This just bothers me. Is this with complete patience and teaching or just shaming and guilt?
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
What the...?????
This just bothers me. Is this with complete patience and teaching or just shaming and guilt?
A full dumpster
I wish I would have taken a picture of this but I did not. This past Saturday myself and a handful of others orchestrated a garage sale in order to raise money for a new missional outreach called the Alvin Toiletry Giveaway.
I saw this full dumpster before leaving the property and it made me feel GREAT! The lid was popping up it was so full. I see full dumpsters all the time but hardly ever at our church property. See, thing is, our church property has been so seldom used for Kingdom ministry. The only night our church is used by multiple people is Wedneday night at our Bible study. Now we have all been up there for that plus preparing for this garage sale.
Just hanging out with folks cleaning and organizing seemed to fill me up because we were creating community with each other. Even though we were all focused on how we can serve others, it brought those who were serving, closer through the experience.
As I looked at that dumpster it represented all the things that had culminated for the last few weeks of preperation. Loading and unloading my truck bed full of stuff, cleaning out storage, cleaning out the office area, and dumping trash in general. Amongst all the chaos, we also found an opportunity to host a Scottish family traveling through the US as missionaries serving smaller churches or wherever God was leading them. We cleaned there place up and found more trash going in the dumpster.
As I drove away from that dumpster this all raced through my head. I thanked God for the full dumpster. I hope I have the opportunity to fill a lot more dumpsters with the motivation of serving others behind each pile and to see them overflow.
I saw this full dumpster before leaving the property and it made me feel GREAT! The lid was popping up it was so full. I see full dumpsters all the time but hardly ever at our church property. See, thing is, our church property has been so seldom used for Kingdom ministry. The only night our church is used by multiple people is Wedneday night at our Bible study. Now we have all been up there for that plus preparing for this garage sale.
Just hanging out with folks cleaning and organizing seemed to fill me up because we were creating community with each other. Even though we were all focused on how we can serve others, it brought those who were serving, closer through the experience.
As I looked at that dumpster it represented all the things that had culminated for the last few weeks of preperation. Loading and unloading my truck bed full of stuff, cleaning out storage, cleaning out the office area, and dumping trash in general. Amongst all the chaos, we also found an opportunity to host a Scottish family traveling through the US as missionaries serving smaller churches or wherever God was leading them. We cleaned there place up and found more trash going in the dumpster.
As I drove away from that dumpster this all raced through my head. I thanked God for the full dumpster. I hope I have the opportunity to fill a lot more dumpsters with the motivation of serving others behind each pile and to see them overflow.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Dinner Conversation...little moments count
Last night my wife and I took my parents out for their birthdays. We went to a great place in Rice Village and ate some AWESOME Thai food...LOVE Thai! We were discussing how people are used by God in the smallest of ways. My mom mentioned a prayer that she prayed over someone at church abotu 20 years ago and sometime after she spoke with the daughter of the woman she prayed over. The daughter said her mom's life had been changed completely. My mom simply said..."it wasn't me who changed her life." Another instance, my mom was cutting a neighbor's hair. She notice a mole on her ear and told her she never saw it there before. She got it checked...it was malignant (cancerous) and she had it removed. Skin cancer undetected is serious. This neighbor is an old school evangelist and she has sincerely touched life after life over the years since.
God used my mom in that one little moment to keep the course for what God had in store for that neighbor to do (to be His agent). Little moments...little moments are when it counts. We are so deceived by Satan when we lie to oursleves. When we lie to ourselves about how we are not making a difference. YOU ARE!!! YOU ARE!!! How has the Holy Spirit used you lately? Did you even know it? Did they? God is always at work through you if you have accepted His grace and invited Him to indwell in you. He even uses those who have not accepted His grace...I love it! Always be sensitive to those little moments and know that God is working through you and others. Maybe not everyday, maybe not so apparent to you, but He is.
May you be blessed with the understanding that everyday does not have to be a spiritual high but know that God is using you throughout each one.
Btw, we finished the night off by wathing "Evan Almighty." IT was AWESOME and sincerely on eof the funniestmovies I have seen in a long tim. Rolling out of my chair!
