When Jessie got the email from her friend that a missionary pastor in India had been badly beaten, we both had some uncomfortable questions, questions we have asked a time or two before.
How zealous are we to share faith? We don't suffer persecution, so what keeps us from telling people about Jesus?
Are our hearts broken for those who don't have faith in Jesus? Do we do anything about it?
How do we support Christians in places where they are persecuted?
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Thursday, June 30, 2011
Missionary Pastor Titus
Here is an email from Jessie's friend in India, Omana Gaikwad. This is an update on a native missionary, Titus, badly beaten for his faith.
Hi Jessica,
Details of Pastor Titus:
I request you to kindly uphold our missionary Pastor Titus in your prayers. He was beaten badly yesterday for his faith and now is in the hospital. Yesterday, after he was beaten, he was not able to walk for nearly 4-5 hours. One of the nerves near the neck has been badly affected due to the beating because of which he is not able to speak properly and is also having complications around the abdomen.
In the month of February this year, there was persecution in his mission field itself in Andhra Pradesh in South India when new believers were beaten badly and were forced out of the village. The anti-Christian elements had plans to kill Titus during that time itself. However, the LORD, in answer to faithful prayers has been protecting Titus and his family as well as the believers.
I request you to kindly uphold Titus in your prayers. His two children Abhishek and Mahima are studying at our Project Anupama - the Missionary kids home. Please pray for Titus and his family and stand by them in this time of crisis.
In His grace,
Omana
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Hi Jessica,
Details of Pastor Titus:
I request you to kindly uphold our missionary Pastor Titus in your prayers. He was beaten badly yesterday for his faith and now is in the hospital. Yesterday, after he was beaten, he was not able to walk for nearly 4-5 hours. One of the nerves near the neck has been badly affected due to the beating because of which he is not able to speak properly and is also having complications around the abdomen.
In the month of February this year, there was persecution in his mission field itself in Andhra Pradesh in South India when new believers were beaten badly and were forced out of the village. The anti-Christian elements had plans to kill Titus during that time itself. However, the LORD, in answer to faithful prayers has been protecting Titus and his family as well as the believers.
I request you to kindly uphold Titus in your prayers. His two children Abhishek and Mahima are studying at our Project Anupama - the Missionary kids home. Please pray for Titus and his family and stand by them in this time of crisis.
In His grace,
Omana
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Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Random Notes
This is a long way to get to a point that might not mean anything to too many people...
In my freshman year of college, I learned that a writer I liked, Walker Percy, lived not far from Hattiesburg, in Covington, LA. My college dean encouraged me to go visit him. "He'll take you out for crawfish and beer." Sounded like a good idea at the time, but I was a little wary; can you actually just write or call someone famous to see if you can hang out? By the time I quit hemming and hawing, he had died. So I resolved that I would just see if I could go visit some interesting person, and not wait around. It's how I got to know Wendell Berry.
My first "victim" was Andrew Lytle, my favorite of The Agrarians (check out their essays in I'll Take My Stand: The South and the Agrarian Tradition). It so happened that he was the only one of the Agrarians left alive. I found out he lived in Monteagle, TN. He was in terrible health, but agreed to have me in his home. So I drove up there and we had a dinner of country ham and greens, with whiskey and spring water to drink. We talked a good bit about his work, literature in general, and he turned me on to his favorite novel, Kristin Lavransdottir, which he rates higher than works by Dostoevsky and Tolstoy.
He got tired, and asked if I could help him into bed. It was a sweet moment, this grand old man of letters being helped into his tall bed by a student.
I went home and got the book. He died the next Christmas, so I was very glad to have talked to him. The long and the short of it is Morehead reminds me of Monteagle, TN.
_______________
Hey, John Crissman and Tom Baker, is your church's Habitat Project a passive home? No? Hmmm....
