When God Works in Unique Ways

About a week ago I had the privilege and unique opportunity to travel to Nicaragua as a part of a service team for a newly established village. While in the village our team of 16 served alongside the members of the community harvesting and planting crops, building friendship, offering support and sharing life.

I use the word “unique” because of several factors. First, the trip was planned by my Rotary Club in Sammamish, not by my church. Some months ago Charlotte, the chairperson of the international committee of our club discovered a Seattle based non-profit ministry called Agros. She was impressed with their model of offering help to the poor in ways that empower them to bring about change in their lives (more about that later) and she led our club to partner with Agros in a multiyear commitment of several thousand dollars. As far as we can tell this partnership between Rotary and Agros is a first.

Regarding the uniqueness of partnership, for this trip Sammamish Rotary was teamed up with church members from three churches in Spokane. Though Rotary holds many values and goals that are common in churches, Rotary is also careful to not embrace Christianity over any other religion but mutually respect all. In my estimation the partnerships with Agros and the churches was terrific.

Second, God was a work in a unique way by sending me on the team. Yes, I’ve been on international mission teams before but my participation has been around my skills and abilities. I’ve done teaching and leadership training for church leaders and various outreach efforts. But those that know me laughed or smiled broadly when they learned that I was going to go do work on a farm. I’m about as unhandy as a guy can be when it comes to working with my hands but there I was milking a cow, picking peppers and watermelons and cutting plantains.

Third, my experience was unique because of the way the events of the week unfolded for me. Most of the team from Spokane did not know that I was a minister and none in the village did. Though our team had devotions and prayer together and we experienced chapel services with the people in the village, I never led a meeting, led a prayer, or led a devotional time. I didn’t facilitate any of the debriefing sessions in the evenings. These are the kinds of things that I do all the time but in the first part of the week my role was simply servant and friend. It was refreshing for me and I enjoyed watching others do a great job leading. I love being led well by others.

But midway through the week the Spokane friends had hoped that our team might be able to have a communion service with our friends in the village. The leadership council kindly said that this would not be possible without an ordained minister to oversee such a service. At that point someone mentioned that I was an ordained minister. After I sat down with the leadership council and we discussed various issues of difference between the Catholics and Protestants in the village we were able to have the Lord’s Supper together in our Thursday afternoon chapel service. It was one of the most special communion services that I’ve officiated.

Now that I was “outed” as a minister various villagers asked me to pray blessings on their homes and families and crops. In my last hours there I was privileged to serve with the gifts and abilities that God has given me.

During my time in Nicaragua God spoke into my heart and addressed several lessons for my life that I’ll share in the next couple of posts.

I’ve been following Christ for over 35 years. I still marvel at the new and unique things that He does in and around my life.

Finishing Well: A Reminder from Joe Paterno

Sunday Joe Paterno, the all-time winningest college football coach died after a battle with cancer at the age of 85. He coached the Penn State Nitanny Lions for 61 years (46 as head coach) winning 409 games, playing in 37 bowl games and winning two national championships.

Paterno will most likely be remembered as a man of determination and dedication to the sport, the University, his family and friends. Paterno will also be remembered for failing to do more in the protection of children that were allegedly abused by one of the members of his coaching staff. For all of his accomplishments and respect in the world of football, Paterno will also be remembered for being fired by the University for the child sexual abuse scandal.

It is hard to live life well and finish life well.

My family and friends began a journey January 1 of reading through the entire Bible in 2012. In these first few weeks several have commented to me, “I didn’t realize that the people in the Bible who did great things for God also committed such awful sins.”

It’s true. I tend to look at Moses and David as heroes in the faith. God used them in powerful and eternal ways. But they also committed terrible sins and finished life poorly.

For over a couple of decades now I’ve intentionally concerned myself with the challenge of how to live lovingly, adventurously, generously, holy and also finish well so that when I breathe my last I’ve not been an embarrassment to God, my family or my church. I’m not talking about sinless perfection but rather a consistent godliness that honors the Lord and encourages others.

I regularly meet with some men with the same heart. We’ve made a commitment to each other to be accountable. We confess our sins to each other. We pray for each other. We call each other whenever we think the needle on our heart-gauge is getting in the red zone of danger. We regularly exhort one another, “Let’s finish well.”

As a fan of college football I’ve admired Paterno for years and with respect to the game I probably will never forget him. I’ll also not forget the final few months of his life.

What Is Your Experience In Church?

