Exiles at the Altar

The Confrontation/Conversation

2010-02-19T20:10:00.003-06:00

Over the Christmas break, my family went "home" to Ohio to be with the Asp clan. I was saddened to learn, as we talked with family there, that early posts on this blog made some feel like they were being called out as inadequate, inferior, incompetent and un-spiritual. Our intent has never been to tear others down, but to share what we feel like God is doing in our lives. In the process, we proclaim loudly what we feel to be clear in God's word. At times that assertion sounds like a challenge or an accusation.

It is not surprising to learn that many other people are wrestling with the question of "how church is done" all over the country and the world. Heather recently went to a conference in Austin, called "Verge", that discussed matters related to the "organic church movement." Attendees included house-churchers and mega-churchers, as did the speakers (Neil Cole and Francis Chan, respectively).

I guess what I want to say here is that we are certainly fighting the wrong fight.

This point was made vividly clear this evening as I read a critique of Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola and George Barna. Basically, what I see is Mark Driscoll jumping on Frank Viola's case about what he said in the book (via some research assistants). But before anything else, let me say this: I love Mark Driscoll. I've been listening to his podcast for years. And I believe that the primary position put forth in his critique is spot-on: the only real enemies are Satan, Sin and Death. We must not fight the "orgainic is right and institutional is bad" battle. Let us discuss why we have issues with one another, and let it make us more godly as a result, but let's not spend hours and hours, millions and millions, and vats and vats of ink blasting one another.

I will not die on any hill for Frank Viola. I do not follow Viola. I do not keep in lock-step conformity with everything he says. Nor do I follow Driscoll. I do not revere his words and persona. I love Jesus. I follow him. AND SO DO VIOLA AND DRISCOLL. They both want the same thing: Love God with everything and Love your neighbor, & Go and make disciples (Mt. 22 and Mt. 28). I think they are both godly guys. They both want to see God glorified.

I think Pagan Christianity is largely correct. The critique by Driscoll begins with a defense of church buildings. In my estimation, that is missing the point. I can tell you from my experience teaching art history that it is entirely correct that the "church building" as we know it did not pre-date Constantine. Early "churches" were, in fact, based on the Roman basilica (law court) and were, in fact, celestially oriented (on a lateral, east/west axis). But arguing the point is missing the point, too (so I'm sorry). Viola's point in raising the issue is simply to ask, "Are we doing things in the best, most godly way?"

I think the critique by Driscoll is also correct. Their estimation of the biblically defined role of pastor and elder is true, and lies at the heart of one of my great struggles in how to conduct the meeting and discipline of an organic church. My favorite part is that Driscoll's team is fair and balanced and that they affirm Viola in many ways. They point strongly, and correctly, to the need for God's glorification and focus in defeating the enemy of Satan (not church practice).

In my mind, it all comes down to Atlas Shrugged. I'm sure that some who might lean towards Driscoll's side of the issue would criticize use of a pagan source to prove a point (and the irony is not lost on me, I assure you), but I believe it is a succinct way to state my case. The basic idea, at least in Ayn Rand's mind, is that the world is operating on a system, the system is broken, and it takes certain individuals risking the loss of that system to make a change. There are things in the institutional church with which I simply cannot agree. As a former vocational minister, I have a hard time with pastoral salaries (although Scripture affirms it: Gal. 6:6; this, then is my personal conviction, as with Paul in 1 Corinthians). As a member of a church which undertook a building campaign and overextended itself, I see the errors of huge buildings (and huge budgets, and huge programs, etc.). In addition, I feel like I've had a front row seat to the issues involved in sermons, denomination and boards, and a failure to employ the priesthood of all believers. I realize I will sound arrogant, but in my mind this puts me on par with Francisco in Atlas Shrugged. I quit the system, because my continued involvement would have amounted to tacit approval of its working. I gave up (not entirely due to holy motivations, mind you) so as not to perpetuate the problems myself. I now speak to those still working feverishly in the system, just like Dagny, who are no less than the heroes of the book. There is still much that is right with the institutional church, and many remaining in it labor for Christ and his glory. If I sound like I'm trying to convince you to quit the system yourself, it is only because I feel that revisions to the system would take more effort than it is worth. If you are Dagny, you are still doing right, valiantly; I am also trying to do right (however meager it may be) as Francisco. My only hope is that someday all the superfluities of "church" will be stripped away to make The Bride focused on the worship of God and the Great coMISSION left to us.

