My appointment didn't show this morning at Starbucks, but since I had one in 45 minutes, I decided to stay and wait. I didn't have enough time to do anything else. It was a gift. I have a long list of to-do's because I am leaving for Colorado today, to see my parents and help them to downsize their house as they are moving into a retirement home. I am also giving a Healing Prayer Training this weekend on emotional and spiritual healing. But, in the midst of the pressure of leaving, God wanted me to hear his voice and experience his heart.
I continue to hear Jesus ask me the same question lately: "Do you believe that I am for you?" As I hear this question, I read the answer all over the Bible. Paul's letters are full of the answer. He begins the letter to Ephesus with the statement, "God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms." Every means that nothing is withheld from us.
So, why does it seem that we all believe that God is withholding something from us?
As I listen to people, and listen to myself, I know that this is the question we are all asking:
Is God trustworthy?
Is his love for us enough?
Does he love us?
Can he bring good into our lives?
Does he want us to experience good?
When we open up the Scriptures, we hear the answer. Yes, he loves us so much that he sent his beloved son to earth, not just to hang out with us, but to die so that we can have life.
Is God trustworthy?
Why do we ask this question and not the reverse?
Is Satan trustworthy? I don't hear many people asking that question. Why?
It is the Garden. It all started in the Garden when the Serpent told enough truth mixed with a giant lie that caused Eve to question God's charater and his provision. Eve bit, and we have been biting too, ever since.
Today, as I reflected at Starbucks, I struggled with how to wrestle with this in Missio Lux so that we can stand in the place of truth: knowing God is for us, and that it is the enemy that cannot be trusted. We must figure this out and begin to live from a different place: the place of spiritual riches, not spiritual poverty.
Then, my appointment came. Guess what his question he wanted to discuss with me was. It is the question of our lives. Let's start wrestling and get to the place of knowing, not just in our heads, but in our lives experientially, relationally, the truth.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
This Things Made of Sticks
Friday night Alex held his second Art and Poetry night calling it "This Things Made of Sticks."
Missio Lux values art and creative expression as a pathway to God, so we are thrilled to hold these as they lift up the unique dreams that God has given to many; that they are allowing to come forth. Friday night about 80 highschoolers and college students (and a few adults) gathered to hear Alex do new renditions of his Slam Poetry, several musicians play and sing, as well hear an awesome band that rocked the house, as well as others who displayed their photography and art work and read poetry.
I looked around and was grateful to be see all the people that gathered to honor what many willingly shared. We hear so many negative reports about this generation, and yet, there were many present to participate in God's dreams flowing out. And, even though all of it was respectful and some very openly about God, none of it fell in the traditional Christian box.
Alex also announced that he is starting a missional community called Film & Theos. They will watch cultural films and look for themes of God in them. Look for it to begin soon.
Missio Lux values art and creative expression as a pathway to God, so we are thrilled to hold these as they lift up the unique dreams that God has given to many; that they are allowing to come forth. Friday night about 80 highschoolers and college students (and a few adults) gathered to hear Alex do new renditions of his Slam Poetry, several musicians play and sing, as well hear an awesome band that rocked the house, as well as others who displayed their photography and art work and read poetry.
I looked around and was grateful to be see all the people that gathered to honor what many willingly shared. We hear so many negative reports about this generation, and yet, there were many present to participate in God's dreams flowing out. And, even though all of it was respectful and some very openly about God, none of it fell in the traditional Christian box.
Alex also announced that he is starting a missional community called Film & Theos. They will watch cultural films and look for themes of God in them. Look for it to begin soon.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Service for Worship
One of the people in Missio Lux has discovered what can happen when Sunday morning is freed up. Her name is Angie and she is leading "Seeds of Hope," our initiative to send Sudanese children to boarding school. Seeds of Hope's dream is to help transform Sudan from the inside out as people get educated and help bring solutions to Sudan's chaotic existance.
Angie is forming a team of people who see the same potential. One of her team members is a woman that works full time and cannot meet with Angie any other time than Sunday morning. She has never gone to church, and has had little spiritual interaction in her life. But, when Angie and her friend meet, they pray and they dream and they work on building a strong structure for Seeds of Hope. This woman is being transformed by the experience of community with Angie, of connecting with God in a way she has never experienced before, and finally, by working on a missio that is bigger than she could ever imagine. As we connect all three: knowing and experiencing God, loving one another and serving the world, this is when God's heart beats in us.
Angie told me that she is so glad that she is now using her Sunday morning this way, she is serving for her worship. She is seeing what happens when she is freed up to spend time with those that must belong before they will believe.
I love this. I think that Jesus does too.