_______________
Preaching this Sunday on John 12:24, looking forward to having communion with the folks of Morehead! I am meditating on how Jesus talking about the seed that dies to become fruitful points us to 1 Cor 15's beautiful discussion of the resurrection body (verse 35-the end of the chapter), but also has a resonance with Jesus' humanity: the bread and wine, or rather the grain and grapes show us the Incarnation. It's not an obvious connection, and you'll have to come on Sunday to find out!
In my freshman year of college, I learned that a writer I liked, Walker Percy, lived not far from Hattiesburg, in Covington, LA. My college dean encouraged me to go visit him. "He'll take you out for crawfish and beer." Sounded like a good idea at the time, but I was a little wary; can you actually just write or call someone famous to see if you can hang out? By the time I quit hemming and hawing, he had died. So I resolved that I would just see if I could go visit some interesting person, and not wait around. It's how I got to know Wendell Berry.
My first "victim" was Andrew Lytle, my favorite of The Agrarians (check out their essays in I'll Take My Stand: The South and the Agrarian Tradition). It so happened that he was the only one of the Agrarians left alive. I found out he lived in Monteagle, TN. He was in terrible health, but agreed to have me in his home. So I drove up there and we had a dinner of country ham and greens, with whiskey and spring water to drink. We talked a good bit about his work, literature in general, and he turned me on to his favorite novel, Kristin Lavransdottir, which he rates higher than works by Dostoevsky and Tolstoy.
He got tired, and asked if I could help him into bed. It was a sweet moment, this grand old man of letters being helped into his tall bed by a student.
I went home and got the book. He died the next Christmas, so I was very glad to have talked to him. The long and the short of it is Morehead reminds me of Monteagle, TN.
_______________
Hey, John Crissman and Tom Baker, is your church's Habitat Project a passive home? No? Hmmm....
_______________
Preaching this Sunday on John 12:24, looking forward to having communion with the folks of Morehead! I am meditating on how Jesus talking about the seed that dies to become fruitful points us to 1 Cor 15's beautiful discussion of the resurrection body (verse 35-the end of the chapter), but also has a resonance with Jesus' humanity: the bread and wine, or rather the grain and grapes show us the Incarnation. It's not an obvious connection, and you'll have to come on Sunday to find out!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
First Sunday
I had great freedom in preaching this morning. In a first sermon, you have to tell them something about yourself but I also wanted to make sure I gave them the pure Gospel.
I told a bit if my story, the chinks in my atheist armor that developed after contact with some interesting Christian characters.
I tried to force home that Romans 12:2 depends on Romans 1-11, that 12:2 becomes less command and more inescapable work of Christ in the believer.
Some folks came to the altar seeking deeper work of God in their lives. It was a great joy to pray with them!
I was a little worried because the music and singing was so good. But I put the strap down and let the Lord have His say.
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I told a bit if my story, the chinks in my atheist armor that developed after contact with some interesting Christian characters.
I tried to force home that Romans 12:2 depends on Romans 1-11, that 12:2 becomes less command and more inescapable work of Christ in the believer.
Some folks came to the altar seeking deeper work of God in their lives. It was a great joy to pray with them!
I was a little worried because the music and singing was so good. But I put the strap down and let the Lord have His say.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, June 24, 2011
We Move Tomorrow
John and Joe are hanging w Onias, Hezekiah and Zedekiah. It's those last desperate hours w friends. They both acknowledge and deny they are moving.
I know that liminal zone well: the desire to stay up as late as you can, but not admit it's goodbye.
We are blessed to be close enough to come back a few times, to ease out of here, to soften the blow-- there will be quick new friends at church. But tonight it's all summer things and the great mysteries of childhood, inscrutable adults, and bishops who send preachers.
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I know that liminal zone well: the desire to stay up as late as you can, but not admit it's goodbye.
We are blessed to be close enough to come back a few times, to ease out of here, to soften the blow-- there will be quick new friends at church. But tonight it's all summer things and the great mysteries of childhood, inscrutable adults, and bishops who send preachers.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
This Is Going to be Great
First full day in Morehead. Unpacking my office stuff, hanging out w kids and volunteers at VBS.