Underestimated

2010-01-29T05:52:00.003-06:00

I'm feeling a bit ashamed. It is a foolish thing to underestimate God.

Even as I'm feeling this, I'm reminded of my college days, when we were taught so much about the founder of our school, D.L. Moody. In one story, Moody held a multiple-day Gospel meeting. He spoke eloquently on the evening of the first day, and as time was running out, he decided to forgo his normal practice of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, calling people to repent and giving them an opportunity to pray to receive God's grace. "I still have tomorrow," he thought, "I'll do it then."

That was the night of the Great Fire in Chicago. Thousands lost their homes, and the auditorium in which the meetings were being held burned to the ground. What is worse, many lost their lives. Moody was haunted by the knowledge that he knew the Truth, he had the opportunity to share it with others, and that he missed an opportunity to ensure that those who might perish would know Jesus before they left this earth. He vowed never again to wait to share the beauty of Jesus with another soul, because, after all, who but God can control how many tomorrows we have?

I met last night with the small band of young men that we affectionately refer to as "Church at Chili's." Nathan is a godly young man whom I am mentoring. Jerrod (for whom you can be praying) gave his life to Christ earlier this year, but more and more he seems to be trying to take it back from Him (while he hung out with us last week, it was because we got together to play guitar; yet each time we meet to read the Bible and pray, he has several excuses for why he can't come. Unfortunately, he had such an excuse last night). Niko joined us, and brought his girlfriend and 18-day-old daughter. The entire night was consumed by Niko catching us up on life: his time in jail within the last week, remembrances of friends killed and hauled off to juvenile hall, and his troubled family. Sure we got to know him quite a bit better, and his girlfriend as well, but we only opened the Bible for a brief moment to discuss what we would be reading for next week's discussion.

At the close of the evening, as we were waiting for Niko to get the car, I asked Amanda (somewhat jokingly), "Well, was it everything you hoped it would be, joining us for dinner?" Her response crushed me. She said it was nice and all, but not what she expected. She wanted to see what it was like when we read Scripture and talked about it. She said, "I was curious to see what a 'normal' night looked like." She didn't want idle chit-chat. She was ready to be with God.

In my own foolish wisdom, I considered it more important to know the two "new-comers" and to make them feel welcome and comfortable. I lost sight of the fact that they had come, of their own volition, to a place where they thought they would experience the love, the wisdom and the presence of God. They were willing to brave the rain, to bring their newborn child, and to boldly enter an existing group without anxiety all for the sake of seeing the face of Jesus.

No one comes to the Father unless they are drawn. And I do not want to miss an opportunity ever again.

Lovingkindness

2010-01-27T00:55:00.004-06:00

Brenda, a thirty six year woman with blond hair and beautiful blue eyes, comes down the motel stairs greeting me with a tentative hug and appearing as if she’s been through hell. She’s gaunt, pale, and has dark, sunken skin surrounding her icy blue eyes. Brenda is a dancer and has been strung out everyday for the past two months (as far as she can remember). We are heading to get some dinner on the eve of her entrance into a rehab program for drugs and alcohol. My partner, Carole, has been helping Brenda for the past couple of days to get set up with the help she needs, and tonight I had the privilege to keep her company on her last night before entering treatment.

We get in the car and head to the nearby Chili’s and immediately she begins to unravel her journey over the past several years and about the realities of what goes on in many strip clubs (a lot more then stripping). Brenda is starving, because, over the last few days she hasn’t been able to keep much down with quitting multiple substances cold turkey. Brenda is a determined woman and she knows that she won’t be alive much longer if she doesn’t turn things around. She is so nervous and anxious about the future, and yet she knows she is ready to get healthy. We talk, but I mostly get the privilege to just listen as she shares some horrible, deeply wounding memories and experiences.

We leave and go back to her motel room and look over her list of things she needs to bring with her to rehab in the morning. I quickly make a list of the things she is still missing and as we get to the bottom of her list, she reads aloud, “books. Well, I don’t want to read while I’m there. But…I DO wish I had a bible.” Before I left the house tonight I had this “knowing” that I needed to bring an extra Bible, so I grabbed one off of my bookshelf and took it with me along with my own. I wrote in the cover, To: Brenda From: Those who Love YOU! On the Occasion of: The first day of your NEW life! Date: 1-26-10. This day is all about the Grace of God in Brenda’s life. The protection and provision that God has on her life through the connections of those around her; the opportunity to experience the deep and endless, reckless love of Jesus Christ! Psalm 107 has been my meditation for the past several days and it so beautiful in the context of seeing God’s LOVINGKINDNESS poured out to Brenda- HIS daughter through the blood poured out for her by His Son.

