Missional Worker

Fad Resistance

2012-01-24T13:09:00.001-08:00

My daughter was telling me the other day how she was sick of Tim Tebow. It wasn’t him, so much, but the constant media blitz about him. For a while he was counter-cultural, the hope of the grass roots and the outsider. Now he was mainstream, overplayed, imitated, the spokesperson for companies trying to make a profit.

This is what happens when something becomes too common, too hyped, too much a part of the established cultural flow. People start to resist. New and alternative movements cause a buzz of excitement. A mainstream fad causes resistance.

The tendency to bash the church is moving into fad territory. I watched the popular YouTube video “Jesus>Religion.” While it reflects today’s prevalent anti-institutionalism and this generation’s movement toward deconstruction of established systems, its slick and commercial appearance, along with a its faux alternative tone, show that church/religion-bashing has gone mainstream. In other words, the church is trying to lure people in by bashing itself. This has become a fad. And people see through fads. They don’t like them. They resist them.

So, as the church resists itself so people who really resist it will be attracted, the resistors of the church will resist the resisting. Got that?

What’s the answer? Ephesians 3:10 says that God’s intent was that “now, through the church, [His] manifold wisdom should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.” The answer is for the church to be the church. Not to resist itself or bash itself or destroy itself, but to BE itself. That, because of the very nature of the church, IS alternative. The answer is to go back to the Savior Jesus who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but shakes every generation from sin and complacency with His counter-cultural Word.

A church that has strayed from being the church need not jump on the bandwagon of bashing the church. There is no need to try to find self-righteousness in self-flagellation. On the other hand, a church that has strayed from being the church can’t sit tight in complacent inaction. Self-righteousness through self-satisfaction is off the mark, too. The church needs only to hear His call back to its first love, back to the Savior, back to being Christ’s church. The church is the always-new movement created by God to transform the world. It never was and never will be a fad.

Grace and Diapers

2011-12-28T12:32:00.001-08:00

Yes, I’m back in the diaper realm. Very deeply into the diaper realm.

My daughter has given my wife and I a precious granddaughter. She’s almost nine-months-old and is the most beautiful and precious granddaughter in the world (unbiased opinion based on a random sampling of neutral grandchild observers, of course).

Well, to get a little personal, she switched formulas and her gastrointestinal system did not agree well with the change. Things got--how shall I say it--clogged up. This was not a pleasant situation. It caused a good deal of angst for grandma and grandpa and even more angst for granddaughter. I can say with confidence that this has been the low point in her entire life so far.

She’s flowing much better now after much prayer, a formula readjustment, and a few helpings of pears, blueberries, and oatmeal, thank you very much. But the whole episode got me thinking (dangerous territory!): Our existence is hanging in a very delicate balance. One tweak in the digestive area and agony results. It’s amazing that so many of us are humming along with all systems go. We truly live by grace--all the way down to the, uh, downward parts. We live by grace.

So many who are suffering understand this. Rainfall is a few inches off and nations can starve. Cells split too aggressively and cancer can attack the body. Be found in the wrong place at the wrong time and a violent person can bring life to an end. It’s the tragic groaning of a broken world. It’s the tragedy and pain of sin. It’s God’s creation out of balance.

What a blessing that at the right time, God sent His Son. What a blessing that Jesus hung on the cross to counterbalance the crushing power of death. What a blessing that Jesus sends you into this broken world to bring the balance of hope and life to a culture clogged with hopelessness and despair.

Yes, all of this from diapers. Actually, all of this from a sweet little girl who is beginning to understand the blessing of God’s grace.

And I didn’t even mention the word “poop” in the entire article!

You Do Make A Difference

2011-12-13T13:01:00.001-08:00

On the Friday night before Thanksgiving week, a friend of mine, his wife, and his mother were killed in a fiery crash when a semi tractor and trailer plowed into their car on the interstate. They were traveling home from his daughter’s wedding. He just walked her down the aisle and whispered “I love you” in her ear. The highway patrol had to find where the young couple was honeymooning in a mountain cabin to break the tragic news to the new bride and groom at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday.

These are the kinds of events that take your breath away and cause you to look up to the heavens and ask God, “What are you doing?” and “Where are you?”

My friend’s brother suddenly went from planning Thanksgiving dinner for the family to helping to plan three funerals. After I sent him a message of sympathy in which I could barely find the words to express my sorrow to him, he replied with steady words of faith and hope. He said:

“On Friday night, God said ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’ Jesus sacrificed everything so that we could have the promise of eternal life with our Heavenly Father. I KNOW that my redeemer lives!”

Then he went on to say that the main reason his faith is so strong is because of the pastor he had throughout his childhood and young adult years. He said that his pastor never wavered in his faith. This faithful pastor was a rock for him as he grew up. Through some of the toughest times, this pastor helped him. In fact, he said that he asks himself even today: “What would pastor think of this?” Besides his parents, his pastor continues to be one of the most influential people in his life--even though his pastor retired years ago and lives far away.

What does all this mean? Pastors, servants of Jesus, you who invest yourselves in the lives of others for the sake of Jesus Christ: YOU DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. During this season of reflection, don’t give up. Keep going. Trust the Lord of the church. You do make a difference!

The Rise of Networks

2011-10-03T15:22:00.001-07:00

The Holy Spirit has been up to something in Texas. Local churches and ministry agencies have been thinking more about seeing the Gospel spread exponentially. Multiplying quality and faithful ministry to reach the lost has become the laser focus all around the state. This focus has been manifested in the growth of regional church planting networks.

A church-planting network is a “church planting machine”--a ministry dedicated to and accomplishing the recruitment, training, and deployment of new workers for network generated new ministry starts.

Currently in Texas, a dozen networks have sprung up. These include:

LINC Houston, LINC North Texas, LINC San Antonio, POBLO Texas, The FiveTwo Network based out of Crosspoint in Katy, The SoulThirst Network in the greater Dallas area, the OnThisRock Network forming at St. Peter in Roanoke, The Summit Network out of St. Paul in Fort Worth, The ACTS Network emerging in the northwest Austin area, the ULC Network emerging at University Lutheran Church in Austin, the Great Commission Ministry Network developing out of Cristo El Salvador in Del Rio, and the Missional Worker Training and RioMAC network developing in the Rio Grande Valley. Other networks are emerging around the state.

In fact, from only eight of these networks, 80 new churches are expected to emerge between now and 2017!

The strength of networks involves local passion for the Gospel, local relationships, local opportunities, and local innovation. The Texas District is proud to partner with networks to fuel the expansion of God’s Kingdom.

Could your church or your circuit enter into network activity for the sake of the Gospel?

Casual Church

2011-09-07T13:56:00.001-07:00

A Christian in India said to Francis Chan: “How can you be casual about something you’ll lose everything for?”

This Christian was asked why his faith in Christ spilled over into every area of his life and conversation.

In China, Chan described a uniquely Western phenomenon: “Where I come from people go to services in buildings and switch if they want a better speaker or better childcare or better music.”

The underground church participants laughed hysterically. Impossible, they thought.

In our Western bubble, we sometimes believe that the United States’ expression of the Christian Church is the norm around the world. We think that because of the freedom of Christian development, we represent what the world should conform and aspire to. Organization, education, strategy, you name it: we can begin to believe that we’re doing everything the way it should be done.

But the facts are much different. The United States comprises only 4% of the world’s population. The way “we” do it is, in fact, a minority expression of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Of course, Biblical principles are to remain consistent in the body of Christ. But a number of non-biblical attitudes and practices have taken hold in the cultural development of Western Christianity. These attitudes and practices are not necessarily all bad, but they may skew Western Christianity’s congruence with what the Scriptures show the Church is to be.

One skewed reality is casual and compartmentalized Christianity. As one Asian believer stated: “To have people come into a room who do not want to be disciple-makers doesn't make sense.”

Will we as Western believers defend all we’re doing and vehemently declare that in the area of Church we have no sin? Or will we humbly and repentantly consider the question we started with: “How can you be casual about something you’ll lose everything for?”

This is Hard

2011-08-31T09:38:00.001-07:00

I received a note from a friend of mine who has served as a missionary in Burkina Faso, West Africa for twenty years. He shared the news that for the very first time in history, the local people who are now believers will be praying for their people. Most of the Koromba people are either animist or Muslim. A small band of about 30 believers in an area of over 100,000 people will be lifting them up in prayer that all may know Jesus and the life He gives.

This is a big deal. It’s taken decades to get to this point. It’s been a challenging, stretching, high-effort, persistent, relational outreach. Little by little fruit is being borne.

When we in the U.S. hear about the growth of Christianity in Africa or Asia, we rejoice, but we also may veer off in two directions.

First, we may think it’s easy. We think the Western cultural barriers don’t lend themselves to a movement of Kingdom expansion. We imagine that our lives are much more complex, fragmented, technical and advanced. People in our culture, we conjecture, aren’t as amenable to the Gospel. But in Asia and Africa--well, life is simpler, more networked and, therefore, “easy pickings” for the spread of the Gospel.

Second, we may miss the point. Instead of marveling at the work of the Holy Spirit in the Southern Hemisphere, we may start to worship the movement. We may become enamored with the numbers and lust after the phenomenon as an idol. Crying out “We want a movement, too!” may be more about possessing success than seeing God succeed in people’s hearts and souls.

Two truths need reinforcement among us in the West. First, the movement of the Gospel in Africa and Asia is hard work. It’s a difficult journey. The blood of many believers cries out from the ground of those nations and forms a foundation for what is happening today. The living Word continues to pound against spiritual and cultural barriers that we can’t even imagine.