God used my mom in that one little moment to keep the course for what God had in store for that neighbor to do (to be His agent). Little moments...little moments are when it counts. We are so deceived by Satan when we lie to oursleves. When we lie to ourselves about how we are not making a difference. YOU ARE!!! YOU ARE!!! How has the Holy Spirit used you lately? Did you even know it? Did they? God is always at work through you if you have accepted His grace and invited Him to indwell in you. He even uses those who have not accepted His grace...I love it! Always be sensitive to those little moments and know that God is working through you and others. Maybe not everyday, maybe not so apparent to you, but He is.
May you be blessed with the understanding that everyday does not have to be a spiritual high but know that God is using you throughout each one.
Btw, we finished the night off by wathing "Evan Almighty." IT was AWESOME and sincerely on eof the funniestmovies I have seen in a long tim. Rolling out of my chair!
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Desiring community
You know, we all talk a big talk...I do that! But I truly want to keep an ongoing theme here. What is it to live IN community? Last week we had a car wash for the students going to camp and one student wanted to go to the movies afterward. I asked if one student had seen the movie and he replied, "Yeah...three times!" Then he followed up with, "but I'll go see it again." He said last year he had a buddy who saw one movie ten times at the movie theatre. Even at matinee price that's around $55 plus whatever on dogs, candy, and soda. $55 bucks! It was totally worth spending twenty plus hours in a movie theatre with friends who had not seen the movie and most of the time they are probably not even communicating with each other.
It struck me then and there how much we all desire community with each other. How much we all desire to just be around one another...even if we don't talk. To just sit and be with folks is lifting in some ways.
This kid was willing to spend all these hours in a movie theatre, not talking, spending earned money, just to hang out with friends. Imagine if we take this zeal of a fourteen year old to hang out with friends at a movie, whom all have kindred spirits.
Imagine coming together not for a movie but to paint someone's house, give a garden or living room a face lift, fix a mower, knock out a car project, knock out a big item on someone's to-do list, BBQ, just to talk, share gifts, share talents, and lift each other in or joys and our sorrows. As Christians we are called to so much more than what we do. We are called to go out, we are called to share in our pain and our healing, we are called to be IN community with each other.
I hope that I can do less talking in the months ahead and do more acting and being IN community with my fellow brothers and sisters. Looking forward to what the Holy Spirit brings my way this summer.
It struck me then and there how much we all desire community with each other. How much we all desire to just be around one another...even if we don't talk. To just sit and be with folks is lifting in some ways.
This kid was willing to spend all these hours in a movie theatre, not talking, spending earned money, just to hang out with friends. Imagine if we take this zeal of a fourteen year old to hang out with friends at a movie, whom all have kindred spirits.
Imagine coming together not for a movie but to paint someone's house, give a garden or living room a face lift, fix a mower, knock out a car project, knock out a big item on someone's to-do list, BBQ, just to talk, share gifts, share talents, and lift each other in or joys and our sorrows. As Christians we are called to so much more than what we do. We are called to go out, we are called to share in our pain and our healing, we are called to be IN community with each other.
I hope that I can do less talking in the months ahead and do more acting and being IN community with my fellow brothers and sisters. Looking forward to what the Holy Spirit brings my way this summer.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Being Intentional
A few months ago I had a conversation with a friend who had been discussing the actions a community would take to actually be living into a communal lifestyle with each other. I realize that the less we are intentional about communal living and literally sharing life together....the more we become self absorbed and self reliant.
At our small group last night, we discussed what it means to be intentional and how we could live in to that calling more intentionally. Some ladies talked about helping decorate another ladies house, men talked about house chores that could get done faster with more guys to help. It was beautiful to actually open up and have this conversation each other. I believe it is a first to what could be.
What does it look like as we continue this journey as Revolutionaries in this postmodern world? What will it truly be like to live in real community? What will it look like to live out Acts 2:44?
At our small group last night, we discussed what it means to be intentional and how we could live in to that calling more intentionally. Some ladies talked about helping decorate another ladies house, men talked about house chores that could get done faster with more guys to help. It was beautiful to actually open up and have this conversation each other. I believe it is a first to what could be.
What does it look like as we continue this journey as Revolutionaries in this postmodern world? What will it truly be like to live in real community? What will it look like to live out Acts 2:44?
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Being Active
Well, the first part in being active will be to get this blog going again. I hope to keep anyone interested with regular updates. Sorry for the long span of time there has been no posts. It would be to my amazement someone might read this now.
