Missional Living

I’ve said it before: I am richly blessed with some immensely deep friendships. Whether they live across town or across the globe, I am refreshed by their conversation, their brotherhood, and their embrace of our lives together. Our time together is never long enough and always too long in between. 

Waylon and I met when we were teenagers. He had three dreams: to be a country music star, to sing with his mom at the Grand Ole Opry, and to become a fireman. At a church camp at Baylor University, we became fast friends. With his stellar voice and go-go-go-gone charisma, he was like gravity…people were just drawn his way. Every few years, our paths would cross and we’d end up spending hours catching up. Talking. Playing guitar and singing. Sometimes laughing at the cards we’d been dealt in life. Sometimes crying over it. Either way, we were a brotherhood of ragamuffins, bent on trying to find our place in the world. 

A couple of weeks ago, I got a phone call from him. After his mother’s passing, and a crazy ride through Nashville and LA making movies and records, he’s landed ‘in the area’. We met yesterday over coffee for the first time in years… and the time was, again, all too short. I had the pleasure of introducing him to my boys and getting to relive some of our stories with Heather. 

A wise man once told me, "Thomas….if you’re lucky enough to only have one or two true friends in life, you’ll get by just fine.." And after two decades of friendship, they just don’t come any more authentic than Waylon. 

The road is oftentimes hard and long. And Waylon has already accomplished 2 of his 3 dreams.

Oh, and the fireman thing is still in reach, kid.

 Last night was our first installment of Our Story. Each week, we are producing a video interview of someone in our ministry (adult or student) sharing some details of their journey with jesus.

Our hope is not to share clean, tidy stories each week that consist of (1) I was a sinner, (2) I met jesus, and (3) now I have my Get-Out-Of-Hell-Free card and life is good. Our hope is to share our personal struggles and how God has been faithful to us in them. By dragging our struggles into the light of community, we’re able to see the commonality in them (I Cor. 10:13) and bear each other’s burdens (Gal. 6:2). The key is understanding that we are all part of the larger narrative/story of the Scripture. What God began ‘in the beginning’ (Gen. 1:1) is still being written and woven into history. The story of Noah, Abraham, and Saul is part of the story of Peter, Paul and Timothy. The story of the unnamed woman caught in adultery. The story of the beggar healed at the Pool of Bethesda. The stories of countless people like Cameron, Jessie, Jordan, Kayla, James, and Herb. And me. And somehow, as our stories intertwine, we see the Grand Narrative of God’s redemptive plan. Not for me…but for all of creation.

It was decided that I would be the guinea pig and go first. Watch the video above (or on Vimeo for better quality).

And then there’s the whole grace thing. I’m a big fan of it. I have nothing to give Him. Even the desire to turn to Him, the desire to worship Him… is a gift from Him. His kindness leads us to repentance, not the other way around.

We decided last night that it would be our practice, after someone shared the sin-and-redemption details of their not-yet-finished story, we would huddle around them, lay hands on them, and pray over them for the Spirit’s strength and continued completion of their faith. 

Our Story is far from finished. 

 David Zimmerman (author of Deliver Us From Me-Ville and all-around cool guy), has posted the following excerpt from St. John of the Cross' 'Dark Night of the Soul' over at Loud Time. 

With respect to the fourth sin, which is spiritual gluttony, . . . such persons expend all their effort in seeking spiritual pleasure and consolation; they never tire, therefore, of reading books; and they begin, now one meditation, now another, in their pursuit of this pleasure which they desire to experience in the things of God. But God, very justly, wisely and lovingly, denies it to them, for otherwise this spiritual gluttony and inordinate appetite would breed innumerable evils. It is, therefore, very fitting that they should enter into the dark night, . . . that they may be purged from this childishness.

Hmmm..I’m not sure how to digest that. In a day where evangelical hipsters are voraciously reading every new and ancient spiritual father, I wonder if it’s become the mark of the new Pharisee. Could it be that we eagerly chase after spiritual instruction and, mistaking knowledge for discipleship, never get around to putting feet to the ideas?