Second, a primary weakness in our lives is the production of idols. The book of Deuteronomy opens with a dissection of our souls, making us aware of the fact that we always lean toward idol development and worship. As the Church expands around the world, we need to keep our eye on the ball--the cause of the Gospel, and not lapse into competing for the best world mission movement.

Around the world, every believer in the East, West, South or North has been called by Jesus to deny himself and take up his cross and follow. It’s hard. And it’s all about Jesus, not about us.

Reaching the Uncomfortable

2011-08-11T11:41:00.001-07:00

What if 80% of the population had claustrophobia? You know, complete fear and discomfort of small spaces.

What if you were head of a WiFi company and decided to build tiny cubicles in which the public could access the WiFi connection it needed in a fast, affordable, and convenient way? But in a very tiny space.

20% of the population would amble into your miniature WiFi cubicles and rejoice. At last! Cheap, affordable and convenient WiFi access, with charging stations for all my gizmos, to boot!

80% of the population would sweat, shuffle, hesitate, think long and hard--and head to a spacious Starbucks. There is no way they would step into that cubicle no matter how pretty it was, no matter how nicely they were invited, and no matter how badly they needed WiFi. It just wouldn’t happen.

The church faces this issue today. 20% of the population is comfortable stepping into church. They feel it is important and they follow through. 80% of the population thinks the roof would cave in on them if they walked through the church doors. They hesitate, sweat, or write off the need for what the church provides. They’re not coming inside.

How do we reach people with the Gospel who have written the church off? How do we communicate the Good News so it looks and sounds like good news to them?

Some churches are going to the uncomfortable. Moving outside of claustrophobic cubicles, believers are thinking creatively about what the church looks like in the community. They are inviting the uncomfortable into the wide and open spaces of serving others in the name of Jesus. They are entering into relationships with the 80% and are praying and watching for Jesus to show up.

Believers need to remember that inviting people to church, while very worthy and important, will only resonate with two out ten people. But inviting people to make a difference in the lives of others, to dedicate their lives to a worthy pursuit, will resonate with nine out of ten people. Statistics show that, while only 20% of the population wakes up in the morning with a desire to attend a church service, 90% of the population wants desperately to make a difference in the world. Isn’t Christ’s Church the biggest difference maker in history?

What if the uncomfortable became gripped with Jesus’ grace while participating in a Gospel act? What if that new blessing led them to worship the One who shows such love?

How are you rethinking your company strategy so that 100% of the people have access to eternal life?

Recalibration, Part 3

2011-08-08T13:33:00.001-07:00

Resistance vs. Repentance.

“It was very hard for me to see clearly, and though I never spoke about hell or only jokingly so, I woke up one day with the realization that I was living in a very dark place and that the term ‘burnout’ was a convenient psychological translation for a spiritual death” (Henri Nouwen, “In the Name of Jesus,” p. 11).

The Apostle John said, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1:8). But as Henri Nouwen commented above, there are times in life when it is very hard for us to see clearly. Sometimes we work so hard to get good at what we’re doing, to accomplish all the tasks before us, and to justify our existence and worthiness, we do not see where we are faltering. In our efforts to please God, others, and ourselves, we may end up living a life without genuine repentance.

This can happen to me personally when I become so occupied with tending to other people’s lives that I can no longer see myself accurately or confess my own failings with accuracy and sincerity. This can happen to the church when it becomes focused on its own agenda so completely that it never asks the questions, “Of what do we need to repent? How are we failing?”

If we ever think we have everything completely right, we are, in effect, saying we have no sin. That means we’re in serious trouble. The truth is not in us. We have lost the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

This, as Nouwen said, is a very dark place.

When Peter decided to go off on his own and rebuke Jesus for talking about the cross, Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan. You do not have in mind the things of God but the things of men” (Matthew 16:23). “Get behind me” means to get in line, to follow behind Jesus (opiso mou). Instead of running on ahead by ourselves with our own twisted GPS, we are called to follow in the steps of the One who is the Way and the Truth and the Life. Instead of resisting the Truth, we submit ourselves to Him and follow where He leads--even if it does not square with our agenda.

In Revelation 11:3, the Church is portrayed as a prophetic body, always wearing the sackcloth of repentance. How do you need to stop and examine your own failings? How can we as a church face in an honest way where we fall short and, instead, follow in the footsteps of Jesus for the answers?

Will we resist the redeeming call of Christ and end up as spiritual wreckage or will we live a life of repentance?

Recalibration, Part 2

2011-08-02T12:37:00.001-07:00

In his book, “In the Name of Jesus,” Henri Nouwen did some self-assessment as he entered the second half of his life and ministry. One area he highlighted was the tension between coasting and character development. Nouwen commented:

“Everyone was saying that I was doing really well, but something inside was telling me that my own success was putting my own soul in danger. I began to ask myself whether my lack of contemplative prayer, my loneliness, and my constantly changing involvement in what seemed most urgent were signs that the Spirit was gradually being suppressed” (p.10).

Sometimes what everyone says is completely inaccurate. Typically, “everyone” will let you coast. They will not insist on accountability. They will not sharpen you as a servant of God. They will not thoughtfully speak the truth to you with love. It is very difficult to get genuine feedback as you progress in years. If you accept what “everyone” says and coast easily down the path of no recalibration, you may end up in a place where the Spirit is being suppressed.

If you are caught up in the flow of hurried prayer, an isolated life, and constantly shifting urgency, you may need to pause and be attentive to Jesus’ words, “Come away with me to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31). Is there margin in your life for stillness and authentic conversation with God? Do you have someone in your life who can speak hard truths to you? Are you growing into new and fresh learning from God’s Spirit or are you recycling the old standbys of your past?

Summer is a time to recalibrate. Your Savior leads you to paths of living water and soul restoration. Are you coasting or are you positioned for character development? What recalibration needs to happen in your life?

Recalibration, Part 1

2011-07-28T18:31:00.001-07:00

Years ago my wife and I established the habit of getting away for two weeks as a family to a quiet place. Part of this vacation was recalibration. We evaluated life together and talked about what changes might be needed. We settled down, got some perspective, bonded as a family in an unplugged environment, and sought God’s guidance for our lives in the coming year. The results were as small as agreeing to stop watching the television news in the evenings as part of our routine and as large as working through major changes in the flow of life. The time to reflect and to evaluate was a lifeline for us.

In his book “In the Name of Jesus,” Pastor and teacher Henri Nouwen offered an evaluation of his own life as he passed fifty years of age. Having just turned the big 5-0, I resonate to his reflections and believe that his words can help lead all of us into some healthy recalibration. Allow me to highlight three areas of personal evaluation:

Performance vs. Personhood.

Nouwen said, “As I entered into my fifties and was able to realize the unlikelihood of doubling my years, I came face to face with the simple question, ‘Did becoming older bring me closer to Jesus?’ After twenty-five years of priesthood, I found myself praying poorly, living somewhat isolated from other people, and very much preoccupied with burning issues” (pp. 9-10).

Isn’t it strange how life can become all about “proving something” instead of developing into a better person? A focus on activities and achievements can supplant the focus on character and faith development. Religious know-how and busyness can become substitutes for a genuine and meaningful relationship with God the Father. As a good Father, He doesn’t look to you for a list of personal accomplishments. He looks to see signs of reciprocated love and indications of a life lived as His redeemed and grateful child.

How can you rediscover your life as a child of God and be rid of the burden of striving for worthiness in the eyes of the world? As you’ve grown older, have you also grown closer to Jesus?

In parts two and three of this blog post, I’ll continue Nouwen’s self-evaluation and look at the areas of Coasting vs. Character development and Resistance vs. Repentance.

Doing Nothing

2011-07-13T14:48:00.001-07:00

Former Hootie and the Blowfish lead singer, now country artist, Darius Rucker has a new song out called "Got Nothin'." In the song he details how he has nothing left to offer as a relationship falls apart. It's a sad song, but it reflects an important reality in our relationship with God. We've got nothin'; He's got everything. We're dead in our sins; He makes us alive with Christ (Ephesians 2). We sit around and do nothing; He gives growth to the church.

Wait a minute! That's not what the Bible says. The Bible says that we plant and water (1 Cor. 3:6). The Bible says that we are God's fellow workers (1 Cor. 3:9). The Bible says that we're sent (Luke 10:2-3, Mark 16:15, etc.). The Bible says that we are to let our light shine (Matthew 5:16). The Bible says that we don't sit around and do nothing.

Recently I was told that challenging believers to action was doctrinally unacceptable. If that's the case, then the Bible is doctrinally unacceptable.

There's a message in the church that is confusing and immobilizing God's people. Instead of allowing grace and faith to flow into the works God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10; the book of James!), the message of grace is being used as an excuse for immobilizing the church. Justification is being used in place of sanctification. The message is: "You, dear people of God, are justified by grace alone! Therefore, you are justified by grace alone." The refrain goes on with the announcement of the free atoning work of Christ. But sanctification is neglected, omitted, and removed from the message. Walking in the newness of life, being a new creation in Christ--His ambassador, living in the power of the resurrection with the knowledge that our labor in the Lord is not in vain is excised from the proclamation of the Good News. Only half the news is given and the church sits on its hands, doing nothin'.

But as the redeemed people of God, we've got somethin'! We are called, gathered, enlightened and sanctified so that we can declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). By His grace, God shares His mission with us. He makes us fellow workers. He entrusts us with His Word and sacraments, not so we can sit in fear that Kingdom action might get messy, but so we can go out into the world with these tools and see the darkness shrink back and the gates of hell buckle in the wild and messy adventure of God's Kingdom action.

If we really stand for truth and purity of doctrine, let's take the gift of a sanctified life seriously. Let's give a voice to faith that works. Let's stop doing nothing.