First person I saw today was Paula and her children, from Veracruz. I was able to introduce myself and tell her I was the new pastor. We talked about hopefully having Hispanic ministry. I asked if she had a church. She said she'd like to come here! Of course, Sonata, our missionary in Oaxaca had already built a relationship w her.
That is the nature of this church: so much going on, so many pioneering steps and I get to walk in and water plants and harvest where I did not sow. An amazing church! Bruce Nettleton, the previous pastor, did an amazing job. Easy to step in and follow.
The parsonage is beautiful, and the folks are going out of their way to take care of us.
Can't wait to see everyone Sunday!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
First person I saw today was Paula and her children, from Veracruz. I was able to introduce myself and tell her I was the new pastor. We talked about hopefully having Hispanic ministry. I asked if she had a church. She said she'd like to come here! Of course, Sonata, our missionary in Oaxaca had already built a relationship w her.
That is the nature of this church: so much going on, so many pioneering steps and I get to walk in and water plants and harvest where I did not sow. An amazing church! Bruce Nettleton, the previous pastor, did an amazing job. Easy to step in and follow.
The parsonage is beautiful, and the folks are going out of their way to take care of us.
Can't wait to see everyone Sunday!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Stuff you find when you're moving
I found an important reminder of my spiritual journey and call. I usually keep a small spiral notebook handy, to jot stuff down in. This one had a sheet with a date, 16.5.96.
It referenced Olav Parnemets' visit to First Methodist on Lexington. Olav was the Estonian Methodist District Superintendent. He told a little bit of his story about Soviet times. I noted: "I need to quit whining. If Olav could follow Christ when the stakes were high I need to get my life straightened out."
What was going on is that I was running from a call to ministry. About a month from that entry, I was in Estonia, and every objection I had fell away. In those days, Melissa and I were friends, no inkling there would be anything more. She told some fellow students that I was going to quit the Ph.D. program. "How do you know?" they asked. She said that she could tell by looking at me, something happened there.
It referenced Olav Parnemets' visit to First Methodist on Lexington. Olav was the Estonian Methodist District Superintendent. He told a little bit of his story about Soviet times. I noted: "I need to quit whining. If Olav could follow Christ when the stakes were high I need to get my life straightened out."
What was going on is that I was running from a call to ministry. About a month from that entry, I was in Estonia, and every objection I had fell away. In those days, Melissa and I were friends, no inkling there would be anything more. She told some fellow students that I was going to quit the Ph.D. program. "How do you know?" they asked. She said that she could tell by looking at me, something happened there.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Today
Wow, what a great time to preach the folks at The Rock!
So much to say and think about.
Michael Hughes did the music, and all the songs came from the Olney Hymns, a collection written by William Cowper and John Newton. We did two you might know-- There is A Fountain Filled with Blood and Amazing Grace. But Michael has put two others to music, "The Good Samaritan" and "The Lord Will Provide."
And then, Robbie Dever came to church! Too much to say! He has been wanting to come for a long time! I pray that he will be able to keep coming!
And next week, Morehead. I will miss the Rock, but I can't wait to get there!
So much to say and think about.
Michael Hughes did the music, and all the songs came from the Olney Hymns, a collection written by William Cowper and John Newton. We did two you might know-- There is A Fountain Filled with Blood and Amazing Grace. But Michael has put two others to music, "The Good Samaritan" and "The Lord Will Provide."
And then, Robbie Dever came to church! Too much to say! He has been wanting to come for a long time! I pray that he will be able to keep coming!
And next week, Morehead. I will miss the Rock, but I can't wait to get there!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Ready To Roll
Drew McNeill said he and Mike McAllister were wondering about my profile, specifically my being a fan of RUSH, Primus and Van Halen. I like Van Halen because they rock. I like Primus because, well, they're like... RUSH.
I liked RUSH from the first time I heard them. That would have been spring of 84. Kevin Ellsberry let me borrow a tape of the Signals and 2112 albums. And Kevin Hope made a me a tape of Grace Under Pressure. I was blown away by the massive amount of sound three guys could make, and really intrigued by the songwriting.