How would you respond if a spiritual giant told you to lighten up?

Consider yourself a disciple of Jesus? 

If so, I’d challenge you to listen to David Wilcox’s single "Underneath". Then find an answer you can live with. 

Underneath (ctrl-click to open in new window)

 Below are lyrics, while you listen: 

I know that compassion is all out of fashion,
and anger is all the rage…
Grow up and give in to that cynical spin
that you see on most every page
We all know what’s wrong with the system
how the people are puppets and fools.
If they’re not strong, it will trick them,
they’ll get used up like factory tools:
The kids just give up in those schools…

…yeah, but what is it, really, that’s keeping me
from living a life that’s true?
When the worries speak louder than wisdom,
it drowns out all the answers I knew,
so I’m tossed on the waves on the surface.
Still, the mystery’s dark and deep,
with a much more frightening stillness…
underneath

Hopelessness always comes easy.
But "easy" does not make it right.
Courage can look past that surface,
but fear will still put up a fight.
When I get scared and scattered,
and I don’t know where to begin,
why even care; it doesn’t matter.
Why fight when you know you can’t win?
It’s easier just to give in.

In the 2008 hit movie Juno, Juno’s father tells his teenage daughter, who has just disclosed that she is pregnant, “I didn’t know you were that kind of girl,” to which Juno replies, “I don’t know what kind of girl I am.” 

Gone are the days when good girls “don’t” and bad girls “do.” Now good girls might, sometimes, depending on their feelings for the guy and who the guy is. Good girls, according to current cultural norms, should be concerned with how they look and express interest in boys, and they probably shouldn’t be too uptight about sex. And aren’t girls supposed to want to get their needs met, at least a little, too? 

These rules, murky as they are, can also backfire. Girls can end up pregnant like Juno (or Bristol Palin), they can inadvertently cross the slippery boundary between “hot” and “slutty,” or they can be victimized and subsequently blamed for it.

And then, there are the teflon-coated guys… who are just as confused and clueless and misguided, but don’t pay the same price as young girls for their choices. Reputations and lables don’t stick to them as readily, so they continue to skate freely, still misguided. 

Each spring our ministry puts together a six-session study called Sex Camp. Aimed at our middle schoolers and high schoolers, we attempt to paint some foundational concrete about sexuality, purity, and relationships, as well as cover some practical, prescriptive ideas for dating and purity. We try to lay the foundation, not specifically for the act of sex, but for the act of being human, underscored with one single principle: pursing Jesus brings life, just as pursing sin brings death. The illustration we use is that of our solar system: Jesus is not at the top of our priority list, but at the center of our universe. Everything must revolve around him or the result is disastrous. He is the Son/Sun. (Yes, Jesus is the big ball of gas in the midst of our existence!) 

We typically cover the following topics:

• Jesus: The Big Ball of Gas
• Sex and the Supremacy of God
• STD’s
• What If I’ve Blown It? (Grace)
• Should I Date (and How to Date Well)
• How Far Is Too Far?  (which is a bad question, btw…) 
• Lost in the Wilderness (Pornography, Abortion, Homosexuality), including resources from XXXChurch and Abort73. 

Here’s where YOU come in. If you could write the curriculum, what topics would you want covered? What points would you make? What discussions would you want to make sure took place?  And what about PARENTS? Recognizing the fact that multitudes of parents have trouble talking to their kids about sex, what would be of aid for them? 

Any and every thought or idea you have is appreciated…

Several months ago, through one of my most trusted and most ragamuffin Pirate Monks, I met author/speaker Pete Gall for some Rudy’s BBQ and soul baring. He very generously gave me a copy of his book Beautiful Idol–which I gobbled up (and have since given out several copies to friends). If you haven’t read it, you can read my reviews and thoughts…and get your very own. 