Captain Bill's Appeal

2011-05-20T17:19:00.001-07:00

I was at a friend's memorial service recently. He was a prominent figure in the community, so the funeral chapel was packed. In addition to fellow believers, the place was filled with people from virtually every conceivable walk of life. My friend's business and personality connected him with an amazing variety of people. Suits and ties sat next to tattoos and piercings. Conservative Evangelicals spoke words of sympathy alongside adherents of alternative lifestyles.

As someone who craves opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus with people, I felt my heart beating fast over the possibility of hearing words that could transform many lives.

After some preliminary levity, some words of introduction, and some kind words from the family, I wondered if the opportunity would be seized. That's when Captain Bill stepped to the microphone.

I wondered who this guy was. He was standing in the back. Clearly, he wasn't a family member. He wasn't the pastor, but he held a Bible and strode purposefully to the podium. He introduced himself as Bill, a charter captain and good friend of the family. Fishing trips for hire had morphed into a close bond between him and my friend.

Bill was a military veteran who suffered chemical poisoning in Vietnam. He almost died a few years ago. My deceased buddy sat by his side and drove him home from the hospital. They had a special bond. Bill went on to talk about the bedrock of that bond. This common man with skin made leathery by the sun and a body gaunt from illness so his suit hung baggily from his body, began to lift up the name of Jesus Christ.

This man had been through the ringer, and with the authority of someone who had been beaten up by the rigors of life, he urged the group to the only hope we have. His Scripture-saturated language carried love and truth without sounding pious or self-righteous. His call to trust in Jesus Christ came across as a testimony to his deceased friend, not as an attempt to put more souls on his scorecard. Captain Bill's appeal captured the moment for Jesus. It was authentic, moving, appropriate, and caring.

As I listened, I realized that two things had happened in this man's life. First, he was discipled very well. Someone had shown him the way to walk with Jesus and let the Word of Christ dwell in him richly. Second, someone had given him permission--perhaps a mandate--to go and share, to make disciples, to never let the Gospel stop with himself.

Captain Bill's appeal showed me that a serious effort to equip and send the saints is of utmost importance. Pastors and professionals will rarely be in the situation to reach people who are far outside the borders of the church. Pastors and professionals will not always be heard as attentively by those outside the borders, either. We need people like Captain Bill. The Kingdom of God needs people like Captain Bill. A lost world needs people like Captain Bill.

Do you think you are here to do it all yourself? Are you saving the great opportunities for you? Or are you letting go of your pride by respecting God's people, equipping them passionately, and sending them urgently to do what Captain Bill did?

Counterintuitivity

2011-05-06T12:49:00.000-07:00

In a thought-provoking book review, Andrew Stark of The Wall Street Journal, reviews John Kay's book "Obliquity." The premise of the book is compelling. Kay asserts: "When it comes to major goals, whether in life or in business, one can pursue them best by deliberately not pursuing them."

Stark summarizes Kay's case studies of a variety of companies and historical figures as the author establishes his premise that "we can attain a desired goal only by pursuing it indirectly." (Thank you to Rev. Robert Holaday for the link to the article which you can read in full here)

This counterintuitive direction offers us some Easter clarity. Jesus was never desperate to build a following, but many followed. Jesus never tried to woo people to a religious system, but many put their faith in Him. Jesus never set out to change the world, yet His sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection changed everything.

What does this mean for our Easter existence? It reinforces good old Lutheran counterintuitivity. You know, paradox.

- If you see to save your life, you'll lose it. But if you lose your life for Christ, you'll find it.

- If you pretend your sins don't exist, they'll take on a life of their own and crush you. If you confess your sins and bring them out into the open, you will be completely cleansed and freed.

These are a couple of the beautiful paradoxes of life in Christ.

What does it mean for your ministry?

It means that keeping the main thing the main thing will lead to a God-pleasing and effective ministry. It means that when you live out the reason you've been sent, the details will come together. As Jesus said in Matthew 6, "Seek first the reign of God and His righteousness, and all your needs will be provided to you as well."

You've been sent to spread the reign of God and His righteousness. This mission ("mission" is the Latin word for "sent") flows from the living Word of God that testifies to the risen Christ. If you spread the reign of God to people around you and to your community, much follows:

- people who worship God
- church life
- active prayer
- healthy giving of money for the mission
- orthodox belief
- mutual affirmation and consolation
- justice and righteousness among humanity
- passionate outreach to people who don't know Christ
- persistent multiplication of Christian community

Of course, you rejoice in and fuel these developments. But you pursue one thing: the reign of God.

What might be getting in the way of this counterintuitive pursuit? Your need for self-assurance? Your fear of unorthodoxy? Your hesitance to do more work? Your desire to be in complete control?

What do you need to stop pursuing so you can seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and let God establish the fullness of His reign?

Let It Change You

2011-04-08T07:53:00.001-07:00

My very first grandchild was born last weekend. She's a beautiful little girl, a miracle and gift. I haven't felt feelings like this since my own children were born. Suddenly, everything else pales in importance. Suddenly, life is different.

You may know how it goes:

- You want to tell people. E-mails, photos, videos, texts, tweets, phone calls, and personal conversations multiply as you eagerly share the news.

- Your priorities change. Money, time, your thoughts--everything--becomes oriented to one thing: that new and precious little life.

- You adjust your actions. All at once you become aware of what you're watching on TV, what's on the radio when you drive, what you're eating, the way your speaking, and how you live in front of a new and impressionable life.

- You remember your purpose. Life isn't about acquiring things, being comfortable, or paying the bills. It's about shaping another life, giving her the best, doing all you can to make sure she receives life in its fullness here and forever.

Of course, you can resist the changes new life brings. You can live it for a couple of days or a few weeks, but revert back to the old ways. You can ignore the excitement, the love, and the life-changing wonder of the miraculous spring of water God sent rushing into your wilderness.

Or you can let it change you.

The same is true for churches. Into the life of the church comes the living water of Jesus Christ. Springs of Living Water rinse barren and hopeless souls. New life begins. New hope springs eternal. Suddenly, life is different:

You need to tell people. Your priorities change. You adjust your actions. You remember your purpose.

Of course, you can resist the changes new life brings. You can become inward looking. You can settle into a business as usual mindset. You can focus on paying the bills and keeping insiders happy. You can stay safe and never risk trying something to reach the lost. You can fill your days with attending to e-mail and thinking about theology.

Or you can let it change you. You can think about theology AND put theology into action. You can share the beauty of the Gospel.

Studies show that in established churches it takes 60 people to reach one new person with the Good News of Jesus. In new churches, it only takes 10 people to reach a new person with the Gospel.

Is this because we become so accustomed to the miracle of the resurrection and so caught up in day-to-day distractions that we forget the miraculous new life right under our noses?

If Jesus Christ is truly risen from the dead, will you let it change you? Will you let it change your church?

A Super-model of Mission

2011-03-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

I confess: I watch "Celebrity Apprentice." I'm not sure why. I don't like the whining, the trash talk, or the spoiled celebrities. But something about it keeps me coming back. Last Sunday I saw one reason for watching. I saw a picture of what genuine mission is all about.

It all started when supermodel Niki Taylor and her team lost their task competition. What usually follows is a brouhaha in the boardroom with Donald Trump. Accusations fly. Cut-downs dominate. Arguing, crying, and merciless self-justifying assertions saturate the paneled walls of the Donald's inner sanctum of power.

But Sunday night was different. Supermodel Niki Taylor sat composed and confident. She said that her team worked together. Each person pulled her weight in the task. They did the best they could, but did not prevail in the end. With that, she let Donald know that she was the only one who could be held responsible for the loss. She should be fired.

And Donald fired her. The boardroom was quiet. Each member of her team could be heard saying, "What a class act." "That woman is pure class." Donald echoed the same sentiment. Then with head held high, Niki Taylor exited Trump Tower and returned to the life she loved as a hard working wife and mother.

Wow. What if the church behaved like Niki Taylor? What if God's people focused completely and wholeheartedly on the mission? What if it wasn't about arrogance or position or seeking personal status and adoration, but was totally about the sacred mission to reach the lost and broken with the wholeness and hope of Jesus Christ?

We have a problem with that sometimes. As church people, we let pride get in the way too often. We seek attention and adulation through our accomplishments. We try to be Luther-like by stirring up controversy so we can make our personal mark in history. We get arrogant about what is right. We covet power and positions of prominence. It's the dark side of the institutional church. It's sinful.

God declared in Isaiah 42:8, "I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another." You see, the glory will not be ours. We are the created ones. We are the clay. We are the servants. We were dead, but now are alive because of God's mercy and amazing grace.

With humble and repentant hearts, we are called to live transformed lives--no longer ourselves prevailing, scrapping, and fighting--but Christ alive in us. It's the life of Jesus. It's the life of love. It is patient, kind, not envious, not boasting, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13).

It's what Niki Taylor demonstrated on Sunday night: mission focus, mission humility, mission integrity, mission words, and mission deeds. Oh that each of us could be led by the Holy Spirit to give up our own glory; move away from our self-absorption, fear, and haughtiness; and move forward in the mission that matters. Oh that each of us might emulate this supermodel of mission!

A Deployed Church

2011-03-15T14:06:00.001-07:00

Complete and radical change. Being totally uprooted. Sacrificing home and family. Risking life itself. Empowering young leaders. Trusting the people of the church to be the church. Total devotion to God's Word and readiness to sacrifice tradition. Always on the move, bringing Christ to every corner of the community and world.

Those phrases describe the DNA of Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

In 1838, 1,100 Saxon Lutherans left Europe for the United States. They were on a quest for religious freedom, resisting the pressure to compromise Biblical teaching fueled by the Prussian Union. Only 750 of these daring and entrepreneurial immigrants made it to New Orleans. One ship was lost at sea.

