One of the many things we are told to do is give back. If someone has done something for us, we should be willing to pass it along or to give back to them if the time comes. You can read about someone who has done this by going here.
A Prayer for Josh and Alicia
Abba Father,
Thank you for Josh and Alicia. In your grace and love, you have brought them together. As we have watched them grow from little ones to mature adults, you have answered many prayers, including the prayers for their mates.
We pray for your blessings on their marriage. May it be a picture of Christ and his Church and a shining testimony of your love. Let Josh and Alicia find their center in you as they follow Jesus together. may their love for each other flow our of your love for them, and may that love grow throughout their lives.
May they be quick to listen and slow to speak. May they be slow to anger and quick to forgive. Let grace and mercy rule and their love conquer all.
Father, we pray that you would richly bless Josh and Alicia. provide out of your abundance and let them never lack any good thing. May they be generous with what you give and may they be a blessing to others. May their children learn early to follow you and may they be a blessing to Josh and Alicia as they are a blessing to us.
Give them many happy years together. Let your kingdom come and your will be done in and through them as it is in heaven.
In Jesus name we ask these things. Amen
To Josh on the Eve of Your Wedding
Wow. It’s hard to believe it’s here. You’re getting married tomorrow. The son we welcomed into our family so many years ago is beginning a family of his own. It’s seems like only a little while ago that we were bringing you home on that cold January day. Sometimes time passes too quickly.
You know how proud we are of you, but we’re going to to say it anyway. We are extremely proud of you, Josh. You have been a blessing from the Father since the day you were born. It is a privilege to be your parents. It has been an absolute joy to watch you grow up, and to watch God work in you, from the time you said you wanted to have a whole heart toward God until today. You have matured into a young man who loves Jesus and who wants to follow him. You are a compassionate person who graciously shows the Father’s love to those around you.
There are a few things we want you to remember. First, remember your first allegiance is to Jesus. He is the One who loves you and lay down his life for you. Your second allegiance is to Alicia. She is your wife, and your call is to love her as Christ loved the Church, giving yourself for her. Next come the children that God blesses you with. Be the kind of father that allows them to easily see God as Father. If you keep those things straight, you will be the kind of man who reflects the image of your Savior.
We love you Josh, and we wish you and Alicia God’s grace and favor. We pray the Father will grant you a long and happy life together, and allow you to see him work in wondrous ways.
World Vision Wednesday
“For the past month or so, Uganda has seen attention in the media and among the American public that it hasn’t experienced in several years, thanks to the viral video phenomenon ‘Kony2010.'”
The danger to the children of Uganda is not over, however. Check this out to find out more.
Weekend Wanderings
Things are winding down at school. We have 3 1/2 weeks left until summer vacation. I think the teachers are looking forward to the break as much as, if not more than the kids. Here in the sunny South we went from sort of winter to spring, back to winter, and now have skipped ahead to summer. Our son, Josh is getting married a week from Sunday, and the rehearsal dinner is going to be outside, so we’re hoping for a bit of a cool down in the next week. There probably won’t be a Weekend Wanderings post next week, because of all the festivities, so enjoy this week’s offering:
The gospel shell game.
Wow. Just, wow.
Interesting post from Keith Giles.
Friendship and free space.
A mission for God.
Good post from Alan Knox.
The religious feudal system.
Funny stuff from Kansas Bob.
Jesus’ surprising love.
Scot McKnight on reading Scripture.
A gospel-shaped imagination.
Frank Viola on standing.
For leaders only.
Ronnie McBrayer on drawing near.
The Christian life.
Arthur Sido on church competition.
Really?
Beyond atonement theories.
First things first, part 1.
Love and sacrifice.
I hope you have a wonderful week!
Bend in the Road
I’m sorry there was no Weekend Wanderings post this weekend. Jan and I were volunteering at a music festival put on by a local camp and were very busy Friday night and all day Saturday. Sunday was a full day as well, so I ran out of time. Next time.
