (The enemy of the great is always the good, because when we do good we deaden the voice of the calling to great). 

We can get wrapped up in a false sense mission by selling out our calling to christian living.  It's time to redefine Christianity not by how much time we spend with like minded people, but by how much time we spend loving the hurting ( those who need the good news of Jesus.). 

At the end of the day, THAT is what will make God say  "Well done my good and faithful servant".   That is what my soul I longs to hear from my loving Father.  

Matthew 28:18-20  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

If I accomplish anything as your Pastor in your life, my prayer is that I inspire you to live a life where your love for the lost is only eclipsed by your love for God.  I believe that if just a fraction of the people I am privileged to shepherd can grasp this with their whole heart, we can shatter the gates of hell that are holding us back and then we will honor our master and hear those words "well done my good and faithful servant".   

Pastor Mike. 

Here is the parable.  Drink it in. 

"The Parable of the Talents

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ " 

https://ref.ly/Mt25.14-30;esv

8 Keys to Investing in your Kid's soul

"I believe the children are our future..."   - W Houston

Proverbs 1:8-9 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

The implication in this passage is that the father and mother are actively iinstructing and teaching!

'If I'm being totally humble and honest, I have to say that my kids are the most amazing kids anyone could ever know.  Probably better than any other kids God has ever blessed this earth with.'  :)

I think most parents humbly believe that our kids are amazing and that they're probably the pinnacle of God's creative efforts thus far.

As parents, the work of investing in the spiritual development of our children is our primary function.  Yet this can easily become a neglected area of instructing and teaching.  

We teach our kids about everything from math, reading, sports, hunting, fishing, advice about girls and boys, how to change oil and swap out a flat tire.. but do we teach them to value and invest in their own soul?  The Bible? The Church? A personal relationship with Jesus?

Many parents (who may even be engaged in their own spiritual growth) aren't that great at showing and teaching their children about what a spiritually lead life looks like. 

I know that when my three kids were little, (now they are 17, 19 and 21), I had set myself up as the answer Dad.  I travelled a lot and when I was home, I had all the answers.  I was super Dad!  Whoosh in and answer things and Whoosh out!  So when it came to things I didn't quite understand, I either deflected, got frustrated or just ignored it all together.  

As I got older and my kids started to grow I knew I had to change and intentionally lead them.  I responded to God's calling and it radically changed my life, job, career and lifestyle and I was able to be more present and grow in my parenting.  

Here are 8 thoughts that I hope help you.  Some I've done, some I'm doing and some I wish I'd done.  

1. Lead by example.  Your kids are watching you.  How you treat people, the church, your pastor, other kids... you're showing your kids how to value people by what you do and how you treat them.  Do you want your kids to respect their elders?  Then model it. Let them see you honor the spiritual leaders in your life.  (If you don't have spiritual leaders, that's a problem because you're teaching your kids that you are the end of all authority and I promise you that when they leave home, your relationship will be shattered when they learn you are not all you set yourself up to be.)

2.  Sing with them. "Anyone can sing" Music is mysterious in how it touches and unified us.  It's such a gift from God.  Worship with your kids.  Sing in the car together.  Teach them songs that are honoring to people.  Project:  make up a list of your family values together and make up a rhyme with your last name.  Give them an identity of high character that brings them pride and strength.  

3. Teach them the beauty of the mystery of God.  Be honest with them about what you don't know.  One of the biggest parenting mistakes we can make is to allow our kids to think we have all of the answers.   This sets us up to teach them to fear and worship man kind instead of God.    If we can be honest that even we grown ups need to have child like faith and trust God with what we don't know, the seed of faith will continue to grow in their hearts.  

4. Apologize to your kids when you are wrong.  This gives them dignity and a strong foundation that there is absolute truth in the world.  And it builds their confidence that truth is on their side and gives an example of humility when they make a mistake.  