After weathering their personal grief, the rigors of a new land, and their leader's corruption and sexual misconduct scandal, the group of believers did not collapse in failure and despondency. They grew stronger. Not yet 30-years-old, C.F.W. Walther became the leader of the group. He helped a Biblical model of church and ministry take hold among this group of Kingdom focused Christians.

What was important to this fledgling church?

Being People in Ministry and Mission: The church saw the danger of the old European hierarchical system. They followed the Biblical model of church and ministry, an active balance of people and pastors reaching out and serving.

Discipleship: Christian and theological education became a cornerstone of its existence.

Kingdom Unity: Walther's vision of a Lutheran Church across the United States resulted in the formation of the LCMS in 1847.

Kingdom Expansion: Loehe's "sent ones" (Sendlinge) set the pace for outreach, beginning with Native Americans and culminating in World Mission efforts of Lutherans that continue today.

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has been a deployed church from the beginning: Sent ones, sending more and more people--both young and old--to share the news of Jesus Christ and equip more missionaries for the Gospel. The LCMS is a deployed church: crossing the ocean and intent on infiltrating every corner of every land with ministry for Jesus Christ.

That's the church I know.

Complete and radical change. Being totally uprooted. Sacrificing home and family. Risking life itself. Empowering young leaders. Trusting the people of the church to be the church. Total devotion to God's Word and readiness to sacrifice tradition. Always on the move, bringing Christ to every corner of the community and world.

How are you doing as you are entrusted with that legacy in your community, for your state and nation, and for the world? How will you deploy your ministry in 2011?

Some churches are bringing church to nursing homes and youth shelters. Some churches are starting preschools in newly populated area. Some churches are implementing multi-site strategies. Some are planting new churches. Some are flooding neighborhoods with missional communities that form relationships and break through the barrier of the anti-institutional post-Christian culture. Ministry at local universities, the raising up of ethnic leaders to create a movement in another culture, Alpha groups that introduce people to the Christian faith--it's the DNA of the LCMS.

Complete and radical change. Being totally uprooted. Sacrificing home and family. Risking life itself. Empowering young leaders. Trusting the people of the church to be the church. Total devotion to God's Word and readiness to sacrifice tradition. Always on the move, bringing Christ to every corner of the community and world.

What's your next step?

What's Our Brand?

2011-03-03T05:18:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago I watched the very first Larry King replacement show hosted by Piers Morgan on CNN. Piers interviewed Oprah Winfrey. While I wasn't wowed by Piers, I was taken by one of his questions. He asked Oprah, "What's your brand?"

Piers Morgan pushed Oprah to respond with words and phrases like: Power, Influence, World Domination, Political Clout, A Network that Controls the World. Oprah wouldn't go for those. After being pushed to summarize her "brand," Oprah responded with one word:

Love.

She went on to describe her heartfelt hope that people feel loved because of who she is and what she offers. She wanted that love to be transmitted to others in an unbroken chain of "paying it forward."

Piers was shocked. He pushed back. But Oprah wouldn't budge. Love it was. That is what would define her to the world.

You probably see where I'm going. What if Piers Morgan asked the church what its brand is these days?

What might outside observers answer?

What might the church itself answer?

I wonder if the word "love" would come up at all?

Jesus made the brand He desired very clear: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).

Read John 17 and you'll see Jesus' branding effort all over the place. Review the entire book of 1 John and see the direction the Scriptures send us. Take a look at the book of James and ponder how God wants our faith to be worked out in love.

But is love (Gospel love, the true love of God) really what we're about? Henri Nouwen said, "Power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life" (In the Name of Jesus, p.59).

In "The Divine Conspiracy" Dallas Willard commented that perhaps our outcomes are not in spite of what we do but because of it. Could the stalled and suspect church of the western world be an exact result of what we're making it?

What if the brand spoken of by Jesus took hold in our hearts and actions? What if love prevailed in congregations and communities? What transformation would take place? What new and exciting ministry would result? Who might be rescued from eternal death and live a lifetime of contagious love as they traveled the road to eternal life with Jesus?

Grand Processions

2010-11-08T13:59:00.001-08:00

Romans 10 sends out a plea for help:

"But how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That's why the Scripture exclaims, 'A sight to take your breath away! Grand processions of people telling all the good things of God!'" (vss. 14-15, The Message)

As a Missional Worker, you're the grand procession. As a Missional Worker, you're the one who is sent.

But what are you supposed to do out there? How can you share Christ in such a confusing and opposing culture?

Let me share three tools with you as you work in the harvest fields of God:

First, listen. That's right. The key to sharing Christ is to listen to people. Understand them. Establish a relationship. Show you care. God will open remarkable doors for you as you discover the real needs and questions of a person in your life. Listen and let God show you how He wants to use you as an instrument of Christ's love.

Second, read God's Word. Please don't dismiss this as a pat answer. If you are reading the Bible regularly, you will be filled up with Good News to share when the time is right. I'm reading the New Testament in the Message paraphrase for my devotional reading. I'm amazed at how much God gives me to apply to my life and to share with others. Stay fueled up with the Word!

Third, if you're looking for a book that describes how God's people, the Church, can break out of navel-gazing and paralysis, read "Transformational Church" by Ed Stetzer and Thom Rainer. The book is filled with practical advice and important attitude shifts that will help God's people do their mission.

Dear Missional Workers, you are the grand procession of God, bringing the light of Jesus into a world in need. Keep going!

Margins

2010-10-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

When I was the editor of my high school yearbook, I learned a lot about margins. Our editing team was sent to a workshop at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. We learned the ins and outs of making a publication look good. One key to a great publication was not what was ON the page. It was what was NOT on the page. We were taught to make sure there was enough "white space" for the reader. If there was too much clutter, the reader would be overwhelmed, become frustrated, and give up on trying to navigate the content of the page. Margins made for effective communication.

Do you have "white space" in your life? Do you have margins that allow for flexibility, rest, creativity, spontaneity, and deep communion with God? Or are you cramming everything in, running out of time to do what's important, and stressing about how crazy and unpleasant life is?

A few years ago Dr. Richard Swenson wrote a book called "Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives." In it, he highlights the absolute clutter and mire we experience in this broken world. He calls us back to a life that allows God to work His plan for us. Dr. Swenson offers refreshment and restoration.

That's what Jesus did when He summoned His disciples away from the hubbub in Mark 6:31. The Apostle tells us: "Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, [Jesus] said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'"

God created the world and established margins--a rhythm of rest that defined the healthy and soul-growing rhythm of His people. God wants you to be a healthy servant, a shining light of balance and godliness to a broken, fragmented, cluttered, and distracted world.

If you need to grow in discovering good Spirit-led margins, come hear Dr. Richard Swenson speak at the 2010 Professional Church Workers' Conference, November 21-23, 2010 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, San Antonio, TX. If you're a Missional Worker in South Texas, you can register in the "Emeritus or Vicar" category. Register online or download a registration form at the Texas District, LCMS PCWC conference site. Hotel info is also available at the website.

Find some "white space" on the pages of your life. See what God will do with your margins!

Could Grandpa be a Postmodern?

2010-09-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

The phenomenon of postmodernism has been the subject of lectures, books, and many conversations over the last several years. Postmodernism is seen as a reaction against the structures of the modern culture. It is seen as a deconstruction of traditional systems, beliefs, morals, and practices.

Some observers identify the "millennial" generation as postmoderns. Crowd mentality has shifted to individualism. Efficiency has lost its luster, while authenticity has become a priority. Being connected in relationships has superseded the importance of belonging to groups. What is important to "me" shapes life instead of what others say we're supposed to do. Making a tangible difference is more important than making a contribution to a cause from a distance.

I am convinced that this postmodern outlook has saturated the culture and is oozing from every generation. From twenty-somethings to retirees, a postmodern mindset is evident. This has its advantages and disadvantages.

Some disadvantages:
- In some cases, veteran believers are insisting on being comfortable and having their preferences accommodated in the church. Instead of maturing in faith and sacrifice, glad to welcome change in order to reach the lost, these believers are hampering the movement of the church by making that which causes them to feel good the standard of their support.

- Veteran believers, who possess a larger percentage of resources, have veered toward shifting fund allocation away from general ministry support to ministry niches that fit their individual preferences.

- In some cases, veteran believers hold onto ministry leadership positions for long periods of time, viewing these positions as career climbs up the ladder instead of opportunities to mentor and multiply new leaders, giving authority away to new servants for Kingdom growth and development.

Some advantages:
- Veteran believers are moving away from the institutional model of church and mission, becoming involved in personal mission action in the community and around the world.

- Instead of being content to attend church and delegate ministry to professionals, veteran believers are seeking authentic relationships in the church and community in order to be transformed and effect transformation for Christ.

- In some cases, veteran believers are realizing that their experience is a gift to give away as they enter into relationships with willing younger generations, pairing up in some unlikely ways to disciple new believers.

Are you leaning toward postmodern selfishness or postmodern Kingdom transformation? Even grandpa needs to ask that question.

Social Networking

2010-08-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

No doubt, you've heard plenty about Facebook and Twitter. You're probably sick of hearing about social networking sites. But what if you decided to stay locked inside your house, completely disconnected with the outside world? That would make you non-social and non-networking, wouldn't it? You'd be called a recluse or a hermit.

Do you realize that a church can live a hermit existence? Are you aware that it is possible for God's people to become reclusive?