From time to time, I like to let all my loyal readers (or maybe that’s reader) know what’s going on in my journey. Some of you know that I have had issues with the institutional church. I grew up in fundamentalism, earned a Bible college degree, and taught for years in Christian schools. I have seen the operation of churches as a member of the congregation, a very part time youth director, a worship leader, a deacon, and an elder. I have taught Sunday School, preached in the pulpit, and performed special music.
About two and a half years ago, we walked away from the institution. I helped a friend begin a “simple” church that met in a bagel shop. At first, things were great. We were building community and beginning to learn how to disciple and love one another. By the end of the second year, that community had ceased to exist. Some of the folks went back to church, some left completely, and some of us began to meet in another bagel shop. Again, things seemed to be going well. After about four months, without warning, things fell apart. Again, some went back to church, and some just walked away.
Due to the circumstances surrounding the end of this second community, I was devastated. Jan was also hurt, and we both had a hard time for a while. We couldn’t figure out what had happened, and had no clue what God wanted us to do. After a lot of prayer, we felt the Father was telling us to rest, not to do anything but rest. There was still one individual who wanted to continue meeting with us, so we have been meeting in our dining room on Sunday mornings for the last four months. It has been good to meet with this person and do a chronological study of the life and teachings of Jesus, with the goal of being transformed by what we learn.
Four weeks ago, I felt the Father was telling us that it was time to be going. We had learned about a new church from our son, Josh and his fiancee, Alicia. The church meets on Sunday evening, so we were able to continue what we were doing in the morning. We checked it out, and decide we liked it. The group meets for a meal before the service, and celebrates Communion every Sunday. Those are two things that I have come to believe are essential in the life of a church. The music is good, and it’s not a show where the congregation does more watching than anything else. The mission of the church is to be a community that helps each other follow Jesus, and to reach out for the betterment of our city. Two more things I see as essential.
There are a couple of things that are not quite what I believe a local assembly of the church should be. Each Sunday there is a sermon, and the church is part of a denomination. I believe a participatory meeting is better for making disciples, and I also believe that a lot of denominational policies are extra-Biblical and can distract a church from its mission. I also have come to believe, however, that although I am not a fan of institutional church, the Church can be found anywhere God’s people gather, even in church.
So, we have taken a step toward what we think may be where God wants us to be. If we have found a community that is focused on Jesus, on helping each other to follow him, and on being a blessing to our city; if we have found Church within a church, then we will probably stay awhile.
World Vision Wednesday
Today is World Malaria Day. Malaria is a disease we don’t face here in this country, but it is one that is deadly in many parts of the world. Learn more about this disease and its effects from this report from World Vision.
For the Kingdom
From Media Change:
Francis Chan tells an oft repeated story about a child who is told to go clean their room. The child leaves and comes back to say, “I memorized what you said…I can say it in Greek! In fact, some of my friends are going to come over tonight and do a little study on what it would look like for me to clean my room!”
The simplicity of carrying out the Great Commission can often get overlooked, which is why this upcoming story is just plain refreshing! Please meet one of the sweetest missionary couples out there serving Jesus. It is with joy and simplicity they live out the gospel. If you have a moment, grab your cup of coffee and see what I mean. It truly is worth your time:
There’s a bigger picture happening in this video—one I pray you’ll see. The day-by-day manner in which the Martinezs live, brings light. The gospel is preached through simple words and simple actions. Yet the impact of what they’re doing is so huge. Think of it –they’ve reached an unreached people group!
Not just any unreached people group—but a group of people who have access to five more unreached groups! And they led the chief and his wife to the Lord no less!
Here’s what Alfonso said when asked how much money he lacked to complete the well, and how much money he and his wife still needed to raise for financial support:
$600 was all he needed to complete the well, which Media Change has provided.
$300 a month was the amount he and his wife still needed to raise in order to continue their work.
Not only do they live simply, there needs are simple. If you’d like to support the Martinez family, tax deductible support can be sent to:
New Song Christian Fellowship
f.b.o. Alfonso Martinez
705 Heritage Court
Franklin, TN 37067
If you’d like to send a prayer or a word of encouragement to Alfonso and Erika, please write them at jcdministries[you-know-the-
Sermon on the Mount
In our Sunday gatherings in our house, we’ve been looking at the life of Jesus. We’ve been going through the Gospels in chronological order. About 4 weeks ago, we came to Matthew 5, where Jesus teaches about the kingdom of God.