The latest news is another scale being lifted off of the eyes of CrossCreek's community and seeing what was before us...we officially voted to unify with Ecclesia May 2, 2007. These folks have been patient and the remnant of what remained at CrossCreek has unanimously approved the dissolving of what was known as CrossCreek to become Ecclesia and join their newest efforts of planting a new church in the Clear Lake area. I beleive we truly let the Holy Spirit guide us and that we gave the decision it's due time of consideration and prayer.
Loren Jones will be the lead pastor of Ecclesia Clear Lake and the goal is to get some weekly gatherings launched September'ish. I could not be happier about thenew endevour with LoJo and the leaders that are forming up to start this missional movement. I look forward to the Holy Spirit inspiring others with the same passion.
Let us be reminded of Paul's words in Philipians 3 to not rely on self and to let the things of this world be lost because all is lost if it is not for Christ. Galatians 5:17 where we need to understand that the Holy Spirit is constantly battling our flesh. Our flesh keeps us from doing what we really want to do. Imagine that, our own self keeps us from doing what we want to do. What are you keeping yourself from doing right now? Serving? Sacrificing? What?
Let us consider the one thing that Paul reminds us of in Philipians 3:13...to let the past go, live in the present, and look to the future.
Check out Doulos Community blogsite for postings of needs in the Bay Area and Galveston.
The latest news is another scale being lifted off of the eyes of CrossCreek's community and seeing what was before us...we officially voted to unify with Ecclesia May 2, 2007. These folks have been patient and the remnant of what remained at CrossCreek has unanimously approved the dissolving of what was known as CrossCreek to become Ecclesia and join their newest efforts of planting a new church in the Clear Lake area. I beleive we truly let the Holy Spirit guide us and that we gave the decision it's due time of consideration and prayer.
Loren Jones will be the lead pastor of Ecclesia Clear Lake and the goal is to get some weekly gatherings launched September'ish. I could not be happier about thenew endevour with LoJo and the leaders that are forming up to start this missional movement. I look forward to the Holy Spirit inspiring others with the same passion.
Let us be reminded of Paul's words in Philipians 3 to not rely on self and to let the things of this world be lost because all is lost if it is not for Christ. Galatians 5:17 where we need to understand that the Holy Spirit is constantly battling our flesh. Our flesh keeps us from doing what we really want to do. Imagine that, our own self keeps us from doing what we want to do. What are you keeping yourself from doing right now? Serving? Sacrificing? What?
Let us consider the one thing that Paul reminds us of in Philipians 3:13...to let the past go, live in the present, and look to the future.
Check out Doulos Community blogsite for postings of needs in the Bay Area and Galveston.
Friday, February 2, 2007
going Fight Club!
At the gathering of the Ecclesia Clear Lake, on January 28, 2007, Jack Wisdom from Ecclesia-Taft spoke. The following are words and phrases that might make a little more sense on where I feel God is truly leading us as individuals walking the “Christian walk” in this localized geographic area south of Houston, Texas.
He warned us right off the bat that we should watch out for people that say there are only two types of people! He then went on to say there are two types of Christians.
1. Go with flow Christians : they do what they are expected to do; they
do what their parents expect them to do; they have to look a certain way in which they groom and dress themselves; they tend to stay in Holy huddles not venturing out into the sinful world of heathens; It’s a safe bet to go with the flow and it’s comfortable
But this was the actual group that Jesus was against: The Pharisees and Sadducees of the Jewish religion.
2. Call to fight the powers Christians : In Mathew 16;13-16 Jesus asked the disciples “what are the people calling ‘the son of man’?” …… John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets….. Who do you (the disciples) say I am? Peter answers saying, you are the υἱός “hwee-os” Χριστός “khris-tos” (Greek) meaning the anointed one. You are Christ the son of the living God. You are the liberating King! Mark 1:15 Jesus states “ for the kingdom of God is at hand, repent……” To the Jews and especially Peter this was the prophesy that had been foretold in the old testament (2 Sam7:8-17;Isaiah 11:1-9;24:23; Jer. 23:4-6) they were expecting a ruler to establish himself on earth.
Another ruler had already established himself on earth and this was Satan and his Kingdom. Two kingdoms were now on a collision course; Satan’s kingdom who has hostages of sin and death and the Kingdom God with Christ as the liberating king of sin and death saying “I’ve come to set the captives free” (Luke 4:18).