Social networking is nothing new. When Andrew found out about Jesus, he "posted a message" to his brother Peter: "We have found the Messiah!" When Philip started to follow Jesus, he immediately "tweeted" Nathanael and told him the scoop about the One the Scriptures foretold. After the demon possessed man was healed in Luke 8, he made sure the whole town knew how much Jesus had done for him. The woman at the well did the same thing in John 4. After Matthew started to follow Jesus, he got his friends list out and invited all of them to a party with the Savior. It's social networking. It's all about relationships. It's reaching new people who don't know and who aren't included, so they can know and be included. There's no limit to a friends list. No one refuses to allow more Twitter followers. The more, the merrier. If more people are connected, more people hear the news.

Sometimes followers of Jesus forget that they are still on earth in order to be all about social networking. Sometimes the local church forgets that fact, too. Instead of sharing the news with as many people as possible, followers of Christ get comfortable with a finite list of friends. They meet and sit with the people they know, never thinking about who might still need to hear the Good News of Jesus. Instead of actively pursuing open doors of service in the community, a church busies itself with in-house activities and programs, not realizing that new relationships may create opportunities for a great harvest of souls.

Followers of Jesus are called to be--and happy to be--social networkers. With every new encounter, in every new relationship, during every chance meeting, a follower of Jesus thinks, "What might God have planned? How might this lead to an expansion of His Kingdom?" As churches get involved in the community, serve in schools, volunteer at nursing homes, visit hospitals, participate in the chamber of commerce, host community events, and get mixed into the community in a thorough and effective way, they need to be on the watch for new believers, new leaders, and new possibilities for the advance of the Kingdom.

The Church was not created to be a hermit or recluse. It is to be the ultimate social networker. The cascade of relationships resulting from the efforts of God's people will bear the fruit of lives saved for eternity. This is God's will and desire.

How are you and your church social networkers? How are you bringing Jesus outside the walls of the church?

Check out some ideas in the excellent article from Christianity Today.

Who Are You Trying to Be?

2010-07-31T13:03:00.001-07:00

As a worker in the harvest field, you will be confronted with the issues of success, ego, and status. You'll wonder if you're really producing anything, if anyone notices how much you're doing for God's Kingdom, and if your skills are noticed and valued. Once you have entered the harvest field, you will be drawn toward the culture's siren call of stardom. Are you the greatest life-changer ever? Can you pack a building? Will people know you and want to hear more from you?

It's a strange and dangerous trap. You enter into God's service for the purpose of helping people. The lost need to be found. The "least of these" need to be noticed and cared for. The hopeless need prayer and comfort. The straying are in need of the Word that is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. But then you want more. You want recognition. You want wealth. You want to be adored as the expert and authority--so wise and smart.

Paul summed it up well in Romans 7:24 when he said, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"

We turn the Gospel into a tool we possess, into a message that makes us the star, into a means for popularity and personal gain. Sometimes this sinful twistedness is blatant. At other times it is in the form of hidden yearning beneath a humble veneer.

What is the answer? Romans 7:25 reveals it: "Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Jesus opens a way through the ego-driven, personal recognition seeking, sinful enclosure we build. Philippians 2:7 reveals Jesus' pathway through the celebrity sensationalizing culture and the prominence enticing church: "[He] made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant."

The answer to chasing the call of self-aggrandizement is to know who you are really trying to be.

Are you trying to be a star? Are you trying to be a guru? Are you trying to be popular? Are you trying to get rich? Are you trying to get attention? Or will you follow in the steps of the One who became nothing, taking the very nature of a servant to save you? Who are you really trying to be?

What if you tried to be nothing so that all the ego-rooted worries and inner battles could be stilled and Jesus could be completely seen and glorified in your life and ministry?

What if you gave your ministry your all--every ounce of your energy and dedication--but let ulterior motives and fears melt away into Jesus' great promise, "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it" (Mark 8:35)?

What if you became determined to live a mustard seed and leaven life, allowing God to make much of the little you offer without trying to inflate it yourself?

What if you decided to be still before God as you serve Him and let Him make the noise needed in the church and in the world?

The Big Event

2010-07-10T18:54:00.001-07:00

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is in convention this week. We pray that God is glorified and that all the actions of the conventions lift up the name of Jesus and His love. This convention, however, will not be a significant Kingdom expanding occurrence. You read correctly. Sometimes we make the mistake in believing that the big events make big differences, when, in reality, it's the little events repeated over and over for an extended period of time that make the real difference in people's lives.

In 1998 we took our daughters to Disney World. It was a big deal. We saved our money. We read books about how to make the most of the trip. We sought advice. And we had a blast. But twelve years later, even though they were ten and eight-years-old when they took the trip, my daughters have just vague memories of their Disney experience. The big event was fun, but it didn't shape their lives.

What DO they remember? They remember our repeated trips to a humble little cottage in a small town in Michigan. These were not fancy vacations. They were free. There were no attractions. An exciting day meant taking a walk to the grocery store to get some milk and donut holes. But this simple vacation, this little event repeated for many years, transformed their lives.
Significant life memories are connected with their trips to the cottage. They still yearn to be there. They hope to take their families there one day.

Big events, for the most part, do not make a significant difference in people's lives. Little events, repeated over and over for an extended period of time, make the real difference.

So, what really expands the Kingdom of God? How is someone won for Christ? What develops a praying, worshipping, witnessing follower of Jesus? How does someone grow as a self-sacrificial and repentant servant of the King? What facilitates love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in a redeemed soul? How is a spirit of zealous mission developed?

Is it through one big event?

No. It's when you befriend someone, listen to her hopes and fears, and bring her regular doses of Jesus. It's when you pray with your kids and tell them over and over that Jesus cares and that Jesus loves them. It's when you serve steadily in the community as the hands and feet of the Savior, and, over the testing period of time, people take notice, wonder what you've got, and want to be just like you. It's when you read the Word of God day after day and do what it says over the long haul. It's when you join forces with a small band of believers and combine your resources to transform a community and to reach out to the ends of the earth.

It's the little things repeated over and over for an extended period of time that make the biggest Kingdom difference.

That's why you need to be a faithful worker in the harvest field. That's why you need to keep pressing on. That's why you need to remember your first love and not get discouraged by the world's antagonism. That's why you need to realize your value in the Kingdom of God and refuse to stop sharing the Good News of Jesus.

The little things you do over and over again in your small corner of God's Kingdom will change people's lives forever.

The Real Enemy

2010-06-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

At a recent conference, I heard a speaker discredit two popular Christian pastors. The speaker was making a theological point and wanted to make sure we knew where those high profile pastors were going wrong.

During a planning meeting at an area church, a member spoke up and indicated that his church had to get moving if it was going to keep up with two other Christian churches in town that were gaining quite a following.

I couldn't respond to the conference speaker, but I was able to ask a question of the person at the planning meeting: Who is the real enemy?

Too often, we in the Christian Church get confused. We drift toward fighting an easy battle instead of being clothed with spiritual armor for the difficult warfare. In other words, we take potshots at fellow members of the body of Christ instead of unsheathing the sword of the Spirit against the Evil One.

It's important to remember who the real enemy is.

What are some key strategies for workers in the harvest field?

First, your job as a believer is not to cut down fellow believers, but to build them up. We may not see eye to eye on everything, but there is no place for slamming fellow servants of Jesus. Kind and gentle one-on-one conversations may be needed to clear up issues, but speaking the truth in love must prevail. Jesus wanted it that way.

Second, your goal is not to outdo other churches or be in competition with fellow workers in the harvest field. There's simply no need. There is no shortage of people who don't know Jesus or who don't have an active relationship with Him. No one has to worry about running out of people to reach. Give praise to God for successful ministries and try to work faithfully in the corner of the Kingdom God has given you.

Third, your goal is not to exalt your church or ministry. Your goal is to glorify God and build His Church. Your effort is about the big picture, God's Kingdom. Your church or ministry is a tool God has chosen to use for His gracious outreach.

Fourth, you must stay vigilant to use your time, energy, creativity, and resources to fight the real fight of faith and not to become preoccupied by faith in-fighting. The devil is prowling around, seeking someone to devour. May it never be said that you were so busy battling fellow believers that you missed an opportunity to snatch someone from the fires of hell.

Please know that it is very important to work with fellow believers so that our proclamation is faithful and true. There is internal work that must be done. But our time, our conversation, our attention, our study, our practice, and our focused efforts can never be diverted from the real enemy. If they are, he wins.

First Impressions

2010-06-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

Bad news from Summer Camp came my way the other day. The first lunch served to hundreds of young people ages 5-10 was "beanie weenies." Yes, it's a soupy mix of hot dog slices and beans. Your mouth may be watering at this point because you love this gustatory delight. But I'm pretty confident that a survey of grade-schoolers' food favorites wouldn't show "beanie weenies" even in the top 25.

Proof of my gut feeling is that several kids wept openly when they found out about the lunch menu. In tears, one growing boy who could probably polish off a whole pizza, decided he would rather subsist on a couple of crackers than torment his taste buds with the dish of the day.

I felt badly for the summer camp crew. The lunch selection wasn't a winner. What really bothered me, however, was that this was the FIRST lunch. Can you imagine the terror in virtually every camper's psyche: "I've got FIFTY more lunches to go!"?

First impressions make a difference.

As workers in God's harvest field, you will make many first impressions. Every day, you have opportunities to give small previews of Jesus and the life He gives. In relationships with others, you show people what the menu of life in Jesus looks like. What impressions will you make?

Peter, the brash and bold apostle who failed many a first impression test, reflected on his life in the book of 1 Peter in the Bible. He spoke about some first impressions harvest workers need to give to people walking in darkness:

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do." 1 Peter 1:13-15

"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." 1 Peter 2:1-2

"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:12

"Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:8-9

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15

Will the people God puts in your life be repulsed by the menu you display? Or will they crave the delightful and delicious fare you bring as you represent Jesus? Will they line up for more as they feel hunger pangs for the Bread of Life?

Read Peter's words again and let your first impressions do wonders in the name of Jesus.

