In the midst of what we're doing here in Aurora, this prayer from Colossians was powerful for me today so I wanted to share it.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worth of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and givng joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:9-14
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Monday Thoughts: Holy Week
We had very meaningful times together on Good Friday and Easter. One of the things we spent significant time discussing was the extent to which we grasp our need for a Savior. Like the criminal who hung on a cross next to Jesus, we need to accept our sinfulness and call on the only one who can forgive us. The point of this is not to live in a perpetual state of guilt over our sin (this wouldn't reflect the forgiveness of God very well) but to remember that we have been saved by Jesus, not ourselves. This week was a good time to be reminded of that.
One other thing we discussed came out of John 20:21--Jesus said to his disciples that he was sending them as the Father had sent him. Given the context of his suffering and resurrection, he is sending them (and us) to suffer and sacrifice for the sake of others. That's a hard one to swallow, and one that I think we'll be trying to live out our whole lives.
One other thing we discussed came out of John 20:21--Jesus said to his disciples that he was sending them as the Father had sent him. Given the context of his suffering and resurrection, he is sending them (and us) to suffer and sacrifice for the sake of others. That's a hard one to swallow, and one that I think we'll be trying to live out our whole lives.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Podcast Subversive Power
There are many things in the kingdom of God that seem backwards from what seems natural--power is one of them. We can all learn from Jesus' greatest display of power.
Get the podcast.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Monday Thoughts: Growing
We had some great discussion about a number of things last night. One of the things Cory raised that we had talked about in the past but hand't discussed for a while was what we want to be known for. We all agreed that the defining characteristic we hoped to be known for is love. We want to love God, love each other, and love our friends and neighbors. This will often require sacrifice or doing things that are uncomfortable. Despite this, the reward of developing deep community and relationships will be worth the difficulty.
We spent quite a bit of time talking about how we're feeling about Infuse right now too. There are things that are difficult for all of us in pursuing something that is currently so small. Missing times of corporate worship and fellowship with a larger body, being impatient to see more fruit from what we're doing, and wanting to get better at connecting with people in our communities. But it was so encouraging to also hear how excited people are about where we're at right now. All of us can see the ways God is working and answering the prayers we're praying directly. Things are happening and we can see the beginning of what can be. We are all being challenged in our relationships with God through what we're doing right now. I think all of us feel that we are growing in our faith significantly, and that is very encouraging.
We spent quite a bit of time talking about how we're feeling about Infuse right now too. There are things that are difficult for all of us in pursuing something that is currently so small. Missing times of corporate worship and fellowship with a larger body, being impatient to see more fruit from what we're doing, and wanting to get better at connecting with people in our communities. But it was so encouraging to also hear how excited people are about where we're at right now. All of us can see the ways God is working and answering the prayers we're praying directly. Things are happening and we can see the beginning of what can be. We are all being challenged in our relationships with God through what we're doing right now. I think all of us feel that we are growing in our faith significantly, and that is very encouraging.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Being a Turtle
Sometimes pursuing things in a missionary way like we are feels like moving at a turtle's pace. I fight this battle of wanting to see more happening than we are and wondering if we're doing something wrong. So the video I watched today as a part of the training I'm doing was a great reminder. The speaker, Hugh, is a part of leading a missional community that has 14 villages (small communities) which consist of about 240 people. But in the video he talked about the process that he and his wife went through when they first moved to Denver. After 12 months they were friends with about 30 people, but still didn't have a gathering focused on spiritual growth--they were just forming relationships. After two years they had one community, ranging from 8-20 people who were pursuing following Christ in mission together. It was in the third year that things started happening more quickly.
It makes sense that this process is slow. It is a relationally-driven process that relies on Christ-focused community being formed and then multiplication taking place. This isn't something that can start quickly, but it is something that has great chances of exploding once the initial seeds start to bear fruit. I was encouraged today that as long as we are praying for God to work and then intentionally putting ourselves in positions where he can use us, it's okay to move like a turtle.
And if we really look at what's going on here, things are happening after only 6 months. We are building relationships with quite a few people (more about this in the next newsletter), there are other Christians who are exploring joining us in this mission, and we can point to tangible ways we see God at work. I'm convinced that we're moving in the right direction if we will stay the course and follow God's leading into mission.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday Thoughts: Perspective
This week's Monday thoughts come to you on Tuesday, just to keep you guessing.
In our study of Luke this week we focused on perspective. There were two passages we talked about quite a bit.
"And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." Luke 21:13-15
In the context, the disciples will be in positions of persecution because they have been faithful to proclaiming the gospel. When they enter difficult positions because of this Jesus says he will give them the wisdom to say what they need to say. We don't face the same issue of persecution, but we also will be in difficult situations at times if we are faithful to Christ. In those potentially awkward conversations we can rely on Jesus to help us--we don't have to have a detailed plan ahead of time.