Growing up, I was taught that the teachings about the kingdom of God were essentially for the Jews of Jesus’ day, and that when they rejected Jesus that kingdom was essentially postponed until the Millennium. They were not really for the church, other than as an example for us to follow. We were taught that if we became poor in spirit because of our sin, we would then mourn over that sin, and so on. All of these things would lead to us being “right with God.” The other teachings were pretty much new laws for us to try and follow. Still, not a lot was said about the kingdom.
In recent years, as I’ve studied Jesus and his kingdom, I’ve come to different conclusions about these teachings in Matthew, and in other passages. I believe that Jesus is teaching about the kinds of people who are welcome in his kingdom, and through whom the kingdom will come. The poor, the left out, the outcasts, are the ones who are in the kingdom, as opposed to the elite, the self-sufficient, those who have it all together. These are the ones through whom the Spirit moves, and the way these folks carry out there day-to-day is completely different from the way those in the kingdoms of this world operate. Instead of pride, there is humility. Instead of “justice,” there is mercy. Instead of revenge, there is forgiveness.
We also saw that so much of the way God’s kingdom works on this earth has to do with relationships. We are told that seeking forgiveness and reconciliation is more important than worship. We are told that treating others in a loving, forgiving manner is more important than following some rules that allow us to avoid love. We are taught that a righteousness that comes from inside is better than one that is simply external.
Jesus took the “traditional” definition of God’s kingdom and turned it upside down. He said that the kingdom was here, but not in the way it was expected. The religious leaders (the righteous) missed it. It was the “sinners” who got it. It was not the best and brightest who followed the King. It was the folks who had been told they were not good enough. The early church was full of these. Somehow, we’ve taken Jesus’ teachings and basically forgotten them. We follow the preachers who are the most articulate speakers, the ones who can command an audience of thousands. We use others for our own purposes, rather than love them. We want God to give us everything we want, instead of being willing to suffer for Jesus’ sake.
If Jesus is the King, if we are part of his kingdom, our lives will be such that the world will think us strange. Our values, the way we treat others, will seem upside down. Our righteousness will go far beyond a righteousness that is determined by law. It will be a righteousness that comes from inside, from the Spirit that is in us. We will indeed be agents of a kingdom that is not from this world, and a King who has already conquered the powers. As we look for the ultimate setting right of all things, we will see, and provide, glimpses of that final, full fruition of the kingdom of God.
Weekend Wanderings
Another week has gone by quickly here in the sunny South. Softball season is over and there are just a few days left in the school year. The students are starting to catch a little bit of spring fever, as are some of the teachers. In three weeks, Jan and I will be welcoming an addition to our family. Josh is getting married! It’s hard to believe that we’re old enough to have a son who is old enough to be getting married.:) I’ve heard it said that famous people die in threes. This week, if my count is correct, there were five deaths of folks who were famous for one reason or another. I don’t know, maybe it’s another case of inflation. Anyway, here are the links of the week:
A poem by Andrea Bass.
Good essay from Penny Carothers.
Fasting and feasting.
The last interview with C.S. Lewis (HT: Scot McKnight).
Chaplain Mike wants to ban the adjective, “Biblical.”
J.R. Miller interviews George Barna and Frank Viola.
Love the sinner?
Eric Carpenter writes about recent worship services.
Frank Viola gives 20 reasons why the right and the left won’t adopt him.
In case you ever wondered what radio hosts did while a song played on air.
Good cartoon from naked pastor.
A little girl’s tattoo.
The absurdity of judgement.
Dan Allen writes an open letter to Mars Hill.
No trespassing.
Big and small working together.
Good cartoon from Jon Birch.
Alan Knox has a series on mutuality and the gospel. Part 1 is here.
God doesn’t offer explanations.
Gospels as foundation documents.
I hope you enjoy your week. Remember to get out and smell the flowers!