Durability

2010-06-02T05:42:00.000-07:00

I had to replace the string in my weed-eater the other day. It struck me that I bought a package of replacement string six years ago and I still haven’t used it all! I’ve faithfully cut and trimmed the grass for six years. I haven’t skimped on using the weed-eater. I haven’t held back in my trimming activity. I’ve pushed the trimmer to its limits and replaced the string faithfully, yet, here we are six years later, and I’m just now thinking about purchasing a new supply.

That’s durability. That’s long-haul resource faithfulness. My weed-eater string has outlasted several of my neighbors, a hamster, and half-a dozen goldfish. I’ve been able to count on my weed-eater string.

In John 15:16 Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last.”

The word for “last” means “to remain,” “to endure,” “to abide,” and “to continue.” Jesus used the word ten times in John 15:4-10. He remains in us. By His grace, we remain in Him. We remain in His love and show we’re His disciples.

Jesus was making a major point. A foundational component of being in relationship with Him is durability. Jesus is a long-haul Savior. He remains in us. He abides with us. He never leaves us or forsakes us. His love and grace have staying power.

He transforms us into long-haul people. We bear each other’s burdens. We show kindness and compassion to one another. We press on in mission.

But there are obstacles to our durability as Christ’s servants. A few are:

Distraction – Being busy with many things can pull us away from what is most important.

Fatigue – Life is draining. We are finite. We get very tired.

Spiritual defeat – Everything does not always go our way. Sometimes battles are lost and we get discouraged.

Incorrect vision – We plan on short term fixes when God calls us to endure over the long-haul.

Frustration – We try to fix the problem instead of trusting God with it.

Mission Forgetfulness – The temptation to BE God overtakes our calling to serve God.

Running out of Fuel – Neglecting our personal faith dries up the spiritual overflow in our lives that leads to balanced and faithful service.

Selling Out – It is tempting to place personal comfort, recognition, and perks over faithful Kingdom sacrifice.

Are you growing in durability as Christ’s servant? Are you becoming a stronger, long-haul, worker for the Kingdom? Are you increasing in endurance as a disciple? What obstacles do you face in bearing fruit that will last? How will you abide in Christ, continue in His mission, and finish strong?

Unintended Consequences

2010-05-18T20:35:00.000-07:00

I was reading my latest issue of “Road and Track” magazine and stumbled upon some unique perspectives about innovation:

1. LED traffic lights are very popular these days. They use 90% less energy than the old incandescent bulb traffic lights. Unfortunately, there’s a downside. LED lights produce very little heat. When ice and snow hit in cold climates, the precipitation builds up on the light housings and cause the lights to fail. This has resulted in traffic accidents due to malfunctioning LED traffic lights. It was an unintended consequence of a new innovation. Solutions to the problem have ranged from installing heating elements in the new lights to hiring work crews to clean the lights regularly. The expense of these solutions may be eliminated if communities go back to incandescent bulb traffic lights!

2. The increase in biofuel production in Europe has resulted in a population explosion of the European wild boar. With more corn and crops being grown for biofuel needs, wild boars have been on a feeding frenzy, attacking innocent villagers, smashing into living rooms, and terrorizing village streets. It’s an unintended consequence.

Clearly, good things can lead to unintended consequences.

It’s true of the church, too.

1. God instituted the Old Testament priesthood and the New Testament office of the pastoral ministry. As the church grew, professional clergy proliferated. As the church became more and more institutionalized, professional clergy began to gravitate away from being missionaries in their communities. Instead they became comfortable, started to settle for the status quo, began to exclude the people of the church from the work of the mission, and used extra time to create an argumentative and internally focused environment. It was an unintended consequence.

2. As “church” began to be defined in terms of membership at a place where there was community, discipleship, and fellowship, a “club” mentality that overlooks the central mission of the church began to form. Reliance upon the “professionals” to do what was supposed to be normal for every believer (prayer, witness, creating relationships with unbelievers, discipling others, growing in the Word, caring actively for each other), caused church members to become consumers of ministry that met their needs. It was an unintended consequence.

What can you do about these unintended consequences? Like the traffic light issue, you may have to look back to the original and recapture the warmth of the purpose of ministry. Like the wild boar issue, you may have to set up some clear boundaries that protect the church from lapsing into selfish indulgence.

Overall, we are called to be accountable to God and to become realigned with His true mission, his purpose, and His intent for His Church. According to Him, His church is described with words like: Ambassadors, Salt, and Light. God expects us and calls us to share the resurrection life of His Son with people. If you’re mired in unintended consequences, it’s time to repent, step away from cold boarishness, and embark upon the most exciting and worthy mission ever.

Need some help? Check out www.missionalworker.org.

Unleashing Missional Imagination

2010-05-04T16:39:00.000-07:00

A precious friend of ours died a few days ago. He was a crusty New Jersey thoracic surgeon. My wife worked in his office twenty-five years ago. Whey she met him, he was a disillusioned, de-churched, Roman Catholic who dismissed Jesus as an institutional tool for power, control and fund raising. But change was on the horizon.

We lived in New Jersey for only one year. During that time, the doctor took a shine to my wife’s kind heart and cheerful attitude. She was like a granddaughter to him. My wife appreciated his intelligence, compassion for patients, and humor. They became friends. I was able to meet him and develop a friendship, too. Though he hadn’t darkened the doorway of a church in decades, we invited him to our farewell Sunday when we left. He surprised us by coming.

When we left, the friendship continued and the outreach began. My wife kept in touch with the doctor. She sent him cards on his birthday, for Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Valentine’s Day. She wrote notes that expressed the heartfelt desire that Jesus would bless his special celebrations and his family. The cards always had special Bible verses in them. My wife cared about this person and told me that she wanted to see him in heaven one day.

Years went by, and my wife never stopped her faithful notes to him. One Christmas, something completely unusual and surprising happened. The doctor, who sent us regular Christmas cards—always secular and generic, sent us a card with a manger scene on the cover. Inside was a short note that recognized God’s blessings in his life.

I would have never created a strategy for outreach that involved sending greeting cards and notes. But the love of one person, her deep care for one who was lost, and the relentless effort to connect with him, prepared fertile soil for the Holy Spirit. And a life was changed forever.

Several years ago a woman approached me with a ministry idea. It was to form a network of people who cared for each other with the love of Jesus. They would step up to cook meals for those in need, do chores, drive to doctor’s appointments, and send cards—all in the name of Jesus. I told her to go for it. And she did.

Years later, many care teams exist in this ministry. The largest team is called “team cheer.” The team’s job? To send cards to people. Hundreds of people belong to team cheer. They reach thousands of people on a consistent basis every year. Many people have come to Christ through this ministry. Many people have experienced Jesus’ love. Who would have thought of such a ministry? But the missional imagination of one follower of Christ can change lives forever.

A doctor, a friend, is in heaven today because of God’s Word and the love of Jesus communicated through cards and notes over a twenty-five year span of time. In what ways is the Holy Spirit leading you to reach out? To whom is your missional imagination leading you? Jesus didn’t tell everyone to start an organization. He told us to make disciples as we go about our lives. His desire is that all people know Him and are saved. Where will you start today?

Get training and ministry ideas at Missional Worker Training on May 15 in San Antonio, Texas. Go to www.missionalworker.org for details.

Neighborhood Genius

2010-04-21T17:23:00.001-07:00

I’m writing this blog at the Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida. No, I’m not writing during the sessions. I’m writing while I play hooky at Disney World (just kidding!).

As I wander through the hallways at the conference, I’ve noticed that a lot of church planters and missional leaders are injured. An oddly high number of people have casts on their arms or legs, are wearing slings, and are moving around on crutches. I’m beginning to think that living out a missional life is really dangerous!

A missional life is, in fact, daring and risky. Instead of living for yourself, serving your own interests, and being protected in your bubble, you decide to really care about people. You take time to engage with your family. You take steps to get involved in people’s lives. You venture into the community to serve others. You ask God and yourself, “How can I live out Jesus’ love in public today?”

I was having lunch with a few colleagues recently when a fellow church member approached our table and introduced us to a friend of hers. The friend had experienced all kinds of tragedy and hurt. She was barely scraping by. The church member had been doing a great job introducing her to the care and love of Jesus. There was one problem, the friend mentioned casually. She didn’t have a driver’s license and couldn’t visit our faith community.

You could see everyone thinking, “Hey! We’ll give you a ride!”

I had another thought: “What if she were to help start a gathering in her own neighborhood? There would be no pressure for a driver’s license and she could invite a whole bunch of her friends. She’d be able to explore with people in her life who God is.”

That kind of invitation was extended to my wife recently. A neighbor invited her to gather with a group of ladies to explore who Jesus is and do life together. They would meet in her home, just a few blocks away.

This is nothing new or earth shattering. People met in homes in Acts chapter two. But it really works. It’s close in proximity. It’s convenient. It involves natural relationships. It causes life-sharing and Christian conversation. It leads to mentoring and caring. It even creates groups that serve others. It is the church in action. It’s very meaningful. It’s what people yearn for. And anybody can do it.

The gathering my wife attends isn’t part of a small groups program at a church. It’s simply being the church.

I call it neighborhood genius. God put you in the middle of a whole bunch of people—in your family, at work, at school, in your apartment complex, at soccer practice—you get the idea. It’s your neighborhood. Then, in your neighborhood, you get people together. You talk and care and live and bring Jesus there. He’ll show you the way. And lives will change. People will be lifted up. People will receive God’s love. People will band together to bring that love to more “neighborhoods.”