There's a test for great poetry: do you like it? Does it touch you inside? That's it. Sure, we can talk about meter and things like concatenation, but at the end of the day, do you like it?
The second song on the Signals album, "The Analog Kid" got me. It hit me right where I was. It hits me still, right where I am, partly because it brings back a lot of memories, and partly because I find myself right now living in the song.
I take it as a song about growing up within the confines of moving away from home. You have to understand, leaving Germany was the hardest move I ever made. I have moved all the time. It's my second job, I think. You can't imagine a better place than that little village, Kuebelberg, in the hills of the Rhineland. I knew something really good happened to me there, something that would not be repeated.
I left Germany and spent the summer at my grandparents' place in small-town California, probably a good move to detox me for heading to San Antonio, TX.
The opening lines grabbed me, and to this day can take me back. I listened to that song constantly that summer:
"A hot and windy August afternoon
has the trees in constant motion
with a flash of silver leaves
as they're rocking in the breeze"
What else is Paso Robles, CA in August but hot and windy?
"The fawn-eyed girl with sun-browned legs
dances on the edge of his dreams
and her voice rings in his ears
Like the music of the spheres"
If that wasn't Martina Stuppi, who else? It's like this song knew everything I was thinking.
"The boy lies in the grass unmoving, staring at the sky
His mother starts to call him as a hawk goes soaring by
The boy throws down his baseball cap and covers up his eyes"
I still have the LA Dodgers cap I got that summer at Chavez Ravine. They played the Expos. It wasn't any time ago, but it was forever ago. Life felt like it wasn't going to be normal again. I had moved enough to know that you can never go back home, and that all my friends were going to be strangers.
"Too many hands on my time, too many feelings
Too many things on my mind.
When I leave I don't know what I'm hoping to find
And when I leave I don't know what I'm leaving behind"
And what's left to say? How do you say goodbye to all the people? You can't. And you wouldn't know what to say, if you could.
It's ok, though, because the Analog Kid is the father of the Digital Man; but that, as they say, is another story.
If you want to rock, here it is: The Analog Kid
I liked RUSH from the first time I heard them. That would have been spring of 84. Kevin Ellsberry let me borrow a tape of the Signals and 2112 albums. And Kevin Hope made a me a tape of Grace Under Pressure. I was blown away by the massive amount of sound three guys could make, and really intrigued by the songwriting.
There's a test for great poetry: do you like it? Does it touch you inside? That's it. Sure, we can talk about meter and things like concatenation, but at the end of the day, do you like it?
The second song on the Signals album, "The Analog Kid" got me. It hit me right where I was. It hits me still, right where I am, partly because it brings back a lot of memories, and partly because I find myself right now living in the song.
I take it as a song about growing up within the confines of moving away from home. You have to understand, leaving Germany was the hardest move I ever made. I have moved all the time. It's my second job, I think. You can't imagine a better place than that little village, Kuebelberg, in the hills of the Rhineland. I knew something really good happened to me there, something that would not be repeated.
I left Germany and spent the summer at my grandparents' place in small-town California, probably a good move to detox me for heading to San Antonio, TX.
The opening lines grabbed me, and to this day can take me back. I listened to that song constantly that summer:
"A hot and windy August afternoon
has the trees in constant motion
with a flash of silver leaves
as they're rocking in the breeze"
What else is Paso Robles, CA in August but hot and windy?
"The fawn-eyed girl with sun-browned legs
dances on the edge of his dreams
and her voice rings in his ears
Like the music of the spheres"
If that wasn't Martina Stuppi, who else? It's like this song knew everything I was thinking.
"The boy lies in the grass unmoving, staring at the sky
His mother starts to call him as a hawk goes soaring by
The boy throws down his baseball cap and covers up his eyes"
I still have the LA Dodgers cap I got that summer at Chavez Ravine. They played the Expos. It wasn't any time ago, but it was forever ago. Life felt like it wasn't going to be normal again. I had moved enough to know that you can never go back home, and that all my friends were going to be strangers.