5. Teach them to trust.  People are generally good. You may feel like the world is against you and that anyone in any type of authority is "the man". But that's really your own insecurity, pain and pride that hasn't been dealt with.   Don't project that on your kids.  Police, doctors, judges, teachers, pastors...  all just want to help people.  Teach them to trust. 

(Yes, Someone will violate that trust at some point and they will be hurt and they will grow and strengthen so they can trust again).  If we don't have hope in each other then we're all doomed.

6. Remind them daily that their value comes from their being not from their performance.   Don't get me wrong.  Don't reward them for existing.  But separate the reward for accomplishment from their value as a person.   One is for something you've done and the other is something you are.  We have all seen that go wrong on both sides where great athletes think they're great people and their platform for pride are their downfall.   The other side of that is the truth that most kids are amazing and talented in ways for which we don't award trophies!  I'd love to see an award ceremony and lettermans jacket for the kid who picks up trash in the lunch room faithfully, or the one who gives up half his lunch every day to help a friend not go hungry.  Your kids worth is eternal and a gift from God because they're made in His image and their real trophy comes from God when they take their part in His plan in loving people to bring His Kingdom to earth as it is in Heaven. 

7.  You're not alone:  

This is where a church comes in.  If you're hesitant to engage with your kids, it's ok, you're not a bad parent.  You were never intended or expected by God to raise them alone.   Go to a church who has a desire to help equip you to initiate spiritual conversations in your family.  And engage in that church's mission. Engaging and committing to a church is the #1 way to show your children that investing in their community and their spiritual development is important.   

Ask your children's ministry leaders to share their plans with you.  Ask them to give you the bible verses they're teaching from.   And on the way home from church ask them about their lesson that day.   But ask in a smart way that will get an answer.   

"What activity did you do in class today?"  "What did they teach you about Jesus today? "

(Don't ask "what did you learn in class today". That feels like a test and brains seize up. )

Finally and most importantly:  

8.  Pray for your children.  Pray for their souls, their hearts, their minds and their strength.    Pray for their future.  Pray for their spouse to be.  Pray for their careers and pray most of all that God would be so close to their heart they would have courage and conviction to be the most amazing light in this world that you know they can be!   

Set your alarm to wake you up or stop your work or interrupt your day to pray for your kids.  You will find that when you pray for them, your heart aligns with God's heart and you will be more patient, loving, insightfully, compassionate and more equipped to train them up to love.  

Proud Dad of 3 amazing kids who are probably the most amazing kids God has ever created.  

Pastor Mike

Thank you Church! Focus on our mission field!

Church,

 I want to thank you for being the kind of church that isn't wrapped up in issues like Mark Driscoll or the 700 Club. We have enough burden to carry dealing with our own community.

 I'm glad no one is asking me my opinion because I don't know enough about what's going on to have anything useful to add I don't really feel the need to learn enough about this issue to form a useful word.

Dave Jackson visited us a few months ago and he said this: "I asked God to break my heart from everything that breaks His heart, and God made it clear to me.. Dave, If I did that you'd be a worthless pile of goo broken beyond repair. I will break your heart for what I'm equipping you to handle. That's enough."

That was brilliant. We don't need to be adopting other peoples issues and starting fires of drama. God has given us so much to do to make disciples and reach the lost in our areas of influence that is where we can focus.

I love you church!

Pastor Mike

Well done my good and faithful servant

Well done my good and faithful servant!  

This is from a parable told by Jesus in Matthew chapter 25.   After some of his servants proved trustworthy their master said "well done good and faithful servant, because you have been faithful with little, I have set you over much".    Regardless of the promise of being "set over much" something inside of me aches to hear "Well done" from God.

One thing that repels me from many Christian movements is that they tend invite people to a life disconnected from the world which we are here to serve.  My deepest desire is to be useful to God.  I want join God in bringing His Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven.   I want to be engaged in bringing hope to the struggle of the world and be a constant reminder to people of the hope available in Jesus.  To serve as a conduit for God to love His lost children.  