Ps. 107: v.10 “…There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in misery and in chains, because they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the Counsel of the Most High. Therefore, He humbled their heart with labor. They stumbled and there was none to help. They cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their bands apart. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has shattered gates of bronze, and cut bars of iron asunder. Fools, because of their rebellious way, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted, their soul abhorred all kinds of food; and they drew near the gates of death. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men!

Armed with my list and my credit card (thank you God for credit!) I ran to Wal-Mart. I found all my items and hurried to the check out. While checking out, I ran into an old friend. As we were catching up, I was able to tell him about our ministry to girls in the sex industry, and even what was transpiring that very instant! The cashier, Andrea, overheard us and began to tell us of her troubled son, Roger, who has been in and out of rehabs and even jail. We were able to listen and encourage and let her know we would continue praying for her son. I also got to share about what we are up to with our “Simple Church” and share about our desire to be disciples who make disciples and how we strive to meet together in a way that naturally draws us to one another and to God. I was able to invite Him and his children to join us whenever they like! He proceeded to tell me about the complexities of a job loss and the stress of some things within his home. We prayed right there in the parking lot and encouraged one another as we went our separate ways. It took a few extra minutes to stop, share, and bring our supplications to Lord, but this is what being God’s people is all about!

Tonight was a testimony to the lovingkindness of the God who showed us the ultimate lovingkindness through Jesus Christ. God has shown me tonight that He is alive and active and we had better be watchful and ask for spiritual eyes to see what God sees, because He is at work planting, cultivating, and restoring those He calls His children.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

Rahab's Place

2010-01-21T22:18:00.002-06:00

I have an exciting update and wanted to share with you what is transpiring with our ministry (Born 2 Party/Love Has Come) to the women working in the sex industry. For those of you who aren’t familiar with what we do, here in Tarrant County, there are over 30 strip clubs, and even more escort agencies and prostitutes on the streets. There are sex trafficking victims and runaways who are being bought and sold in OUR cities...the need is overwhelming and the workers are few. We desire to share the embracing love of Christ with those whom our culture ignores. Each month we do something special in the club and brothels (massage parlors), such as bringing "goodie" bags for the girls, to “washing their feet” (foot massage and pedicures) just as Jesus washed those of His disciples, with a focus on opening the door to build relationships with the dancers, club managers, and other employees.
In the last couple of weeks, we have had 3-4 calls from girls wanting out- desiring a new life. The trouble is that so many can’t afford to feed to their kids, pay rent, and pay for other costs of living on a $7-$8 an hour job. They feel trapped in a vicious cycle and can’t make the change without help. For several months, we have been praying for a home, or any creative type of housing that we could use as transitional housing to help these women in a holistic way.
We are now in the process of partnering with a group called Sober By Grace Inc., a non-profit faith based Recovery Home where broken people can find life change through caring people and a structured recovery environment ( http://www.soberbygrace.org/index.html ). They have currently been running this home for men coming out of drug and alcohol addiction and are now opening Rahab's Place. This home is a joint venture between Saved By Grace (a division of Sober By Grace Inc.), the Dallas/Fort Worth Exodus Cry Chapters, and Born 2 Party. Rahab's Place is the combined effort to combat human trafficking and help those who want out of the sex industry.
With that said, this house is just about ready to take in girls and we need your help. We need:
- materials for a wooden privacy fence for the women’s protection,
- dressers,
- lamps,
- deep freezer,
- bedding,
- pillows,
- blankets,
- toiletries,
- personal woman items,
- anything else you can think of that would be of use.

If you would like to donate to Rahab’s House for women, they are a 501c. Please write, Rahab’s House on check memo line and you can send your donation to:

Sober by Grace
2451 Bomar St.
Ft. Worth, TX 76103

God is bringing so many people together on behalf of these women and He is calling these women back to Himself! Thank you to all of you for your prayers and support!

Pray With Us

2010-01-17T19:37:00.006-06:00

The holidays were great...but man, did they throw us off kilter. We enjoyed a trip to Ohio and seeing all the Asps. We took a break from school and the daily grind. And while that is nice, it has become difficult to fall back into routine.