Peter when asked realizes when he answers Christ’s question that the battle is now “on”. For Jesus says to him “blessed are you for this is a disclosure from God Himself.” And then for the first time we see this word mentioned, Ecclesia. Jesus speaks to Peter saying “on this rock I shall build my Ecclesia (church) on this confession that I am the son of the living God. (When you break the root ἐξ “ek” and καλέω“kaleô” It literally means - to be called out of. We as Christians are to be called out.)
This church, Christ spoke of, was no pansy church, it was called out to fight (to go fight club), to mobilize for a struggle, fight the way Jesus did; sacrificial love in that he died for us; a serving attitude to everyone and sacrificial pain bearing the wounds of lashing, thorns in his head, a sword in his side and emotional verbal lashings. He stated that the gates of Hades shall not be able to come against it (the church). We the church will storm against the gates to proclaim the goodwill of his peace. We will not try to hide in peaceful places as the “go with flow Christians” do.
We, the southern churches of Houston Taft Ecclesia, are being called to this good fight. We are to be doing: small loving things for God and foolish (in the eyes of the world) acts for God that eventually bring people into His Kingdom and free them from the kingdom of sin and death. This is Ecclesia!!!!!
A follow up to this was a true story of a Mrs. Carter in Baycliff. She is being taken home by one of the At the Waters edge men in his car. She says to him as they arrive at her house” this is the first time that a guy has not tried to get a sexual favor from me in a car!” Sometime later when another man from the church is filling up her car with gas , she asks “ How do you know when it is full?” The man responds, “It automatically stops when it is full.” She responds, “I’ve never had my tank full.” Her husband is very wary of the people trying to help them but has come to the conclusion that he does like the shampoo that he gets every six weeks. He has never shampooed his hair. Both of them are beginning to see that Christians are real and trustworthy.
The benediction before we parted said; “May this great God who called you…Keep you broken enough to mend others. Keep you hungry enough to feed others. Keep you wondering enough to find the lost. Keep you secure enough to present the truth. Keep you out enough to see the broken. Keep you real enough to be touched by the hurting. Keep you sensitive enough to feel the others pain. Keep you weak enough to reach out to the strong. Keep you strong enough to reach the weak."
For those of you that weren’t able to attend I hope this gives you an insight into the walk that Ecclesia is on and for those of you that were there a refresher of what we heard. May God Bless you all as you continue to pray on which way the lord is leading you.
He warned us right off the bat that we should watch out for people that say there are only two types of people! He then went on to say there are two types of Christians.
1. Go with flow Christians : they do what they are expected to do; they
do what their parents expect them to do; they have to look a certain way in which they groom and dress themselves; they tend to stay in Holy huddles not venturing out into the sinful world of heathens; It’s a safe bet to go with the flow and it’s comfortable
But this was the actual group that Jesus was against: The Pharisees and Sadducees of the Jewish religion.
2. Call to fight the powers Christians : In Mathew 16;13-16 Jesus asked the disciples “what are the people calling ‘the son of man’?” …… John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets….. Who do you (the disciples) say I am? Peter answers saying, you are the υἱός “hwee-os” Χριστός “khris-tos” (Greek) meaning the anointed one. You are Christ the son of the living God. You are the liberating King! Mark 1:15 Jesus states “ for the kingdom of God is at hand, repent……” To the Jews and especially Peter this was the prophesy that had been foretold in the old testament (2 Sam7:8-17;Isaiah 11:1-9;24:23; Jer. 23:4-6) they were expecting a ruler to establish himself on earth.
Another ruler had already established himself on earth and this was Satan and his Kingdom. Two kingdoms were now on a collision course; Satan’s kingdom who has hostages of sin and death and the Kingdom God with Christ as the liberating king of sin and death saying “I’ve come to set the captives free” (Luke 4:18).
Peter when asked realizes when he answers Christ’s question that the battle is now “on”. For Jesus says to him “blessed are you for this is a disclosure from God Himself.” And then for the first time we see this word mentioned, Ecclesia. Jesus speaks to Peter saying “on this rock I shall build my Ecclesia (church) on this confession that I am the son of the living God. (When you break the root ἐξ “ek” and καλέω“kaleô” It literally means - to be called out of. We as Christians are to be called out.)