There are programs, movements, clubs and groups that may be right, good and true, but I'm just not able to see how they are useful.  (Granted it may be my own shortcomings that are stopping me from understanding.)    They are enticing and seem to be lulling people in to a safe bubble of christian community and a spiritual experience seeking culture with no inspiration to send people out to the world and be the light of hope to a hurting world.  

With my growing understanding of who I am in Christ and the directions given to me by scripture,  I just don't see him commanding me to ensure that I have a full social calendar, lots of Christian friends and spend all of my free time with other Christians 'discerning' proper worship styles, bible interpretations and rightly classifying different theologies.   

Now, along the road and on my journey to the ends of the earth to make disciples of Jesus, I am invited to live my life in the spirit of God and along the way, I will experience fellowship, iron sharpening iron, encouragement of a church family, inspiration from sound teaching by someone who loves me.  But to dedicate my time, community, relational energy and identity to a flavor or style of safe and sheltered "christianity", is a complete waste of a great opportunity to shape eternity.    I don't think God would say that I was trustworthy with what he has given me if I am not useful with it.   The rest of that parable in Matthew 25 the servant answered:  "I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground". And the master responded "You wicked and slothful servant".

Don't get me wrong, I value community, healthy theological discussion and worshipful, potluckful christian community.  I absolutely love it!   I need it!  Without those, the journey to disciple making would be difficult, lonely and full of mistakes.    However these "cushioned" environments aren't what makes me more like Jesus.  They are where I go when I am 'afraid and go and hide what I've been trusted with in the ground'.   They don't help God reach the lost, and surely are not a light to the world. (MT 5:14)   Because unless the light is coming to the people who need it and inviting them in, the light is far off, unattainable and provides segregation and no hope whatsoever.   

Matthew 28:18-20  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

As a Pastor, I pray that those whom I serve will not get wrapped up in the delusion of phony christianity where this is no risk, no sacrifice and no cost.   We have been given the very spirit of the God of the universe!  Jesus reminds us that He has all authority in heaven and earth and he promises to be with us until the end of the age!  So we are to go and make disciples of Jesus.  

I cannot think of any valid excuse that would preclude us from acting on that commission.  Jesus removes the barriers we would have.  "I am with you, I have the authority".  But we so easily elevate our own fears & insecurities overcome our desire to do God's will.  (It was fear that stopped the MT 25 wicked servant from stewarding well) 

 What if we thought of this like Jesus wants Peter to think of it.  

John 21:15-17 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time,“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him,“Feed my sheep.

I've said this many times.  As a father, husband, pastor, friend... I love to see people I love love people I love.    This is true with God.  Jesus says "If you love me, feed my sheep".  

This also sheds light on the great command:  When Jesus was asked, what is the greatest of all of the commands Jesus said: 

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” MT 22:36-40

Jesus is telling Peter is the same thing.  If you love me, feed my sheep.  If you love me, then love those I love.   It's also the same as "putting on the mind of Christ" or asking for God to "fill you with His spirit"...  the purpose is always to love others!  All of the gifts and commands of God are designed to help us love each other better. Even the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 are all about how we can love each other better.  

I'm telling you that Bill & Ted (Excellent Adventure) were on to something with the simple mantra "Be excellent to each other".   There's beauty in that simple statement.  

CS Lewis in the Screwtape Letters says it this way:  ... how enslaved they are to the pressure of the ordinary.

We can get wrapped up in a false sense of christian living.  It's time to redefine Christianity not by how much time we spend with like minded people, but by how much time we spend with the hurting and those who need the good news of Jesus.  At the end of the day, THAT is what will make God say  "Well done my good and faithful servant".   That is what my soul I longs to hear from my loving Father.  

Matthew 28:18-20  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Judgey judge judgerson

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. (1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV)

It is tempting to tolerate/endorse sin for the sake of acceptance and a false sense of peace.   We need to encourage each other to accept Jesus as Savior AND Lord.  Give everything to Him, even our self-justified sin. 