As we have spent the past couple of weeks thinking and setting goals for this month- and even year- we want to share briefly where we are at now,and the things we hope you will pray with us and for us in the coming weeks.

I have returned to campus, tired and spread thin with coaching basketball and impending art competitions with my students. With so much on my plate, it is easy to get distracted and forget about what is truly important: loving others and sharing the love of Christ with them. I have the chance to do just that with three young men with whom I've been meeting this year. Unfortunately, we haven't really met since mid-December, and so I look forward to getting back to spending time with them again this week.

Heather is returning to school this semester, and hoping to find a job teaching in Fort Worth next year. She is also working with Born to Party, a sister ministry of Love Has Come (Heather's ministry to those harmed by sex trafficking and the sex industry), to build relationships with women, share God's love, and offer assistance to the women as they sense their need. To that end, several women have contacted Born to Party asking for help to leave the sex industry.

As a family we are spending time with neighbors and building relationships with them. Beginning last September, we started hosting a monthly game night at our house for the neighborhood as a way to get to know our neightbors better, and we will continue that gathering again in February.

Although this update lacks great detail, it gives you some insight into the ways we are seeking to follow God in the work he is doing. As the Spirit leads you, please considering praying with us for the following.

"No man comes to the Father unless he is drawn." (John 6:44)
- We need the Holy Spirit to pull people to himself.

"Pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers into the harvest." (Luke 10:2)
- As we work in the Harvest Field, we ask for God to not only grant us a Harvest, but to pull workers from the Harvest to share his Gospel.

Pray for desire. "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." John1:4
- It is simple, but we ask God to instill in the hearts of the people we love a desire to meet with us. Getting back "on schedule" can be tough, but certainly God is able to work within hearts.

Pray for hearts eager to change.
- As we grow in relationship with others, we are unable to change anyone. So we pray that God would move in the hearts of those we love and that they would desire wholeness, joy, peace, and restoration. We want those who feel the work of the Spirit to be excited to know God.

Pray for remembrance. (Colossians 1:13-29)
- First, we must remember the effect of the love of God on our own lives. In addition, we ask that we remain mindful that we are stewards of the Word of God for the benefit of those who have yet to hear of the glorious mystery of Christ in us, the hope of glory.

Pray for connections and resources. (Acts 2:45)
- As women seek to leave the sex industry, Heather and her friend Carole have to have places for them to live, classes and counseling to help them transition, job opportunities to take the place of their current employment, and so on. It is difficult to do this as a small movement of people, so we ask God to connect us with larger organizations and churches who are equally passionate about this ministry and may have resources to help in the effort.

Pray for partners (Luke 10:1-2)
- It is easy to feel lonely, isolated and misunderstood when trying to do something that is perceived as "different." We ask God to give us another couple with whom we can worship and pray, live and serve.

Pray for our neighbors.- We ask God to give us opportunities, apart from monthly large group gatherings, to talk and pray with the people around us.

Pray for our time and finances. (Acts 2:42-47)
- We don't want "busy" to equal "distracted." We ask God to help us prioritize, and balance work, family and study. And of course we've had car problems, appliance break-downs and stressful financial commitments. Ask God to keep us content, but also to help meet our needs.

Thank you for praying along with us. To God be the Glory!

Smallness

2010-01-11T21:35:00.002-06:00

"How far that little candle throws his beams, So shines a good deed in a weary world."

Darkness cannot overcome light. If the smallest bit of light be present, even if only a single candle, all the darkness of deepest space could not overpower it. It will shine out, throwing it's beams, perhaps meekly, but as far as it is able.

Toss a pebble in the sea. There will be no great splash; no tidal wave. Small ripples will naturally flow out, only to be absorbed in the greater flow of the sea's swell. But the ripples were made. Miles down the coast they could become a wave. Who knows?

The gospel changes lives. I sometimes get discouraged and think it is powerless to do so. But I've been reading Colossians and Paul's reminder to the Colossians that their lives have been changed, and others are being changed as well, has stuck in my head.

Still I run around on tiny errands. I think what I'm doing is so important, but then I remember that "the population of the entire universe, save for one trifling exception, consists of others." So I meagerly try to love, to invest...and I become frustrated. The change doesn't happen fast enough. People are annoying. Whatever I say or do seems lost and inconsequential.