"Be careful, or your hears will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day (the day of Christ's return) will close on you suddenly like a trap." Luke 21:34
This passage speaks to losing perspective on the bigger picture. When we lose focus on living out our calling as followers of Christ we can be sucked into a couple traps. One is to give our attention to the daily difficulties of life, like bills, health concerns, and finding a babysitter. The other trap is to succumb to these anxieties or the seeming pointlessness of life by finding an escape. Whether this is alcohol, TV, food, or something else--we end up numbing our minds and finding comfort in something other than Christ. We need to live with the perspective that Christ will return. And instead of driving us to escape from the world, this should challenge us to be about the work Christ has laid out for us--redemption, reconciliation, and justice.
In our study of Luke this week we focused on perspective. There were two passages we talked about quite a bit.
"And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." Luke 21:13-15
In the context, the disciples will be in positions of persecution because they have been faithful to proclaiming the gospel. When they enter difficult positions because of this Jesus says he will give them the wisdom to say what they need to say. We don't face the same issue of persecution, but we also will be in difficult situations at times if we are faithful to Christ. In those potentially awkward conversations we can rely on Jesus to help us--we don't have to have a detailed plan ahead of time.
"Be careful, or your hears will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day (the day of Christ's return) will close on you suddenly like a trap." Luke 21:34
This passage speaks to losing perspective on the bigger picture. When we lose focus on living out our calling as followers of Christ we can be sucked into a couple traps. One is to give our attention to the daily difficulties of life, like bills, health concerns, and finding a babysitter. The other trap is to succumb to these anxieties or the seeming pointlessness of life by finding an escape. Whether this is alcohol, TV, food, or something else--we end up numbing our minds and finding comfort in something other than Christ. We need to live with the perspective that Christ will return. And instead of driving us to escape from the world, this should challenge us to be about the work Christ has laid out for us--redemption, reconciliation, and justice.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Enter Spring
Is anyone else ready for Spring to get here? In Aurora we're starting to get a few of the Spring tease days--the ones where it gets just warm enough you think you might not need a coat. These days are usually followed by sub-freezing temps and even colder wind chills.
Not only am I ready for Spring because I'm sick of having frostbite from walking outside for more than one minute, I'm ready for Spring because of the opportunity it holds for Infuse. In the winter here people tend to stay in their homes (and who can blame them), making a ministry based around relationships very difficult to puruse. I'm thankful that God has given us some opportunities during these cold months, but as the temperature creeps up it opens a whole new world of possibilities for us. We can be out in our neighborhoods more, go to the park, attend summer festivals, and the list goes on. All this makes me excited for what the next six months hold for us!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Monday Thoughts: Still Wrestling
Last night we focused on Luke 17-20 in our discussion time. The passage that we spent the most time on was Luke 18:1-8. This is the parable of the unjust judge--basically a rude and obnoxious guy who didn't care about anyone. A woman came to him asking for a judgment in her favor. He put her off, but she continued to pester him until he gave her the judgment she wanted just to get her off his back. The reason for this parable? "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1
The trouble with this is it sounds like Jesus is saying, "If you just bug God enough he'll eventually give you what you want just to get rid of you." Michelle said she had a pastor explain this passage once by saying he envisioned God having a big jar, and every time we pray for something he puts a marble in the jar. Eventually the jar fills up and then God answers the prayer. What?!? So God is playing a game with us where he could answer our prayers anytime but he'd rather make us fill up a jar? And he won't even do us the favor of telling us how big the jar is? That doesn't seem to fit with the characterization of God as good and caring.
To make sense of this seemingly negative characterization of God I think we have to apply what Jesus says in Luke 11:11-13. Basically that human parents know how to give good things to their children, so how much more will God give good things to his children. So in this case, if an unjust judge will eventually give in to someone who is persistent, how much more will God, who is just, answer those who call to him for justice.
Last night just reinforced that this issue of unanswered prayer, and how prayer works, is an important one. Cory noted how our usual way of dealing with prayer is to celebrate when God answers and not talk about it when he doesn't. That just doesn't seem to do the issue justice. For more thoughts on some of the issues that play into unanswered prayer you can listen to last week's podcast called Wrestling Prayer.
The trouble with this is it sounds like Jesus is saying, "If you just bug God enough he'll eventually give you what you want just to get rid of you." Michelle said she had a pastor explain this passage once by saying he envisioned God having a big jar, and every time we pray for something he puts a marble in the jar. Eventually the jar fills up and then God answers the prayer. What?!? So God is playing a game with us where he could answer our prayers anytime but he'd rather make us fill up a jar? And he won't even do us the favor of telling us how big the jar is? That doesn't seem to fit with the characterization of God as good and caring.
To make sense of this seemingly negative characterization of God I think we have to apply what Jesus says in Luke 11:11-13. Basically that human parents know how to give good things to their children, so how much more will God give good things to his children. So in this case, if an unjust judge will eventually give in to someone who is persistent, how much more will God, who is just, answer those who call to him for justice.
Last night just reinforced that this issue of unanswered prayer, and how prayer works, is an important one. Cory noted how our usual way of dealing with prayer is to celebrate when God answers and not talk about it when he doesn't. That just doesn't seem to do the issue justice. For more thoughts on some of the issues that play into unanswered prayer you can listen to last week's podcast called Wrestling Prayer.
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