Paul's statement in this passage not only rings true with God's character but with the practical experience of life.   It is hateful to our brothers to watch them sin and give them to nod of acceptance rather than the sweet, loving & judging word of correction. 

This ONLY applies to those who call themselves your brother.  (Your church family).  Outside of that unity, there's no ground for judgement, because there is not a common agreement as to what the standard should be for basing a judgement.  For those outside the "family" we are to love them without judgement, just like the Christian wouldn't want a Pagan to use their standard of morality to judge him.  God judges, we love.

Stop Going To Church!

The wealthy church goer tends to sit, consume, critique and leave. It's the poor who engage, serve & grow.  It's NOT supposed the be that way! 

^{Matthew 19:16-26} 

And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.  And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”  When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”  But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

That last verse is the hinge on which the eternal security of the wealthy swings.  It is God's will that ALL enter his Kingdom and we are all called to be "with God".  So it's not supposed to be this way for the rich person.  

Ephesians 4:12 - to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ

If you're not using your gifts and talents to be on Mission with a church, all you're doing is consuming goods and services.  STOP GOING TO CHURCH, and start living and breathing the mission of your church in community with the others in your church.  There is no such thing as "better worship, or better preaching" in the Kingdom of God.  I promise you this; you will not stand before God at the end of your life and hear the question "Did you choose to go consume the best music and preaching in town on Sundays?".  You will be standing before God and He will be looking behind you to see all of the disciples of Jesus who are following you.

I am not a gifted performer.  I am called and equipped to equip you and to be your Pastor not your performer.  At night, I dream about shepherding you in to a dangerously close relationship with Jesus Christ where you can taste His love for you and it compels you to do something completely selfless with your life.  (Like sell everything you have and give to the poor.)

For some of you, this is a literal command.  Not because the poor have need.  But because you are finding comfort in your wealth, not your God and that is stopping you from experiencing the Kingdom of Heaven right now!  

So many christians read the latest "Extreme Christianity" book about living radical lives as a true Follower of Jesus and hide behind the self righteousness of criticizing the "Church" for being so benign.  If you claim Jesus you ARE the church.  So stop critiquing sermon quality and worship quality and engage with the mission of the church.

If you are going to church and are not on mission with that church, you are consuming a valuable parking space, seat, coffee and friendship that is intended for a potential co-missionary in that church.  You're actually hurting the church by claiming Jesus and not engaging in mission. STOP GOING TO CHURCH AND START BEING THE CHURCH!

It's not time for the Church to step up and be better Christians.  It's time for Christians to step up and be a better Church!

God believes in us that we can bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.  He believes in us that we can make disciples of ALL NATIONS!  He believes in us that we can bring peace in the brokenness.  He doesn't put His hope in YOU.  He puts His hope in US!  His Church!  WE can do this! He LOVES US!  But for some of us, we need to sell everything we have so we can put God in His place on the throne of our life!

Join the mission of your church!

Pastor Mike

(a thought... before you point a finger remember, if you are reading this, that means you have access to the internet, a computer or a smart phone.  That likely condemns you as in the top 2% in world wealth.)

Prayer and Fasting Jan 2014

We are in to day two of our week of prayer and fasting.  Although Fasting is never commanded in the Bible, it is continuously referenced as something that is good, beneficial and spiritually refreshing for us to do.  

From my experience, I also recommend that fasting be part of our regular routines.  For me, I'm fasting from food, eating only fruits and vegetables (Which, apparently, is a food group that I forgot existed)    

However, the spirit of fasting is to deny yourself something so you can listen to and hear God.    I like to think of it as reminding myself that my soul is what leads me, not my flesh.  You see, we eat to satisfy our bodily desire for food, so we choose the foods that satisfy our tastebuds and our immediate desire for sugar, salt or fat.   What if we ate to fuel our bodies so we could do the work God has set before us in the best way possible?  What if our motivation for life was listening to what our spirit was telling us to do, not just reacting to what our flesh is telling us it wants.    