But Jesus didn't ask for flood lamps: just candles on hills.
And pebbles are larger than mustards seeds.

Dear Lord, make of my weak, sickly love more than it is. Make it powerful in your presence. May your wreckless love show through. And may the little I have be enough in your hands to change the world...one tiny life at a time.

Waiting

2009-12-13T08:12:00.002-06:00

What are you waiting for?

I have to say, when I saw the question, and posed it to myself, I realized that I rarely wait for anything. Children wait for the arrival of Christmas morning, even if only to open presents. But there is a sense of excruciating longing; a terrible and joyful suspense. What do I wait for during Christmas?

Advent is a season of longing. A reminder of Him for whom we wait. I read again last night of Simeon, he who "was waiting for the consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25). It's difficult to say how many times I've read this passage. But one simple fact has either eluded me or gone without it due notice: Simeon had spoken with God. "It had been revealed to him that he would not die before he saw the promised Messiah" (v. 26). As a result of this, he was waiting.

We fuss and fume when we have to wait in line. We rage and roar when we are made to wait behind the slow car as we try to race to our destination. I think we view waiting as a chore, a pain, a nuisance.

But I remember a time, during the Christmas season, when I was filled with a longing expectation as I waited. And it was past my childhood days of waiting for presents to be opened. I remember waiting during Christmas, 1999. Everytime I hear the Carpenters sing, "Merry Christmas, darling. We're apart, it's true..." I recall being apart from my fiance during that season. Our wedding was only days away, but instead of being together, we went our separate ways to make preparations for our new life to begin.

"Don't you understand, I already have a plan: I'm waiting for my real life to begin" (Coling Hay). Do we wait and long for heaven? Do we wait to be reunited with Jesus? When I was apart from Heather that Christmas, I thought about her daily and worked each day to take care of the list we created: get a job, find a place to live, etc. Am I this way with Jesus? Am I earnestly working to serve him, store up treasures in heaven, take care of the things he's asked me to--all in preparation for my new life to begin? As with Simeon, have we heard from God and believed the Good News of his first coming, and so wait for his anticipated return? I read recently of a woman who said, when asked if she liked the play she was attending, "I don't want to be here. If Jesus were to come back, I don't want him to find me a in a theater. I want to be praying to him, or caring for others." Do we wait for Jesus with that devotion? And while we long for Jesus, and long for heaven, are we like Simeon in his responsiveness to God? "Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts..." (Luke 2: 27). Are we listening for the voice of God to come again and guide us as we live? Are we listening--and obeying--what God has already said? Christmas is often a blessed time because people remember what they forget for the remainder of the year: "If you have two cloaks, give to the person with none. If you have food, do likewise;" "Do not merely say, 'I wish you well! Stay warm and well fed!' and do nothing." I know I was convicted this morning--to live without waiting is to be "like a man who gazes into the mirror of his own reflection, then walks away and immediately forgets what he looks like."

So what are you waiting for? Are you waiting for the church to be more compassionate and others-centered? Are you waiting for the church to leave its corporate model, stop spending unnecessary money and running endless programs? Are you waiting for change? Stop waiting. Be the change you wish to see. I choose instead to wait upon the Lord Jesus, eagerly anticipating his return and working to be about his business when he returns. Maranatha.

Goals of the Gathering

2009-12-07T14:11:00.005-06:00

Through various conversations and reading, we have been able to dream about what we want our gathering to look like and the things we want to strive for in our community. Frank Viola, in his book, Reimagining Church, puts it beautifully.

We desire to be a people of:

- interdependence instead of independence
- wholeness instead of fragmentation
- participation instead of spectatorship
- connectedness instead of isolation
- solidarity instead of individualism
- spontaneity instead of institutionalization
- relationship instead of programs
- servitude instead of dominance
- enrichment instead of insecurity
- freedom instead of bondage
- community instead of corporation
- bonding instead of detachment

We pray, moving forward, that these things characterize our family and those we gather with more and more. Our hope is that we start to look so radically different from our world and from the current church culture that we help to strip away those things that hinder the souls around us who question Christianity, or have been wounded by the church, in order that more may know the wondrous love of Jesus.