This church, Christ spoke of, was no pansy church, it was called out to fight (to go fight club), to mobilize for a struggle, fight the way Jesus did; sacrificial love in that he died for us; a serving attitude to everyone and sacrificial pain bearing the wounds of lashing, thorns in his head, a sword in his side and emotional verbal lashings. He stated that the gates of Hades shall not be able to come against it (the church). We the church will storm against the gates to proclaim the goodwill of his peace. We will not try to hide in peaceful places as the “go with flow Christians” do.
We, the southern churches of Houston Taft Ecclesia, are being called to this good fight. We are to be doing: small loving things for God and foolish (in the eyes of the world) acts for God that eventually bring people into His Kingdom and free them from the kingdom of sin and death. This is Ecclesia!!!!!
A follow up to this was a true story of a Mrs. Carter in Baycliff. She is being taken home by one of the At the Waters edge men in his car. She says to him as they arrive at her house” this is the first time that a guy has not tried to get a sexual favor from me in a car!” Sometime later when another man from the church is filling up her car with gas , she asks “ How do you know when it is full?” The man responds, “It automatically stops when it is full.” She responds, “I’ve never had my tank full.” Her husband is very wary of the people trying to help them but has come to the conclusion that he does like the shampoo that he gets every six weeks. He has never shampooed his hair. Both of them are beginning to see that Christians are real and trustworthy.
The benediction before we parted said; “May this great God who called you…Keep you broken enough to mend others. Keep you hungry enough to feed others. Keep you wondering enough to find the lost. Keep you secure enough to present the truth. Keep you out enough to see the broken. Keep you real enough to be touched by the hurting. Keep you sensitive enough to feel the others pain. Keep you weak enough to reach out to the strong. Keep you strong enough to reach the weak."
For those of you that weren’t able to attend I hope this gives you an insight into the walk that Ecclesia is on and for those of you that were there a refresher of what we heard. May God Bless you all as you continue to pray on which way the lord is leading you.
Monday, January 8, 2007
...living water
Last night I attended Ecclesia with my wife, kids and some friends. Chris Seay was speaking about Living Water International last night. Of the handful of churches committed to donating to Living Water, over $250,000 was raised. In some places it only takes $6,000 to drill a well. As the year progresses there will be opportunities to partake in mission trips to these villages. I look forward to the chance of doing something like this real soon.
Chris asked us to imagine the child who walks miles and miles to get water for their families and then to imagine the wonder and awe that a child must feel as they see water come up from the ground in their village or town. What a miracle! $250,000 is a miracle! What a geat thing to sacrifice for!
I look forward to the new year and the many opportunities that are out there just awaiting for us to see them, to reach out to them, to uncover them, to speak for them, to care for them, to support them, to clothe them, to feed them, to invite them, and to love on them. At CrossCreek we are kicking off new home groups this Wednesday.
I hope and pray they become missional communities that are empowered and encouraged to be salt and light to the poor and marginalized of this southern part of Houston. They are in our own neighborhoods and communities. I pray we ask God to illuminate the needs we are to find and that we obey Him when we are told to act on it. As Leeland sings in his song Tears of the Saints, "children stretch out your hands and pick up your crippled man...May we see this generation and it's state of desperation for Your glory...this is an emergency. There are tears from the saints for the lost and unsaved."
This song gets me every time I listen to it. May it be a reminder of what our commandment (Matt 22:37-39) and commission (Matt 28:16) is from Jesus.
-JW
Chris asked us to imagine the child who walks miles and miles to get water for their families and then to imagine the wonder and awe that a child must feel as they see water come up from the ground in their village or town. What a miracle! $250,000 is a miracle! What a geat thing to sacrifice for!
I look forward to the new year and the many opportunities that are out there just awaiting for us to see them, to reach out to them, to uncover them, to speak for them, to care for them, to support them, to clothe them, to feed them, to invite them, and to love on them. At CrossCreek we are kicking off new home groups this Wednesday.
I hope and pray they become missional communities that are empowered and encouraged to be salt and light to the poor and marginalized of this southern part of Houston. They are in our own neighborhoods and communities. I pray we ask God to illuminate the needs we are to find and that we obey Him when we are told to act on it. As Leeland sings in his song Tears of the Saints, "children stretch out your hands and pick up your crippled man...May we see this generation and it's state of desperation for Your glory...this is an emergency. There are tears from the saints for the lost and unsaved."
This song gets me every time I listen to it. May it be a reminder of what our commandment (Matt 22:37-39) and commission (Matt 28:16) is from Jesus.
-JW
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