At the conference I’m attending, I heard the story of a water skiing instructor who worked on Sunday mornings. He didn’t feel good about missing church, so before he took people out on the water, he asked if he could read some Scripture and pray for them. This caught on. Soon he had 60 water skiers gathering for breakfast, the Bible and prayer each Sunday before they all went skiing. A group of locals joined in to help people with their boats in case they needed some repair and help. The ski instructor said to his pastor, “You know what, I think I accidentally started a church!”

Neighborhood genius! It sounds like what God told Abraham in Genesis 12, “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you." What a plan! Genius. How are you working in your neighborhood?

Taking a Chance

2010-04-07T14:19:00.001-07:00

A very scary thing took place as I lived in a neighborhood for fourteen years. I saw little kids grow up and learn to drive!

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Little Andrew, just a toddler when we moved into the neighborhood, was suddenly given the keys to the family Expedition. Up the street he went, windows rolled down, radio blaring, exceeding the speed limit, a smirk of coolness on his face. How could this be?

Sweet little Emily, just into kindergarten when we arrived on the block, was driving her sister to school! When did she get such authority?

This was frightening. But it was a fact of life. After all, we’re going to need these drivers to take us to our hip replacement doctor follow-ups one day.

It’s terrifying, but there is no way we can shut down driver training. We can’t cap the number of drivers on the road with our generation.

The same is true of Kingdom work.

It may be scary, but God is giving many people the mantle of Kingdom service. It can be frightening to Kingdom-work veterans, and it can be frightening for new Kingdom workers! But we can’t shut down Kingdom-worker training and sending. We can’t cap the number of people who serve Jesus with our generation or our geography or our genetic makeup. We must take a chance.

Throughout millennia God has raised up new people to reach out with His Good News. Somehow, we who serve got into this business. Each of us was new at one time. And each of us makes a unique Kingdom difference. We need to let God do the same with others. We need to mentor, support, teach, be flexible, welcome new ideas, guide with sound Scriptural foundations, and let go of our own fear and pride. We need to see how God will reach new generations with new workers who are sent into a chain reaction of new relationships.

And new workers need to be ready. Getting behind the wheel can be nerve-wracking. It can be intimidating. You may not want to head out into traffic. But there comes a time to drive! God is sending you because there are people in your life who need to know Jesus. There are people you will enter into relationships with who need to see His genuine love. You need to learn, practice, be humble, and take risks.

God’s courage leads the way. Let’s take chances with Him so that many will come to know their Savior, Jesus who lives!

You can register for the latest Missional Worker Training in your area at www.missionalworker.org.

The Reformation and Missional Communities

2010-03-25T15:11:00.001-07:00

When Martin Luther was ousted from the church, the struggle of being the church became a new challenge. Were the Reformers really the church? The Roman Catholic authorities told them that they were most certainly not. They weren’t church; they had no real pastors; and the people were apostate outsiders cut off from God’s grace.

The Roman Church possessed the authority to be church. The understanding of the Word was theirs. The administration of the sacraments was under their control. The outsiders were a sham, fake, inauthentic.

So the struggle began. What were these little communities of believers in Jesus to do?

As they searched the Scriptures they discovered something. They WERE the church!

Thus began the development of the Reformation Church as missional communities.

The Lutheran Confessions express this joyful discovery of the reformers. The Apology of the Augsburg Confession says in Articles VII and VIII: “In accordance with the Scriptures, therefore, we maintain that the church in the proper sense is the assembly of the saints who truly believe the Gospel of Christ and who have the Holy Spirit” (Tappert, p.173).

Article XII of the Smalcald Articles declares: “We do not concede to the papists that they are the church, for they are not. Nor shall we pay any attention to what they command or forbid in the name of the church, for, thank God, a seven-year-old child knows what the church is, namely, holy believers and sheep who hear the voice of their Shepherd. So children pray, ‘I believe in one holy Christian church.’ Its holiness does not consist of surplices, tonsures, albs, or other ceremonies of theirs which they have invented over and above the Holy Scriptures, but it consists of the Word of God and true faith” (Tappert, p.315).

Based on the Bible, the Reformers saw church as the body of Christ, “holy believers and sheep who hear the voice of their Shepherd,” bunches of redeemed people gathered by and gathered around the Word of God.

The Reformers resisted the assertion that church could only be church when papist authorities deemed it to be church by their control and decree.

The church was more than an institutional entity. It was living, fluid, vibrant, and reaching. Article IV of the Smalcald articles comments on the Gospel: “We shall now return to the Gospel, which offers counsel and help against sin in more than one way, for God is surpassingly rich in his grace: First, through the spoken word, by which the forgiveness of sin (the peculiar function of the Gospel) is preached to the whole world; second, through Baptism; third, through the holy Sacrament of the Altar; fourth, through the power of the keys; and finally, through the mutual conversation and consolation of the brethren” (Tappert, p.310).

God was moving among His people. His movements were not limited to the authoritative outlets that the Roman officials allowed.

The church of the Reformation established itself as missional communities: assemblies that were fully the church, filled with and utilizing the gifts God bestowed upon the church, reaching out with a life-transforming Gospel for the expansion of the church.

Under the heading of the Mass, Article XXIV of the Apology of the Augsburg Confession states: “As for outward appearances, our church attendance is greater than theirs [the papists]. Practical and clear sermons hold an audience…The real adornment of the churches is godly, practical, and clear teaching, the godly use of the sacraments, ardent prayer, and the like” (Tappert, p.259).

Real church—the body of Christ—was reaching real people in real, practical and completely Scriptural ways. The Reformers successfully “bucked the system” to defend that fact that they were really the church—more real than the dead, Scripture-forsaking opposition.

I wonder sometimes if the church today is squelching the spirit of the Reformation church. Do we discourage anything outside of our institutional controls, our human structures, and our personal plans, or do we really believe that the church is the body of Christ, missional communities that gather around, and fill the community with, the Gospel? Are we opening the floodgates of Gospel by recognizing and encouraging the mutual conversation and consolation of God’s people for a lost world, or are we, like the Pharisees in Luke 19, commanding the followers of Jesus to quiet down, organizing them in ways that make them a harmless and benign group of near-sighted lemmings?

I hear people say that our denomination needs to define its ecclesiology better. From what I read in the Scriptures and Confessions, our ecclesiology seems very clear. Perhaps we look for a better one because our current one is risky, entrepreneurial and uncomfortable.

We need to do better as stewards of the church. We need to take risks, to live up to the Reformers, let alone Jesus Himself. Through the master in the parable of Luke 19, Jesus said, “Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag” (vs.26 The Message).

I’m for Reformation style risks. How about you?

Missional Worker Inspiration

2010-03-07T06:39:00.000-08:00

Are you a missional worker? In Luke 10, Jesus appointed seventy-two people and sent them. He said, "I am sending you." Into the harvest fields they went. Jesus didn't say, "Some of you are only spectators." He didn't tell a group, "You stay inside the building while other go out into the world." No. Believers were sent.

I was sitting next to a firefighter recently. We were at a meeting of a Mission Society. This full-time firefighter coordinates and leads mission trips to Brazil. He told stories of medical journeys that changed people's lives as the love of Jesus was lived out and proclaimed. He described the way he helps local church members make a global difference. The firefighter is a missional worker. In the midst of his busy life, he has a mission focus and is being used by God to make Kingdom gains.

What about you? What's your mission? It doesn't have to be in South America. It can start at home!

Reggie McNeal, the articulate mission strategist, gave a talk recently that contained nugget after nugget of missional wisdom. For every missional worker, I'd like to share those quotes so your soul can be stirred to action as we ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers:

"We need to be apostolic, to share the faith with people who have no spiritual scripting."

"The culture is having a God conversation while we get distracted with church conversations."

"The Church is a who, not a what. If I am a believer, then everywhere I am is the Church, the sent ones. This expands the bandwidth of the Christian movement in the world."

"You run into Jesus where there are people in need."

"Apostolic preaching happens in the streets, marketplace, all the world. We made preaching an inside church thing."

"If we're the bride of Christ, what's on His heart needs to get on our hearts pretty quickly."

"The church's scorecard should be the measure of missional agents, not church attenders."

"The apostolic model is to deploy then debrief."

"Apostolic leaders make heroes of the right people."

"The best leadership releases you to bless people."

"You are a viral agent of the Kingdom."

Dear friends, you are sent! You are a missional worker! There is no failure for one who brings the blessing of Jesus to others.

If you're interested in Missional Worker Training, click here for information and registration.

New Missional Worker Training Dates!

2010-02-24T11:40:00.000-08:00

Missional Worker Training is moving forward in South Texas!

Two training sessions are now scheduled:

Saturday, April 24, 2010 – Brownsville, TX
El Calvario Lutheran Church, 1157 E Monroe St., 78520

Saturday, May 15, 2010 – San Antonio, TX
Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 5323 Blanco Road, 78216
Childcare will be provided at Christ Our Savior.
Please reserve your child’s place by May 10th.
Call 210-732-7223 and speak with Lynn Linkes.

Schedule for each seminar:
8:30am registration, 9:00am-3:30pm training.

Registration fee: $15 for lunch and materials.

Be part of the excitement! Invite friends who have a heart for serving Jesus and His people!

For more information, Ministry Ideas, FAQs, Bulletin/Newletter information, and a downloadable brochure, please take a look at the Missional Worker website and the MissionalWorker.org Resource Page.

Missional Worker FAQs

2010-02-11T06:04:00.000-08:00

Missional Worker Frequently Asked Questions

1) Are we creating a new “office” for the Missional Worker? To create an entirely new category of worker may cause confusion regarding our current list of ordained and commissioned ministers.

A Missional Worker is not a new ministry “office.” A missional worker is a Christian servant—a lay person—who is being trained and sent into service by a pastor. The goal is to allow lay people to be equipped and sent to their “harvest fields” in order to bring the Good News of Jesus there. This is equivalent to training a small group leader to facilitate a small group study or equipping a lay-leader for visiting people in the hospital.