I feel I must take this moment to make a quick disclaimer as we move forward in pursuing gatherings this way. We have so many friends and family that are a part of "institutional" church families and are doing effective ministry, led by the Spirit. They seek the Lord daily for direction and love those around them who don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are in no way saying that everyone must abandon the places where they are plugged in and in community to do it "our" way. Just as our friends are led by God to be where they are, so we are being led by God to form a place where not only those who would never step foot through a 'traditional' church door will feel safe to ask questions, seek answers, and simply come to know God without all the other additives that sometimes come along with 'church,' but also for those like us who find that there are things we want to address about the current way the church relates to those both inside and outside its walls.
We are in no way exalting an "us vs. them" mentality, but a missional mindset that works hand in hand with all believers from every background, because it is for His glory that any of us are here to begin with. I hope this helps alleviate any feelings that we may be "dogging" the church as we try to convey our heart and vision in future posts :-) Love you all and thank you for your prayers!

Beautiful Of Soul

2009-12-02T15:33:00.002-06:00

I was going through some old journal posts and found I had written this back in 2007. It is something that, once again, is front and center in my life and it was a great reminder about the importance of prayer. I post it here again in light of our present journey to BE the church in our neighborhood and community, knowing that no fruit will come to bear without the foundation of prayer.

"I am seeking God's wisdom and help in regards to prayer. What am I to do? How does it look? If I am truly seeking God, how does the contemplative tradition play a role in my life. I am finding a new life in prayer as I have read some things which have inspired and challenged me to dive into His presence even more. Richard Foster's book "Streams of Living Water" talks beautifully about a life filled with Spirit-led prayer. Not only is there a beautiful side to prayer as you meditate on His words and intercede for others but there is a NEED for prayer that I have experienced in my life which I cannot live without. Beth Moore writes in her study, "Breaking Free" about an obstacle to peace....prayerlessness. I personally experienced this last year and I can assure you that avoiding or neglecting prayer can only lead to a life of anxiety and no peace. Moore defines peace as, "the fruit of a righteous, obedient life.... the KEY to peace is authority." Without a lifestyle of prayer, I take back that control; I am unwilling to live under that authority. Moore goes on to say that "...Satan would rather we do anything then pray... he knows we will eventually grow resentful without prayer.... we will never have the deep understanding and power to live what we have learned without prayer. Prayerless lives are powerless lives." I've personally lived through both of these in recent months and a life of prayer has meant so much as I have seen the intimacy that forms and the power of talking with my Lord transform me from the depths of my heart. I still have a LONG way to go!
One man that is inspiring is Frank Laubach, mentioned in Foster's book. He experiments with prayer and finds that praying for others is such an important part of his prayer life. That has always been toughest for me as I run down my list of people and find it overwhelming to pray for each in a sincere, personal way. I usually give up, or try to come up with a system to hit a certain group on a certain day, but nothing ever seems to last. I think, like so many other areas of life, it comes down to a change of heart and the attitude going into it. Laubach says in his book, "Letters of a Modern Mystic," that he felt God speaking to him and saying,"My child, when you pray to me of your own little troubles and doubts, your prayer is pretty thin and small. When you reach out to help other people by offering yourself as a channel for me, your prayer becomes at once large and noble." How awesome :-) Prayer is beautiful in so many ways-more then I can fathom. Foster also says, "The 2 most common words to define the contemplative way (prayer) are FIRE and LOVE. Purging, purifying fire. Enveloping, comforting love." How can one who disciplines himself in this way be anything less than, "beautiful of soul"?"

Pray with Us

2009-12-02T13:13:00.004-06:00

As we continue on our mission to live intentionally and radically for the Lord Jesus Christ, we have been committed during the month of November and on, to specifically pray for workers for the harvest (Luke 10). We know that NOTHING is accomplished without being laid at our Father’s feet in prayer, and moving when He tells us its time. We know how crucial it is that we have those close to us asking God on our behalf to give us eyes to see those we need to pursue, and that our family would be protected from the enemy. We desire to be in the center of His will with our eyes fixed on Him and our hearts tender to see the plentiful harvest all around us.

We are so excited to be putting together a somewhat formal team of family and friends that will commit to being our prayer warriors as we are on this new adventure of living missionally and organically. We have been able to share a little bit of what God has done over the last several months with most of you who are reading this, but if you haven't heard, or want a more in depth summary, read the post below entitled "Why Exiles?"