A week or so ago, Pete Gall sent me some audio files to his forthcoming book Learning My Name. As I sat listening, I remembered what I fell in love with in Idol. It’s beautifully dirty and honest. It struggles and exposes. As Gall presents himself in Learning My Name, I secretly wonder if he’s been spying on me. Stalking my thoughts. Reading my mail. 

In the preface, after quoting from Karl Marx’s Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right, Gall says: 

Most days, I’m not searching for an omnipotent God. I don’t need ‘all-powerful’. Just a little potent…say ‘medium powerful’ will do. …just a little heavenly chiropractic care… But most days, even with my lowered expectations, He isn’t showing up to fix me like I want him to. 

Ashamedly, that’s me. 

I don’t expect or search for a truly omnipotent God like I should. Just a God that’s moderately powerful enough for my mundane, commonplace issues of my own egocentric humanity. Just an adjustment here and there. Nothing major really, thanks. I show up for a little spinal adjustment, a good massage, and some muzak. Nevermind the busted femur pierced through my leg and the fact that I’m bleeding out. (Truth be told, I probably don’t even know where my real injuries are…)

So, be on the lookout for Learning My Name. And if you get the offer to chow down some Rudy’s with Gall (or any of the Pirate Monks, for that matter), be careful. You might unknowingly tap into a better opiate: grace with a shot of brotherhood. 

Who would’ve thought that in 2009, we’d not only swear in the first African-American president, but that the controversy would peak…not over the homosexual Episcopalian bishop who prayed the day prior, but over Rick Warren, the purpose-driven, evangelical, conservative pastor who prayed at the inauguration. 

According to 1 Timothy 2: 1-3, we are supposed to pray for all people everywhere, including kings, rulers, and other leaders. Today is a good day to revisit Warren’s prayer and pray for our President, his cabinet and co-workers, and other leaders. Rather than quibble over bits and pieces of it, why not follow his example and pray for our leaders? 

The entire prayer is below. 

Almighty God, our Father: Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone. It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory. History is your story.The Scripture tells us, “Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.

 

Now today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African-American president of the United States.

We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.

Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity. Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders. Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans—united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all. When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you—forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone—forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve—forgive us. And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes—even when we differ.

Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all. May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day, all nations–and all people–will stand accountable before you. We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care. I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life—Yeshua, ‘Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus—who taught us to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

 

One of our local Christian radio stations has a tagline that turns my stomach. 

There. I said it. 

Now, I know what they mean by it. But, still…it makes me queasy. Every 6 minutes, some velvet-throated DJ says, "This is positive, encouraging ———. Safe for the whole family."

And every 6 minutes I throw up a little bit in my mouth. 

Christianity should be anything but safe. Following Jesus should be everything but safe. Kingdom living should cause a raucous. Some commotion. It should stir up the complacent. Annoy the comfortable. Make us squirm and wrestle. Cause us to hate injustice and fight for redemption. 

And, yes, what they mean is that there is no subject matter that is inappropriate for children on their station. No derogatory lyrics about women, drug use, Miller Lite during the SuperBowl. No foul language. No references to sex. (Not even within marriage relationships…but that’s another story.) Furthermore, with 2 small kids (and one on the way), I fully appreciate the safe environment for my kiddos and myself. So, I chew a lot of gum and carry pocket-sized bottles of Scope mouthwash to make it through. 

We need is dangerous Christianity. Something less sanitized, homogenized, and shrink-wrapped. Less shiny. Dangerous churches filled with dangerous disciples. 

Ed Stetzer (wicked-smart missiologist, in case you didn’t know) has some thoughts on being a Dangerous Church in the next decade. One of the most timely things he points out is this: 

If current trends continue, some of you… will lose your jobs, your church budgets will decline, and your church will have less money in the coming years. But, your church will probably see more people come to Jesus.Economic growth and evangelical church growth are counter cyclical. They are somewhat counter cyclical for mainline churches according to a study by a professor at Texas State University. (Details at www.edstetzer.com.)

So, which should you pray for?

Read the entire speech here, then leave your thoughts below.