Angie is forming a team of people who see the same potential. One of her team members is a woman that works full time and cannot meet with Angie any other time than Sunday morning. She has never gone to church, and has had little spiritual interaction in her life. But, when Angie and her friend meet, they pray and they dream and they work on building a strong structure for Seeds of Hope. This woman is being transformed by the experience of community with Angie, of connecting with God in a way she has never experienced before, and finally, by working on a missio that is bigger than she could ever imagine. As we connect all three: knowing and experiencing God, loving one another and serving the world, this is when God's heart beats in us.
Angie told me that she is so glad that she is now using her Sunday morning this way, she is serving for her worship. She is seeing what happens when she is freed up to spend time with those that must belong before they will believe.
I love this. I think that Jesus does too.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Water to Karari
Having access to water is a right, not a privilege.
How many times a day do we go to our sink or water bottle or refrigerator to have a drink of water?
Can you imagine not having the abiity to do that? How often are you dehydrated? It makes one sick and dizzy and weak.
This is the reality for much of our world. One village in particular is near and dear to one of Missio Lux, her name is Andrea Kiehle. She is working on a master's thesis and went to this far northern village of Kenya last summer. She fell in love with the people. She is now advocating to anyone who will listen to help this village get the pump replaced that broke earlier this year.
How many times a day do we go to our sink or water bottle or refrigerator to have a drink of water?
Can you imagine not having the abiity to do that? How often are you dehydrated? It makes one sick and dizzy and weak.
This is the reality for much of our world. One village in particular is near and dear to one of Missio Lux, her name is Andrea Kiehle. She is working on a master's thesis and went to this far northern village of Kenya last summer. She fell in love with the people. She is now advocating to anyone who will listen to help this village get the pump replaced that broke earlier this year.
This is the story. They have a well, but the pump to it is very old and it finally died. So, what would we do? We would replace it. Well, they have no one to bring the well to them. Andrea has even contacted every organization that works to bring water to villages and has been told that no one goes that far north in Kenya.
Now the people in the village, significantly women, make a 12 mile trek to a dirty water hole that they share with animals, one being Water Buffalow, which are very dangerous. The animals use the water hole as their bathroom as well as a drinking place so even after the villagers get the water, they have to carry it back six miles and boil it before they can have a drink.
One boy was shot at the watering hole. This caused three women to miscarry because their fear and grief became too unbearable. The village has taken a huge plunge downward, all because their pump died.
What can we do as Missio Lux?
We can PRAY! God can make a way where is there is no other way to get that pump to their village.
We can donate funds to buy the new pump.
We can educate ourselves to become more aware of the vast number of people in the world whose lives would be dramatically changed by having a well in their village.
We can stop buying water bottles and use that money to donate to Water First or other organizations to get more wells in destitute places that don't yet know that water is a right, not a privilege.
Now the people in the village, significantly women, make a 12 mile trek to a dirty water hole that they share with animals, one being Water Buffalow, which are very dangerous. The animals use the water hole as their bathroom as well as a drinking place so even after the villagers get the water, they have to carry it back six miles and boil it before they can have a drink.
One boy was shot at the watering hole. This caused three women to miscarry because their fear and grief became too unbearable. The village has taken a huge plunge downward, all because their pump died.
What can we do as Missio Lux?
We can PRAY! God can make a way where is there is no other way to get that pump to their village.
We can donate funds to buy the new pump.
We can educate ourselves to become more aware of the vast number of people in the world whose lives would be dramatically changed by having a well in their village.
We can stop buying water bottles and use that money to donate to Water First or other organizations to get more wells in destitute places that don't yet know that water is a right, not a privilege.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Missio Lux Test Pilot Celebration Service
Sunday we took the plunge and held Missio Lux' first Celebration Service.
We plan to do two over the summer to figure out what works and what changes need to happen. Despite some pretty big scheduling obstacles, we had a great crowd of enthusastic worshippers. Young and old came to be participants, not spectators!
We opened with kids and teens going to the living room setting and lighting a candle. It was moving to see the older kids helping the younger ones light their light. This is a picture of how God wants us to move: whether we are further along spiritually or in number of years, we should always be looking for whom we can encourage in life, brightening up the room!
Our theme was identity, knowing who we are so that we can live into the unique dreams God has designed for us so that we are experiencing and able to share the freedom and hope Jesus offers with everyone. We did this through many avenues: some videos--one with two people strugglign to know who they are and another through movies that speak to the challenge.
Did you see Blood Diamond? There is such a moving scene where the son was kidnapped from his father. The Father commits the rest of his life to pursue his son, trying to bring him home. He finds his son, but the son has a gun pointed at him. The Father says to him, "You are Dia, my son, the one that I love. You are a good boy" as he inches closer and closer to his son. Finally, his son falls into his arms.
This Father is the picture of God. He spends his life pursuing us, willing to sacrifice everything so that we can know who we are and how much we are loved, so we can come home.
Instead of preaching, I did a dialogue with my nephew Scot. I've always wanted to teach this way because it gives a chance to hear from different voices, and in our case, it is the voice of different life stages and genders. It is a more balanced way of presenting God to others. It was really well received and very rewarding for me to do.