"Too many hands on my time, too many feelings
Too many things on my mind.
When I leave I don't know what I'm hoping to find
And when I leave I don't know what I'm leaving behind"
And what's left to say? How do you say goodbye to all the people? You can't. And you wouldn't know what to say, if you could.
It's ok, though, because the Analog Kid is the father of the Digital Man; but that, as they say, is another story.
If you want to rock, here it is: The Analog Kid
Friday, June 17, 2011
Prayer Meeting
So tonight was my last prayer meeting at TheRock. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and prayer.
John and Joe both felt comfortable to pray. Joseph spoke plainly, from the heart. I have long emphasized to the church that prayer is not something you have to be a pro at. I remember when joe was 2, he said that he did not know how to pray, because he was a baby. Now he feels comfortable to just speak to the Lord.
John's prayer was a Psalm, declaring how good he thinks God is. It was kind of amazing as he ended it by saying, "in the matchless name of Jesus." it's great that he is listening to lots of different people pray!
A simple woman prayed for the church and it hit me that she just likes the church, thinks it's a good place, a good idea, that people need the Lord. It makes me wonder: could the problems in the church come somewhat from the fact that we are thinking it too hard? Analyzing too much? Talking about it in ways that not everyone can underestand?
One of the poorest members of our community prayed and was clearing how much she could not wait to get to heaven to have the words to truly praise God, and how when she did have the words, "Lord, you're gonna hear it over and over and over..." reminds me that those of us who are well off often mistake what the poor want, and what they need. We want to make them like us-- educated, thrifty, good credit score, better possessions. We show who our god is in our attitudes towards the poor. They need and want salvation in Jesus' name.
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John and Joe both felt comfortable to pray. Joseph spoke plainly, from the heart. I have long emphasized to the church that prayer is not something you have to be a pro at. I remember when joe was 2, he said that he did not know how to pray, because he was a baby. Now he feels comfortable to just speak to the Lord.
John's prayer was a Psalm, declaring how good he thinks God is. It was kind of amazing as he ended it by saying, "in the matchless name of Jesus." it's great that he is listening to lots of different people pray!
A simple woman prayed for the church and it hit me that she just likes the church, thinks it's a good place, a good idea, that people need the Lord. It makes me wonder: could the problems in the church come somewhat from the fact that we are thinking it too hard? Analyzing too much? Talking about it in ways that not everyone can underestand?
One of the poorest members of our community prayed and was clearing how much she could not wait to get to heaven to have the words to truly praise God, and how when she did have the words, "Lord, you're gonna hear it over and over and over..." reminds me that those of us who are well off often mistake what the poor want, and what they need. We want to make them like us-- educated, thrifty, good credit score, better possessions. We show who our god is in our attitudes towards the poor. They need and want salvation in Jesus' name.
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Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Sweet Moments With Nadia
Nay Nay turned 1 on Jun 8. It is hard to believe. When I was holding Tiffany and DG Hollums' five month old baby, I almost could not remember when Nadochka was that small and wobbly!
Something about your own baby-- nothing is cuter or sweeter. She has cute teeth for crying out loud! It strikes me from time to time that there is no one else you've known for less than 6 months that you can't imagine life without; that you'd let be such an invasion into your time and life... but a baby...
Tonight, we were outside walking around. Sometimes she was on my shoulders, sometimes not. As we turned around to come home, she was walking. She was holding my index finger with her hand. And she kept trying to reach over and hold my finger with her other hand, too. After a bit, I figured out that she wanted to have me hold both her hands. So I walked a little behind her, and she had a hand wrapped around both of my index fingers. Sometimes, holding one hand is not enough!
Something about your own baby-- nothing is cuter or sweeter. She has cute teeth for crying out loud! It strikes me from time to time that there is no one else you've known for less than 6 months that you can't imagine life without; that you'd let be such an invasion into your time and life... but a baby...