Do you attend church? If so why? If not, why not?

Recently the Barna organization surveyed Americans who have attended church sometime in the past and discovered what they say about their experiences.

1. Connecting with God was most important. Around 66% said they have had a personal connection with God when attending a church. That would mean that roughly a third would say that they haven’t connected with God when attending a church. What’s more, those who said they have connected with God when in a congregational setting describe the encounter as rare.

What about you. How frequently do you connect with God when attending a church? What helps or hinders?

2. Experiencing Transformation or that life had been “greatly affected” by attending church was said by 26%. Another 25% said attending church had been “somewhat influential”. The other half said that their lives had not been changed at all by attending church.

This is an interesting factor. One of my passions is life transformation. I pray and serve people with the hope of seeing transformation. However I would probably say that I’ve experienced little if any transformation by attending church. I can be inspired, informed, encouraged, and equipped but the life change really comes when I put into practice the things I feel stirred about. Obedience to God changes my life.

3. Gaining New Insights was a disappointing factor in the survey. Asked to describe what insight they gained the last time they attended church 61% could not remember anything of significance related to faith.

This of course is one of the frustrating and perplexing realities to those who speak in church every week. I’ll typically spend a dozen hours preparing for a 25 minute talk which is similar to a lot of other pastors. Yet we know that many of the people listening attentively in the moment will not remember 95% of what they hear because they are not writing any notes or deciding on any action steps to take in light of what they have heard.

The rest of the story is that many of us don’t grow in our ability to communicate. Means of communication are exploding all around us yet the Sunday message can often be a talking head that seems to drone “blah, blah, blah, blah.”

4. Feeling Cared For measured whether church attenders felt significantly connected to other people at church. Around 68% said they feel like they are a part of the group. Another 23% opined that being at church feels “like a group of people sharing the same space in a public event but who were not connected in a real way.”

If a church has over 100 people and regularly has new guests showing up it’s difficult for everyone to connect with everyone. This is one of the reasons that I’m a strong proponent of small groups. When I have meaningful connections in my small group of a dozen people I then have a capacity to reach out to and connect with several people on Sunday. I don’t feel as great a need regarding who, if anyone is attempting to connect with me.

5. Helping the Poor was the final factor measured by the survey. The question was whether you believed your church prioritizes caring for the poor outside of the congregation. Adults who attended a church said their church cared a lot (44%) or somewhat (33%).

What’s your opinion about the way your church cares for the poor? What part do you play in caring for the poor?

The survey addressed additional influences on the above factors like church size, age of participants, and denominational affiliation that you can read about here.

I’ve served the church for 35 years. I’m very acquainted with how churches fall short of God’s calling and I’ve been blessed to experience the church at her best. Many find healing and hope through the church while others find it boring and irrelevant. Some have even been abused by the church.

Nevertheless, the church is a primary expression and experience of God in our world. I’m committed to see the church as a people and place that glorify God and edify people. I’m convinced that sacrificing my life on behalf of God’s work in and through the church is worth it.

What about you?

A Dead Duck and a Lesson in Forgiveness

We’ve launched into a New Year. Are you ready?

Like many others you may be taking up new commitments and resolutions, things that you’re going to add to your life. Of course we can only carry “so much” in life’s journey and the question becomes, “What are you going to let go of in order to take up the new things?”

Life is a series of trades. I trade in late night television so that I can rise early to pray or exercise. I trade in junk food for healthy food. I trade in careless spending for thoughtful stewardship.

How about trading in a little guilt and experiencing forgiveness?

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he couldn't hit any target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. On impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved!

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all--but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally replied, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and said, "Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help, didn't you Johnny?" She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny helped Grandma.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he couldn't stand it any longer. He finally went to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. I was wondering how long you would let Sally make you her slave. I love you. I forgive you."

You know that God has seen and known all that you have done. Do you also know that He loves you and is ready to forgive you? Today would be a great day to pray, confess your sins to God, experience His love and forgiveness and trade in your guilt for a fresh start, not just on the year but in your journey with God.

Steve Jobs: Living As If You're Dying

October 5, 2011 Steve Jobs breathed his last in this world. Succumbing to pancreatic cancer the technological pioneer finally saw his last day that he had anticipated since being diagnosed in 2004.

Jobs was first told a very grim prognosis; six months to live. Later it was discovered that his form of cancer was responsive to treatment and thus Jobs lived a few more years.

