Archive March 2010
Sunday Night Reflections
Lost in Reflection
The remnant of Jews in Nehemiah’s day assembled together to worship God and pray to reestablish the foundations of Hebrew society. As they prayed, they listed all the many ways God provided for them and their ancestors and also their continued disobedience. In the Nehemiah study this morning I took this example to say that two obstacles that can keep us from fulfilling the mission God has for us are pride and failure to grow.
Grow is the one word theme we have adopted for this year. Both as an individual and as the church we are asking God to grow. Not only do I want to avoid pride by surrendering the control of my life to God, I want to learn from my sin and mistakes, avoiding them in the future. So, along with you, I am examining my life and assessing those areas where I need to grow.
This assessment of areas where growth is needed is all part of the discipleship process. When Paul left Titus in Crete, he gave him the following instructions. He was to find out what was lacking in the lives of the believers and fill the void. Then, he was to reproduce himself by developing other leaders (Titus 1:5).
We have been through a wonderful week of The Summit. There is a growing sense and awareness that God is doing something special. Let’s not blow it! Let’s set aside our pride and learn from past mistakes. Let’s examine our lives, find out what’s lacking and fill the voids. Then, let’s grow and reproduce ourselves in others!
Now What?
I slept in a couple of hours yesterday and it felt really good. Getting caught up on sleep after a busy week is nice when possible. Today, it was back to an early wake up to teach my mission class in Shepherd School.
For months we prayed along with the Student Mission Council that The Summit would not be just a conference, but the beginning of engagement in God’s mission for many people as they enter the story of God’s Kingdom. Each night during The Summit in my role as the closer, I pointed out specific ways to enter the story. Whether praying, giving, or going, there are practical steps for anyone to take.
There was a time when I thought I would take tomorrow morning (Sunday) as a time to reflect on what God has done at The Summit. However, as I looked over the passage in Nehemiah that corresponds to our series, I decided to stay the course, as the passage really does make for a nice follow up. The Jewish inhabitants of Nehemiah’s day were rebuilding the foundations of Hebrew society and stepping up to own responsibility in God’s mission. Only two obstacles could keep them from fulfilling the mission. I’m calling this study “Two Buts and a Sure Bet.”
The Day After
There is a positive buzz going around on the day after The Summit. The energy is the church has been palpable.
This morning we hosted the annual public meeting of the BKA, the alliance of churches dedicated to being ambassadors of God’s love to the K people. For me, the highlight was the collection of testimonies from several pastors who are members of the BKA. As a result of the meeting this morning, four Spanish-speaking churches joined at full partnership level. I am thrilled about that! I think some other churches represented will be joining in the future.
This coming Sunday morning I will follow up on what has been happening this week in our Nehemiah study. God is doing some wonderful things among us. What can possibly stop us? That’s precisely what I want to discuss Sunday morning. See you there!
Day Four – The Summit Begins!
You read that right. Our final service of The Summit 2010 was this evening, but the reality of all we heard and experienced begins now. From the beginning we have prayed for much more than a conference.
Starting tomorrow, teams of people begin to Live Out Loud by engaging in ministries right here in our own city with the goal of continuing their involvement into the future. Some will minister through our outstanding City Union Mission. Some who are skilled in carpentry and other useful skills will be helping out a City Linc. Saturday a group will be doing evangelism and another group will be helping to get the ball fields ready for our largest evangelistic outreach – Youth League. Some are working as mentors with Middle Eastern refugees. Still others will be working with valuable ministries such as Veronica’s Voice.
God was stirring the hearts of many tonight, and I am convinced that over the course of this next year we will see others taking part in brief one or two week trips to interact and minister in opportunities on 5 continents. Actually, some of these opportunities are already full and there is a waiting list. Others will be taking a huge step of faith and stepping out for six months to a year or more taking on various types of missionary opportunities. The fruit of the conference will only be known in the months and years ahead. We are just beginning. But, wow! What a week!
One more mention of Chile – I got an email this morning that provided some very encouraging information about friends and contacts in Concepción. A couple of pastors have lost homes and churches, but for the moment it appears that there was no loss of life among them. I did hear from one friend who had lost a friend and another friend lost his grandmother. One church where I was in August was spared extreme damage and had a well that they had not been using. Now that well is providing water for the entire area around them. Amidst all the damage, loss and suffering, some wonderful stories of heroism and witness are beginning to emerge. I’ll let you know if we have any direct pathways to help.
The Summit – Day Three
I’m not even really sure how to describe The Summit 2010. Each day has been an adventure and yet totally different. It’s been sweet, exciting, informational, awe-inspiring at times, and God has very definitely been present in everything.
Following the service tonight, I was sitting on the edge of the platform, breathless and trying to sort out my thoughts and emotions about all that has been taking place. A member of the Student Mission Council came and sat next to me. She was exhausted but content and, like me, trying to find the way to describe it.
“It’s just been so … organic!”
Yes, I suppose that pretty much sums it up.
Tonight we heard from a young man who was a geography bee winner in his native Washington, D.C. that set the stage for his life. Still in High School, he was a student in Australia. As an ESL teacher he has been to Vietnam, Palestine, Kurdistan, Iraq. He just married a cultural anthropologist and they are currently living in the Dominican Republic while she does research and he is teaching in a university. His ability to minister, serve and share his faith wherever his gifts and training take him is a classic example of what we have called the “New Missionary.”
Again, I am the closer each night, and closed out this evening using the Gospel of Luke to challenge us to enter the story. Our morning sessions conclude tomorrow. There is still time and space for you to come.
Chile Update – Thanks to several who wrote me emails or messages 0n Facebook, I am slowly piecing together the whereabouts of friends.To this point it is an all clear in Santiago in terms of physical safety. Some suffered damages, but I know of none of my personal contacts who suffered loss of life or serious injury. A pastor friend in Talca lost home and church, but he and his family survived. To this point I am getting positive reports out of Concepción, yet the situation there continues to be desperate with food, shelter and other necessities in short supply. I’ll probably end the daily updates unless I hear more specific news or news about how we can make a difference.