Tonight, we were outside walking around. Sometimes she was on my shoulders, sometimes not. As we turned around to come home, she was walking. She was holding my index finger with her hand. And she kept trying to reach over and hold my finger with her other hand, too. After a bit, I figured out that she wanted to have me hold both her hands. So I walked a little behind her, and she had a hand wrapped around both of my index fingers. Sometimes, holding one hand is not enough!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Project
As I continue thinking about evangelism, my conversion, the Gideon's Bible, I see that I wrote down a lot of Scripture references in the front of the Gideon's Bible. I vaguely remember doing that. I wonder what they will amount to if I were to lay them out and see what I was thinking?
John's Question and What Joe Prayed For
John asked me on Saturday, "Why don't people believe in evangelism anymore?"
I said, "well, that's a hard one. I have some guesses, but it's complicated..."
He said, "But didn't Jesus just ask His disciples to follow him by the sea? Wasn't that evangelism? And didn't He tell them they would go get other people to follow Him? Isn't that evangelism?"
Now that you put it that way, John, yes, most of what we are doing is either a waste of time or not true to the Mission.
_______________
My Pentecost sermon was on how the Holy Spirit's main gift is love, and that if being a peacemaker in its deepest sense is to help people find peace with God, and we are going to receive power to be witnesses, then at the end of the day, the most neighborly think we can do, the most Holy-Spirit-love-of-God-and-love-of-neighbor thing we could do is witness to others that God loves us so much He sent Jesus to save us from the wrath to come.
At the altar call, Joe came up and said he wanted to pray that more and more people would come to know Jesus.
I said, "well, that's a hard one. I have some guesses, but it's complicated..."
He said, "But didn't Jesus just ask His disciples to follow him by the sea? Wasn't that evangelism? And didn't He tell them they would go get other people to follow Him? Isn't that evangelism?"
Now that you put it that way, John, yes, most of what we are doing is either a waste of time or not true to the Mission.
_______________
My Pentecost sermon was on how the Holy Spirit's main gift is love, and that if being a peacemaker in its deepest sense is to help people find peace with God, and we are going to receive power to be witnesses, then at the end of the day, the most neighborly think we can do, the most Holy-Spirit-love-of-God-and-love-of-neighbor thing we could do is witness to others that God loves us so much He sent Jesus to save us from the wrath to come.
At the altar call, Joe came up and said he wanted to pray that more and more people would come to know Jesus.
Monday, June 13, 2011
The Last Monday Night
The past two days have been intense. We had a great time at a reception Sunday afternoon. It was total Rock: white, African, Hispanic, young and old. You can't imagine how blessed I am to be able to have been the pastor here! It's hard to know what to say to people in those moments. We are here one more week, but so many loose ends and packing up means you don't really get to see anyone. And how do you say goodbye after all this time? How do you hope it is not really good bye, that you will stay in touch and see each other whenever you come to Lexington.
I had great freedom in preaching. But it was Pentecost, so what can you expect? And just because there is a day called Pentecost, don't quit talking about the work of the Holy Spirit when that day is passed! The amazing thing about the eternality of God: Jesus is always born, suffering, crucified, dead, buried, resurrected, ascended, coming to reign! And the Holy Spirit is continually coming down and pouring out!
Tonight at church was a very bittersweet moment. Maybe mostly bitter? The last Monday Night Service I will be a part of. What Monday Night became was something of a dream. The chance to serve the poor in Lexington is pretty good! Even better to bring the message of Jesus' love and salvation. And then to think that in just about every way that we could, we did turn over the ministry to them, the cooking, the worship music, volunteering in the clothing and food bank, it just freaks me out that what seems like "preacher talk" can become reality. We went from doing ministry TO and FOR them to doing ministry WITH, and finally FROM, so that the group became an "us."
Something I am chewing on right now is how hard it is to do ministry among the poor. It's not so much that there are challenges of context and culture. It's not even that the desperate lives you minister with are heartbreaking. Finally, there is a lot of apathy from the not-poor, and worse than that, a church easily gets bogged down in a series of issues that rarely have anything to do with actual ministry. You end up having a full time job and then you do evangelism and mercy ministries on the side.