The very nature of following Jesus is to deny yourself and pick up your cross.   (Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.)

This is the essence of what Jesus meant in Matthew 4:4  when he declared to His tempter. - "But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

We have a higher calling that just satisfying our flesh.  We have a calling to live Holy lives, completely submitted to God.  In that way we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice.  As Paul says to the Romans in Chapter 12 verse 1:
I urge your Corvallis Church to come together tonight at 6pm at Crossroads Christian Fellowship on the corner of Highland and Walnut as we gather for a time of worship and guided prayer. 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship.

I hope to see you then, until then, let us rejoice in our fast as every moment of the fast we are declaring that God is truly calling the shots in our life.  As we lay down our own desires and selfish pursuits, we are placing God in the right place, as Lord.  

See you tonight!

Pastor Mike

New Year, New Risks, New Rewards

As I reflect on 2013, it was a wonderfully fulfilling and sometimes painful year for me, my staff and my family. But one thing we know. We grew to be more like Jesus in 2013!

And, like any hard fought battle, 2013 has taken it's toll.  Lately, I've been struggling with the issue of transparency and vulnerability.  Those two things just seem to invite pain, don't they?  I think part of my issue comes down to confusing my calling with my identity. I am a Pastor by calling.  I am a Follower of Jesus, dependent upon God's grace, as my identity.   Those may not seem conflicting to some, but there is a constant tension inside of me to not make my calling, my identity.

Over the past few months, I have become a temporary introvert.  And not in a good way that says: "God wired me as an introvert, so I will embrace that as my gifting and seek to use that to advance God's kingdom".    More in a way that says:  "I'm so tired of being vulnerable that I'm not going to be transparent with anyone anymore!"

As a Pastor, I am asked to get involved in deep and difficult struggles.  The nature of this calling requires that I give a part of my heart.  I love honestly and my prayers are filled with compassion.  Which means I sacrifice in order to help, and I love enough to have difficult conversations.  And as you've probably experienced, many people don't respond to caring concern with humility and kindness.   I think anyone who has been in a close relationship with another human being for any period of time will testify:  we are not always trustworthy with each other's heart.  

What has resulted is that I've been holding back in my calling.  Out of self-protection and self-preservation I've been struggling with withholding my heart in the daily work of Pastoring.  To be fair, I have had beautiful moments of clarity and deep meaningful ministry opportunities and I don't think I've sinned and I don't think that it is bad to retreat for a time of healing. But, candidly, 2012-2013 kinda kicked my butt and I needed some space.  

I took a week away with family to reflect, dream and pray about 2014.  As I prayed, wept and rejoiced about 2013, God gave me a personal invitation as I was reading my bible.   

"Trust me with your heart!"

After revealing God's plan of salvation and encouraging the disciples that in their calling, their struggle would soon turn to joy, Jesus says in John 16:33:

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

I may have peace in God's calling.  I can continue to risk and invite close relationships!   I can put my heart out there in my preaching.  I can put myself out there and invest in people, and I can trust God, knowing full well that there will be tribulation.  There WILL be hurt and pain and disappointment. I will let people down, people will let me down.  In all of that, God is inviting me to peace.

So I'm forced to ask myself:  "Do I really trust God enough to keep putting myself out there?  Do I really believe Jesus' promise that "in Him I may have peace" because He has "overcome the world"?"

This first day of 2014 I can declare that I do believe!  I can keep investing personally in the lives of the people God brings in to my life.  I do believe that God wants me to let my heart break for people's hurts and let my soul be transformed by his presence in the midst of the struggles.   I do believe that as I trust God to tear down my walls of self preservation that I may have peace!  I do believe, God!!... (help my unbelief! Mark 9:24) 

So for 2014, for the sake of fulfilling my calling as Pastor the best I can, I choose to believe Jesus' words and I choose peace... and as I do this look what happens... 