At age 56 Jobs’ death strikes close to home since I’m only a year behind him and prompts me to once again reflect on my own mortality. Jobs gave a memorable commencement speech at Stanford in 2005 which is one of my favorite Ted Talks. In light of his diagnosis Jobs challenged the graduates to live before they die. Among his helpful comments he said…

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

Without a fatal diagnosis is it possible to live as if you are dying? The fact of the matter is that we are all dying but most of us have the presumption that it will be far into the future.

If I lived as if I was dying I think I would give more generously, love more freely, forgive more quickly, make amends thoroughly, enjoy friendship daily, frequently kiss, hug, cry, laugh and know and worship God as deeply as possible.

What about you? What would be different if you lived as if you were dying?

Gambling on Life, Death and Faith

Recently I read an update on film critic Roger Ebert that prompted the following reflections.

Most of you know who Roger Ebert is. For years he has been one of the more popular film critics and was the long time co-host of “At The Movies” with Gene Siskel and later Richard Roeper.

In 2002 Ebert was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He has endured years of treatment and surgery, including the removal of his jaw in 2006.

In his memoir, “Life Itself”, Ebert speaks of his impending death—

I know it is coming, and I do not fear it, because I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear.

Many readers have informed me that it is a tragic and dreary business to go into death without faith. I don't feel that way. "Faith" is neutral. All depends on what is believed in. I have no desire to live forever.

What I expect to happen is that my body will fail, my mind will cease to function and that will be that.

Mr. Ebert has made a bet. He is betting that there is no Creator God who has given life to each person with an expectation on how that life will be lived and for which there will be accountability and possible judgment.

If Mr. Ebert is correct then it truly doesn’t matter that he hasn’t lived with a view of having a relationship with God or attempting to please God. If he is wrong then death will be a very undesirable experience.

This has led many to philosophically and theologically conclude: “If I bet that there is a God and live that way, then die and find out I was wrong, it is no big loss. However, if I bet there is not a God and live that way, then die and find out I was wrong, it is the all-time biggest loss.”

Of course most of that thinking is around the notion of spending forever either in heaven or hell. I’m sympathetic to the rationale and the concern for people to go to heaven when they die.

Of greater concern to me is this: If God is real (all powerful, all knowing, etc.), and if God has invited us to know Him (forgiveness of sin, justification, redemption and reconciliation), then not knowing God and experiencing His gracious gift of life would be the all-time greatest loss.

So here’s my challenge for Mr. Ebert and everyone else who shares his thinking: Don’t make a blind bet. Investigate, explore, and search regarding whether the claims about God and life with God are true. Don’t settle for a few superficial caricatures of faith based living that are weird, cheesy, flaky or a turn off (and there are many).

Investigate Jesus and Christianity as thoughtfully and carefully as you examine movies. If you do so, I bet that you reach a different conclusion.

Reflections on the Cross

Ryan Holladay is pastor of Lower Manhattan Community Church which meets two blocks from the World Trade Center site. His article in Christianity Today, “Why The 9/11 Cross Should Offend All of Us” is worth a few moments of your reflection.

A cross is on display at the memorial site and this is literally making some atheists sick. The atheists claim that the presence of the cross has caused them to suffer “dyspepsia, symptoms of depression, headaches, anxiety and mental pain and anguish”. Though many are not finding the atheists’ claims to be credible Holladay wonders if the atheists are taking the cross more seriously than do most believers.

Holladay reminds us that the cross “tells the world’s strangest story in an image.” The Apostle Paul said that the cross is to some a scandal and to others a joke (1 Cor. 1:23). Simultaneously and paradoxically the cross declares that mankind is sinful and condemned AND that God is merciful and full of grace.

When the Apostle Peter preached this dual message of condemnation and salvation in the cross the Bible says that “when the people heard this, they were cut to the heart.” Kind of sounds like the first century audience was at the same time sickened and hopeful.

Holladay opines, “The atheist litigants have called the 9/11 cross an ‘ugly piece of wreckage,’ arguing that it speaks of ‘horror and death.’ On the basis of the New Testament, these statements are difficult to contradict.”

How should one respond to the cross? Peter advised, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” The Book of Acts reports that thousands of people believed Peter’s message, responded with repentance and faith and their lives were changed forever and their lives changed our world.

In conclusion Holladay ponders, “Suppose God Himself has suffered and died at the hands of evil men. Suppose God Himself has shown the capacity for taking what was intended for harm and using it for good. Might this affect the way we ourselves face evil and suffering?”