2) Missional Workers will be sent into new “ministries.” Our confessions speak of Ministry in the context of Word and Sacrament (i.e. Congregations). Is this training meant to be another pathway to ordination? What do you mean by new “ministries”?

The term “ministry” is used in reference to an opportunity to serve (parallel to the Greek word “diakonia”). Of course, under the direction of a pastor, if a group of people gathers steam and develops into a church plant, then the faithful steps would be taken toward a Word and Sacrament ministry.

3) Why is it necessary to train these folks to lead people in prayer, study, serving and worship? Is this a substitute for what our confessions reference when they discuss being “rightly called”?

These folks would be trained to understand and communicate sound Biblical truth, to pray for and with people, to grow in listening skills, and to live lives of godly integrity. It’s the discipleship of lay people to be salt and light in the world—-not apart from the church, but as the body of Christ. Missional Worker Training is not an attempt to subvert the office of the ministry or to ignore the rite vocatus principle rooted in the Scriptures. This is an effort to increase the active outreach work of God’s people as the church, leading more people to rejoice in Word and Sacrament in the Biblical structure of Church and Ministry we hold to.

The Possibilities

2010-01-25T14:21:00.000-08:00

South Texas will grow by over 600,000 people over the next four years. Population will climb from 6,091,795 people to 6,696,291 people.

How can we bring the Gospel to all who live with no hope in the living Savior, Jesus? Is the challenge impossible? Is the task too great?

Jesus said in Luke 10:2, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Jesus wants us to ask for workers.

What if 10% of everyone who worships in an Area C LCMS congregation steps up to be trained as Missional Worker? That would be over 1600 people.

What if each of those people recruited 3-5 people to become Missional workers after the one-year training? That would result in up to 8000 people reaching out into neighborhoods, schools, nursing homes, moms groups, work-places and more. What if those 8,000 people raised up 3-5 more workers each? Do you realize that in 3-5 years 40,000 people in South Texas could be reaching nearly half a million people with the love of Jesus Christ--reaching people we may have never imagined reaching with the Gospel?

What if the Lord of the harvest sends workers? What if God's people unleash a movement of mission that saturates our state with the transforming news of Christ crucified and risen?

In Luke 10:3 Jesus said, "Go! I am sending you!"

If you're interested in Missional Worker Training, go to www.missionalworker.org.

Profiles of Missional Workers

2010-01-13T15:23:00.000-08:00

What is a missional worker?

Elsa was a resident in a senior housing center. After receiving communion from her pastor for a few months during monthly visits, she asked him if she could invite others from the housing center to join her for worship in her apartment. The pastor agreed. Soon, ten people were gathering with her for worship each month. Elsa asked the pastor if they could move to the chapel and invite more friends. The pastor happily agreed. Elsa publicized the gathering, made personal invitations, and recruited friends to spread the word. It didn't take long until two-dozen people were worshipping. Residents volunteered for music ministry, ushering, and serving on the altar guild. People were confessing their faith and taking new steps to follow Christ. A satellite church was born--from the zeal of a missional worker.

Jo Ann was passionate about reaching people who were suffering. After some training she launched a "care network." She recruited people to give rides, help with yardwork, cook meals, and send cards to people in need. It didn't take long before hundreds of people were involved. They were reaching thousands for Christ. The card ministry alone transformed the lives of young and old, single people and families. The love of Jesus was spreading far and wide--because a missional worker was sent into action.

Mike wanted to reach 20-something young men. Too many, he noticed were overlooked by the church. Too many were distracted by other things. After some training and sending, Mike invited seven young men to get together with him twice each month so they could talk about life. Five agreed. Every Tuesday evening from 9-11, Mike met with the guys in a local bar--that's where they wanted to gather. They used the time to get to know each other and to talk about what really mattered. Mike made his way into their lives as a friend and helper--in the name of Jesus.

Vianey wanted desperately to reach the children in her neighborhood with Jesus. After going to her pastor for training and support, she began a ministry for children in her home. The outreach developed into ministry to the moms and older siblings as well. Groups meet at her house three times each week to study, sing, fellowship, and serve. Vianey is now taking classes to become a deaconess!

Are you a missional worker? Do you know one? Go to www.missionalworker.org for more information.

Workers

2009-12-30T14:57:00.000-08:00

I heard this morning that the United States is one trillion pounds overweight. That's a lot of pounds per person. You can do the math.

In contrast to that estimate, we also have more diets, food supplements, websites, and talk shows devoted to the weight issue than any place in the world. We talk so much about weight loss and healthy eating. Thousands upon thousands of dollars are spent to study weight loss. The National Football League is pushing 60 minutes of exercise each day for kids in order to curb obesity in children. We're fixated on losing weight!

But it doesn't seem to be working.

Why? I think I have an idea.

There was a time when most people packed lunches and cooked their supper. There was a little window during the day when you had to get your hands on a couple of pieces of bread, dig some peanut butter and jelly out of the refrigerator, find a knife, put it all together in a sandwich, pack the sandwich in something to keep it fresh, then tuck the little package into a lunch bag. In addition to the sandwich, you had to have access to an apple or orange, and maybe a few potato chips, and pack those in the lunch bag, too.

Yes, this really happened.

There was also a time during the day when someone in the house cooked food for the dwellers of the house. It may have been a pot roast or some pork chops. It could have been spaghetti or even some hamburger helper. But at a designated time of day, supper was prepared and eaten--a home-cooked meal.

But this took work. It took time. You even had to do some menu planning and grocery shopping. Yes, more work.

People don't want to do the work anymore. It's easier to have someone else prepare the meal and hand it to you through a drive-thru window. No shopping. No preparation. No walking. No exertion. Just a credit card and voila! No work.

Jesus said in Luke 10:2, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Workers. We live in a day and age when the desire to do work is fading. We pay people to do things. We find convenient ways of avoiding work but still realizing a result. Our culture loves to talk ABOUT getting things done. Our culture loves to play games and work at having fun. But, according to Jesus, the Kingdom of God needs workers.

I believe that the Holy Spirit is creating a strong desire in believers to serve God and help expand His Kingdom. I know that there are people out there who are ready to do the work, the hard and wonderful work of the Gospel. I am convinced that Jesus' promise of a prevailing Church is true and Jesus' call to pray for workers will result in a harvest beyond all we can ask for or imagine.

But we need to hear Jesus' words carefully. We need to remember that Kingdom growth takes work. It takes workers. We need to ask for workers--in prayer and in settings where we gather with Christians. We need to be bold about the sacrifice and effort and gifts needed from believers for the sake of Kingdom expansion. We need to recruit the people of God to be about the worthy work of bringing the Good News of Jesus to others--not as professionals (we need them, too), but as workers who make the Kingdom harvest part of the fabric of their lives.

Without workers an inadequate Kingdom diet that threatens the health of the Church may be the result.

Workers wanted. Workers to be trained and sent. Missional Worker Training is ready to help.

Giving it Away

2009-12-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

I was visiting an Area C church a little while back. The pastor mentioned to me that the church has a practice of giving 25% of its offerings to missions.

The church is not a "mega-church." The church doesn't sponsor conferences. The church doesn't try to be famous. But it is being bold, faithful, and outreaching. The church is hearing Christ's call and rejoicing in the blessings of being in mission.

I wonder if we have glamorized distractions. What if every church decided that instead of figuring out the "magic bullet" to "get the youth" or increase numbers or fit in with the latest church trends, it simply would determine to give itself away--boldly and radically.

The church I mentioned above gives money to many ministries. It also serves its own community with time and talent. A mission focus develops missional servants. A mission focus sends people out with the greatest news anyone could ever hear: Jesus is Savior. Jesus brings life.

I suspect there are droves of people in churches and in communities waiting for an invitation to bold mission.

What if we walked the talk and took the risk of being sold out for the Great Commission? What if we challenged people to the glorious and high calling of serving Jesus? What if we invited people to participate boldly in mission and ministry?

Missional Worker Training is coming to Area C of the Texas District. The goal is to recruit, train, and send workers into the harvest field.

What might happen if we are determined to give it away? What might the Lord do?

Missional Worker Training

2009-11-30T08:22:00.000-08:00

In 2010, a new phase of the "Mission 200" effort will begin in Area C of the Texas District. It's called "Missional Worker Training." Following Jesus’ words in Luke 10:2 to “ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field,” Missional Worker Training will seek to RECRUIT, TRAIN, SEND, and ENCOURAGE missional workers who will start new ministries. This effort will multiply possibilities of ministry expansion and help create a missional movement in Texas.

Who will lead the effort?
As a next step of the M2C effort in the Texas District, the Area C MMF and Area C pastors will combine efforts to implement this training.

What will Missional Workers do?
A Missional Worker is a new or veteran believer who is eager to reach out and is willing to reach a specific group of people or ministry area. This may include home study/worship groups; ministry to men, women, children, and youth; outreach to the “least of these” in neighborhoods or care facilities; leading a “church within a church” ministry, and more.

When will training start?
The goal is to begin Missional Worker Training in the first four months of 2010.

Where will the training be held?
Target areas are: the greater Austin area, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and the Rio Grande Valley. Local churches will host the training.

How will Missional Workers be trained?
After being accepted into the program through an application and interview process, an initial one-day seminar led by the MMF and pastors will bring each missional worker a solid foundation of faith understanding, along with unfolding the specific mission plan of each worker. Monthly training gatherings will follow. After the 12-month program and certification, a Missional Worker may elect to take the next step of training by pursuing deacon/deaconess or SMP coursework.

If you or someone you know would be interested in this training, please contact me at mnewman@txdistlcms.org.