Phil 4:7 - And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

My heart is guarded!  I can trust Him with my heart!

Good & Perfect isn't on sale

Think eternal and internal with gift giving and receiving.  

Does your son have an unhealthy dependence on a video game?   

     Is the newest version of that game really what's best for him?

Is your daughter obsessed with her outward appearance?  

      Is a 1000 shade make up kit what's best for her?  

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..." (James 1:17).

This means that every good and perfect gift is eternally and internally good for us.

I love Mary's response to the unexpected gift of an unexpected pregnancy.

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (Luke 1:46-49 ESV)

She found the blessing in a gift from God that invited this teenage girl to give up any dreams she had of a fairy tale engagement with the man of her dreams. Joseph.   Gone was the esteem of her community, the honor of "doing things right" or the glorious wedding ceremony of her childhood dreams.

Mourning that loss and struggling with fear, she found true joy.  The true joy in receiving God's gift, that good & perfect gift, which was better than any gift of her dreams.   Unexpectedly pregnant, Mary chose to rejoice and then saw the goodness and perfection in the gift that ruined her dreams and gave her new, good and perfect dreams. 

As a parent I've leaned: 

1. My kids are way more mature and spiritually minded than I often remember.    They are deep thinkers with an honest and individual relationship with God. (Independent of me). God is working in them just like He is working in me.

2. My kids desire to do right and be righteous more than they desire the latest gadget or piece of clothing.  

3.  They struggle (just like I do) with forgetting #2 sometimes. 

So my honest desire for gift giving requires that I remember this:  

Because #1 is true, a good and perfect gift will help them overcome the struggle of #3 and inspire #2.  

Gift ideas: 

1. Time together. Teach them something even if you're not good at it. (Teach them how to be bad at something and be ok with it). 

2. Make them something and pray for them while you make it.  You'll find that God will give you a story to tell as you give the gift.  (Even if it's terrible craftsmanship). 

3. Give them your bible.  Preferrably one you have used, marked up and is stained by your smudges and tears.

4. Give them an heirloom.  If you don't have one handed down to you, start one. Go to a thrift shop, buy an old pie plate, bake their favorite pie, give them the pie with an honest request to start a tradition with the pie plate. Boom! Heirloom started.

5. Serve someone else together.  Find a need that resonates with them and coordinate a way for you to serve together.   Show them to value service, community, selflessness.  Imagine the impact you could have together?!?  Talk about a wonderful gift!  This is my favorite idea.  

Don't spend what you don't have to buy what they don't want.   They really want way more than something you can buy in a store.  

God Bless you this Holiday Season with peace, joy and the most good and most perfect gift of Jesus Christ. Because of Him, we get God, Heaven, the Earth all good and perfect gifts. 

 

Houseless, Busless and Vanless in Corvallis

A wonderful benefit of being a church in the heart of the city, engaged in the culture and committed to serving the entirety of who God has gathered, is that we have many people that are part of our church family who "live outdoors".  Many don't like the title of "homeless" as they do feel like they have a home. Some say that home is their tent, some say home is their city and for a few in our church, they call our church gathering on Sundays their "home".

I respect that and am changing my "label" from "homeless" to just using their names.  

Chris, Steve, John, Shawn, Renee, Diana, Peter, Mike, Shaun, Byron, Denacio...

These are men and women made in the image of God.  They will be the first to admit that they have some issues that drive them to not living in traditional houses, keeping traditional jobs or even having traditional relationships.  But they are God's precious creation and He is pursuing them and calling them to live in the fullness of Christ.    

In changing that mentality, God has done what seemed impossible for me to figure out on my own a year ago.

Here is an example of what God did when we changed our mindset from seeing them as "homeless" to seeing them as "brothers and sisters".  