It's amazing, in 5 years of working around various Monday Night incarnations, there have been a lot of people come and go in our lives. I think I counted it up at something like 450 people. We'd have a huge church if the population were stable! But then, we would not have the ministry we have...
I preached on the 23rd Psalm, "thou anointest my head with oil..." and we had a time of anointing with oil and healing prayer.
I am going to miss all these folks at The Rock! For better and worse, they know me, and I know them! To God be the Glory!
I had great freedom in preaching. But it was Pentecost, so what can you expect? And just because there is a day called Pentecost, don't quit talking about the work of the Holy Spirit when that day is passed! The amazing thing about the eternality of God: Jesus is always born, suffering, crucified, dead, buried, resurrected, ascended, coming to reign! And the Holy Spirit is continually coming down and pouring out!
Tonight at church was a very bittersweet moment. Maybe mostly bitter? The last Monday Night Service I will be a part of. What Monday Night became was something of a dream. The chance to serve the poor in Lexington is pretty good! Even better to bring the message of Jesus' love and salvation. And then to think that in just about every way that we could, we did turn over the ministry to them, the cooking, the worship music, volunteering in the clothing and food bank, it just freaks me out that what seems like "preacher talk" can become reality. We went from doing ministry TO and FOR them to doing ministry WITH, and finally FROM, so that the group became an "us."
Something I am chewing on right now is how hard it is to do ministry among the poor. It's not so much that there are challenges of context and culture. It's not even that the desperate lives you minister with are heartbreaking. Finally, there is a lot of apathy from the not-poor, and worse than that, a church easily gets bogged down in a series of issues that rarely have anything to do with actual ministry. You end up having a full time job and then you do evangelism and mercy ministries on the side.
It's amazing, in 5 years of working around various Monday Night incarnations, there have been a lot of people come and go in our lives. I think I counted it up at something like 450 people. We'd have a huge church if the population were stable! But then, we would not have the ministry we have...
I preached on the 23rd Psalm, "thou anointest my head with oil..." and we had a time of anointing with oil and healing prayer.
I am going to miss all these folks at The Rock! For better and worse, they know me, and I know them! To God be the Glory!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Award
I am very happy to announce that the Rock's Hispanic Pastor, Andres Doineadios, won an award from the Jim Griffith Coaching Network.
Jim Griffith is a church plant leader and coach. His network supports planting and revitalization.
Pastor Andres and the congregation were singled out for their work in evangelism, spiritual formation and discipleship!
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Jim Griffith is a church plant leader and coach. His network supports planting and revitalization.
Pastor Andres and the congregation were singled out for their work in evangelism, spiritual formation and discipleship!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Annual Conference
I have not written much from Conference. My down time has been reading a great book on reviving the Wesleyan Class Meetings, visiting w mother in law who is in Cincy for a few days and.... Not feeling well. I think the ride caught up with me. Can't get enough water. Lay down for a 20 min power nap and was down for three hours.
It has been a great conference. So good to see friends, make new acquaintances.
People, you need to know how faithful so many pastors are, how much good the church has done across the state.
Warren Lathem speaking on Venezuela. It is a powerful poignant story. The church is growing because the pastors are sold out to evangelism, preaching, church planting, and serving the poor!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
It has been a great conference. So good to see friends, make new acquaintances.
People, you need to know how faithful so many pastors are, how much good the church has done across the state.
Warren Lathem speaking on Venezuela. It is a powerful poignant story. The church is growing because the pastors are sold out to evangelism, preaching, church planting, and serving the poor!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Why My New Name is "King"
So Sunday we had some trouble with the air conditioning in the sanctuary. No, they weren't stolen, just a glitch in the system. But it was hot. And I was in my robe and I knew I was going to get worked up preaching. I sweat like a dancing mule anyway, so I took the robe off and set it on the choir chairs.
After the service, Matt Baker said, "You remember when Jerry "the King" Lawler would take off his crown and robe when he got into the wrestling ring? That's what you looked like taking that off!"