Jay and I will be sending out monthly updates via email and this blog about the things laid on our hearts that we are praying for, and how you can be praying along with us. If you would like to be added to our email list, send an email to hm3579@gmail.com

Pray first, pray last, and in between pray hard. - Neil Cole

A Prayer by Brennan Manning

2009-12-02T12:57:00.000-06:00

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
we pray that our faith experience of you keep pace
with our credal statements about you.
Grace us with the courage to pray.
Anoint us with the spirit of compassion that we
may be with you in the passion of our times;
that we may be poor with those who are poor,
mourn with those who mourn,
enter into the struggle of our generation for social
justice, treat others as we would like to be treated.
We pray for the courage to risk everything on you,
to be with you in your faithfulness to your mission.
For this I have come into the world, to say,
"Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will."

Why Exiles?

2009-12-02T11:51:00.000-06:00

In his book, The Present Future, Reggie Mcneal says, “A growing number of people are leaving the institutional church for a new reason. They are not leaving because they have lost their faith. They are leaving to preserve their faith.” For several years Jay and I have found ourselves feeling as though we were falling into the cracks of a contemporary, corporate modeled, church culture that yearns for the days of old when all society embraced the values shared by the Christian community. It was like we all tried to put our heads in the sand in hopes that if we kept buried long enough, we would come back up and find a nation that was respectable, moral, and “Christian.” We found ourselves increasingly unable to fit into the mold of such a culture. We desire to be faithful followers of the radical Jesus striving to live expansive, confident Christian lives in this world without having to abandon ourselves to the values of contemporary society.

The biblical metaphor that best fits those of us who feel this way in our current age and faith situation is that of the EXILE, says Old Testament scholar, Walter Brueggemann. The passing of Christendom could be compared with the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon. The Jews were taken to a foreign land and allowed to serve their God, but could not return to their homeland. Many grew so accustomed to life in Babylon that they refused to return to Jerusalem when the opportunity arose. Likewise, the church is has grown so accustomed to the ways of its captive empire, and it is so focused on merely holding the small plot of ground she currently holds, that it is too preoccupied to reimagine a radical future in Christ. Those of us in the cracks are exiles, yearning to live freely and dangerously in a system that has gotten so used to it’s captive culture that it has been content, and even defensive, of that very culture, leaving us feeling at home neither in a society of greed and materialism, nor in the church.

As exiles, we are pursuing a life of Organic Christianity. Margaret Feingberg puts it beautifully when she says, “The word ORGANIC…, describes a lifestyle that is simple, healthful, and close to nature. Those are all things I desire in my relationship with God. I hunger for the simplicity. I want to approach God in child like faith, wonder, and awe. I long for more then spiritual life, but spiritual health- whereby my soul is not just renewed and restored, but becomes a source of refreshment for others. And I want to be close to nature, not just shorelines and mountain ridges as much as God’s nature working in and through me. Such a God infused lifestyle requires me to step away from any insta-grow shortcuts and dig deep into the soil of spiritual formation found only in God.”

The church is an organic extension- the earthly image- of the triune God. (Eph. 1:22-23). What would it be like if churches emerged organically, like small spiritual families born out of the soil of lostness, because the seed of God’s kingdom was planted there? These churches could reproduce just as all living and organic things do. Hal Miller gives this great metaphor:

Institutional churches are a lot like trains. They are going in a certain direction, and they will continue in that direction for a good long time even if all hands try to make them stop. As with trains, the options for turning the direction of institutional churches are limited at best. If a switch or siding is available, the train could turn. Otherwise it just follows its tracks. So everyone that’s aboard had best hope that he is on the right train headed in the right direction. Organic churches, like those in the New Testament, are different. They are not trains, but groups of people out for a walk. These groups move much more slowly than trains- only several miles per hour at the fastest. But they can turn at a moment’s notice. More importantly, they can be attentive to their world, to their Lord, and to each other. Like trains, institutional churches are easy to find. The smoke and noise are unmistakable. Organic churches are a bit more subtle. Because they do not announce their presence with flashing lights at every intersection, some believe that churches like those in the New Testament died out long ago. But nothing could be further from the truth. Organic churches are everywhere.

Jay and I long to bring Christ to people where they live. We desire to be in places directly where life happens and society is formed. We long to be a church that is centered more in life and the workplace. The heart of our message is that God didn’t make us come to him in Heaven. He came to us (John 1:14). We are exiles, longing for more and desiring to connect with others- to love others by helping them love God. This blog is a place that we hope to give you a peek into our journey as we begin stripping away the excess in order to live organically in community as the extension of the triune God.