• We set out to do a wonderful thing with our "homeless bible study" on Mondays. (and I'm sure God brought us along this process so we could truly learn and grow)
• After this shift in thinking we decided to relaunch it as a "Men's bible study" and we openly invited all men to join.  
• When it was a homeless study,  0-4 men showed up to tell one person their problems and talk about the bible.  
• Now that it is merely a "Men's study", we have men (who are "houseless") in fellowship with working, retired and student men. 
• THIS IS WHERE TRUE CHURCH COMMUNITY HAPPENS and everybody grows!  

As we shake off the labels, look people in the eyes, get over the strange odors and embrace the beauty of God's image bearing creation, we are able to truly see God.  Truly experience the Acts 2 and 4 church that we all long for.

Here is the dilemma we face.  

The City of Corvallis makes an effort to ensure that those sleeping outdoors, don't sleep within city limits.  Monday - Saturday, Corvallis has free buses which allows people to get downtown and where they need to be.   BUT, the buses don't run on Sundays.  This means that some of those who live outdoors have to walk 2-7 miles to get to church on Sunday.  

This is Steve.  (he's here with me at Starbucks as I type this and I have his permission to use his photo).   

Steve makes flutes out of scrap PVC pipe he finds in dumpsters and sells them for $5 to $10.  He lives in the northwest part of Corvallis.  During the week, he walks about a quarter mile and hops on a bus to head downtown to use the free wifi at coffee shops for his online schooling and to stay connected to his doctors, but primarily he heads downtown to engage in life with his community and church family.  Last week he helped us move in to our new offices.  

We love his sweet spirit and his respectful attitude.  The Brenners have had him in to their home to share a meal and he is a vital part of Corvallis Church.  He has expressed that he wants to go through our Growth Track to discover what gifts God has given him and how he can serve in and among his church family.

 Since city buses don't run on Sundays he walks about 5 miles to be at church for the 9am service.  Sometimes he's at the 2nd service and most of the time he sticks around to help with clean up.

This is Renae.  She is engaged to Chris. (not pictured).  

Renae is a sweet spirit and hopelessly in love with Chris.  Chris has suffered from a gun shot wound to the head when he was 17 which causes some social anxiety and cognitive impairments that has resulted in fear and anger issues in the past.  He is a gracious man, struggling with the same issues most men do.  Pride, faith, concern about his future, providing for his fiance, the desire to have children... but he's also very self aware that he has some social barriers to overcome.  He is working hard and attending his counseling meetings multiple times per week and the presence of Renae in his life has been a calming and focusing blessing from God.    

Click Here to Learn more about Chris & Renae in this article published by the local newspaper recently.

Chris & Renae recently were given a small camper trailer.  We have been praying for months that God would provide a place for them to park the trailer.  Corvallis restricts any camper living within city limits so again, it takes them out of the city limits to find anything.  They found a place in a neighboring small community called Lewisburg.   During the week, they can hop on the bus and head downtown to engage in their community and set up their busking/poetry spot and make their living.  

The issue:  The buses don't run on Sundays so they are stuck walking 5 miles to church.  Next Sunday, Renae will be trying out joining our worship team, playing her flute and blessing her church family with her gifts.  (She recently wrote me a poem on "Marriage" that after two lines, had me in tears.  Then she took it back and said "I'm not done with it yet".  I will post it when it's complete to her satisfaction.)

There is also a gentleman named John who was blessed to find an affordable apartment in a neighboring town called Philomath.    Philomath is about 6 miles outside of downtown Corvallis.  Do you see the trending need?  

We are praying a few things:  

1.  We are praising God and thanking Him for growing us in to the fullness of Christ through relationships with people different than us.  Thanking God for our outdoor living church family. 

 2.  That God would raise up or bring us someone willing to serve as a driver to take on the ministry of driving a 15 mile loop on Sunday mornings to bring people to church and then returning them home afterwards.  

3.  A van to use for picking them up (and hopefully their friends) so we can fellowship together on Sunday mornings.

Will you join us in prayer?