I about fell apart, because I LOVE Jerry "the King" Lawler. Before you laugh about me liking wrestling, think about it. The Spanish word for wrestler is Luchador, or "struggler." Did not Jacob wrestle with the angel? Are we not wrestling to win souls, to promote holiness so Jesus can present us pure and spotless to the Father?
"King." I'll take it.
After the service, Matt Baker said, "You remember when Jerry "the King" Lawler would take off his crown and robe when he got into the wrestling ring? That's what you looked like taking that off!"
I about fell apart, because I LOVE Jerry "the King" Lawler. Before you laugh about me liking wrestling, think about it. The Spanish word for wrestler is Luchador, or "struggler." Did not Jacob wrestle with the angel? Are we not wrestling to win souls, to promote holiness so Jesus can present us pure and spotless to the Father?
"King." I'll take it.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Blessed
What a day. I had a chance to preach to the African congregation today, and I was not quite prepared for all that would happen.
Things went along normally; lots of singing and praying. I had great freedom in preaching, encouraging the people with the knowledge that we are called to be witnesses to the salvation of the Lord.
Then, at the end of the service, Pastor Tite called me and Jessie up. He began what I can only call an encomium; there was more praise than I can claim to deserve. He told the people how they were searching for a place, and that we were the ones to be open to their meeting with us. And how we worked together to make sure that we could all be in the same space without too much friction.
Then Tite's wife Frieda came up with a card and a gift. The card said "the service you have rendered to us will never be forgotten," and "Thank you for welcoming us. May God continue to bless you and your work in serving the Lord, and may your family remain in peace." And then a kicker. He had written a scripture reference, Philippians 3:20-21, a verse that some of you know I love! "Our citizenship is in Heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ..." What else can one say when we have service in English, French, Swahili, Kirundi and Spanish!
The gift, what can I say? It is a clock, "something to hang on your wall, and when you see it you will think of us. And it will remind you to tell people we do not know what time Jesus will come back, so they must be prepared." I wonder about what this Gospel has done to us that people from half way around the world know me so well.
Pastor Lumumba came up to pray, and I could not hold back my tears, "Man of God, remember the words of 2 Timothy 4, 'Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season... do the work of an evangelist." And when he had finished praying, he said, "Where you are going, remember to welcome the stranger. Perhaps they will be Russian or Chinese, but welcome them like you did us."
I wish I knew what to say about this day, this amazing time, this moment of Holy Spirit confirmation.
Things went along normally; lots of singing and praying. I had great freedom in preaching, encouraging the people with the knowledge that we are called to be witnesses to the salvation of the Lord.
Then, at the end of the service, Pastor Tite called me and Jessie up. He began what I can only call an encomium; there was more praise than I can claim to deserve. He told the people how they were searching for a place, and that we were the ones to be open to their meeting with us. And how we worked together to make sure that we could all be in the same space without too much friction.
Then Tite's wife Frieda came up with a card and a gift. The card said "the service you have rendered to us will never be forgotten," and "Thank you for welcoming us. May God continue to bless you and your work in serving the Lord, and may your family remain in peace." And then a kicker. He had written a scripture reference, Philippians 3:20-21, a verse that some of you know I love! "Our citizenship is in Heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ..." What else can one say when we have service in English, French, Swahili, Kirundi and Spanish!
The gift, what can I say? It is a clock, "something to hang on your wall, and when you see it you will think of us. And it will remind you to tell people we do not know what time Jesus will come back, so they must be prepared." I wonder about what this Gospel has done to us that people from half way around the world know me so well.
Pastor Lumumba came up to pray, and I could not hold back my tears, "Man of God, remember the words of 2 Timothy 4, 'Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season... do the work of an evangelist." And when he had finished praying, he said, "Where you are going, remember to welcome the stranger. Perhaps they will be Russian or Chinese, but welcome them like you did us."
I wish I knew what to say about this day, this amazing time, this moment of Holy Spirit confirmation.
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