There was more, but that's enough for you to get a picture if you weren't able to attend. Keep praying that Missio Lux will fulfill the missio God designed for it~
We plan to do two over the summer to figure out what works and what changes need to happen. Despite some pretty big scheduling obstacles, we had a great crowd of enthusastic worshippers. Young and old came to be participants, not spectators!
We opened with kids and teens going to the living room setting and lighting a candle. It was moving to see the older kids helping the younger ones light their light. This is a picture of how God wants us to move: whether we are further along spiritually or in number of years, we should always be looking for whom we can encourage in life, brightening up the room!
Our theme was identity, knowing who we are so that we can live into the unique dreams God has designed for us so that we are experiencing and able to share the freedom and hope Jesus offers with everyone. We did this through many avenues: some videos--one with two people strugglign to know who they are and another through movies that speak to the challenge.
Did you see Blood Diamond? There is such a moving scene where the son was kidnapped from his father. The Father commits the rest of his life to pursue his son, trying to bring him home. He finds his son, but the son has a gun pointed at him. The Father says to him, "You are Dia, my son, the one that I love. You are a good boy" as he inches closer and closer to his son. Finally, his son falls into his arms.
This Father is the picture of God. He spends his life pursuing us, willing to sacrifice everything so that we can know who we are and how much we are loved, so we can come home.
Instead of preaching, I did a dialogue with my nephew Scot. I've always wanted to teach this way because it gives a chance to hear from different voices, and in our case, it is the voice of different life stages and genders. It is a more balanced way of presenting God to others. It was really well received and very rewarding for me to do.
There was more, but that's enough for you to get a picture if you weren't able to attend. Keep praying that Missio Lux will fulfill the missio God designed for it~
Friday, June 6, 2008
Which Psalm Really?
I read this on the Mustard Seed newsletter and thought that it describes a 21st century American's life.
Seed Smile: Psalm 23, Antithesis
by Marcia K. Hornok, as quoted in Living On Purpose by Christine and Tom Sine
The clock is my dictator, I shall not rest.
by Marcia K. Hornok, as quoted in Living On Purpose by Christine and Tom Sine
The clock is my dictator, I shall not rest.
It makes me lie down only when exhausted.
It leads me into deep depression, it hounds my soul.
It leads me in circles of frenzy for activitiy's sake.
Even though I run frantically from task to task,
I will never get it all done, for my "ideal" is with me.
Deadlines and my need for approval, they drive me.
They demand performance from me, beyond the limits of my schedule.
They anoint my head with migraines, my in-basket overflows.
Surely fatigue and time pressure shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the bonds of frustration forever.
by Marcia K. Hornok, as quoted in Living On Purpose by Christine and Tom Sine
Now, let's read Psalm 23 leisurely, thinking about David writing the Psalm while he lived the simple life of tending sheep on a mountainside.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Honestly, how did we move so far from end of the spectrum to the other?
Don't you long for a day where you can go outside and enjoy nature, knowing that the Good Shepherd is there with you?
As God's people, let's seek to live Psalm 23 and show those around us that we walk to a different clock, the one that our Shepherd has given us, and it will not cause us to dwell in the bonds of frustration forever.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Missio Weekend~Breakfast for Homeless
I got stuck in a bike race on my way to the breakfast that Missio Lux holds every last Saturday at the end of the month so I was late arriving for it. When I walked in, I was given a delightful glimpse of Missio Lux in action. There were whole families present to cook the breakfast, one man came without his family but he stood at the griddle teaching the delicate art of making scrambled eggs and griddling pancakes. The person who leads this Missio is Brad. He loves what he does, enthusastically greeting each guest for breakfast like they are the king of the world.
I went out to the line with him to greet the guests before they came in for breakfast. I met many; Billie, an older woman who came for the first time, Tom, who has come for several months and struggles to believe God exists because of the daily suffering he experiences and sees taking place in his world; Robert, who had a fight with his wife and took off for a few days, and ended up on the streets, Princess, who wears a tiera and a veil and has an infectious smile.
One of the breakfast guests told me that they love to come to this breakfast because they feel welcomed and made to feel like real people. He compared it to other shelters where the attitude is more one of regiment, let's get this done, than hospitality.
I left the breakfast so full. Not from the food, I was too busy to eat. But, from the experience of offering Jesus a cup of cold water and a warm meal through the people he delights in! And on top of it, to see how Missio Lux really does understand that serving is a lifestyle, that when we go beyond our own borders and care about those outside of our everyday life, God's life in us rises up to bring us one step closer to the abundant life Jesus invites us to experience.
How are you living a Missio Lux lifestyle today?
I went out to the line with him to greet the guests before they came in for breakfast. I met many; Billie, an older woman who came for the first time, Tom, who has come for several months and struggles to believe God exists because of the daily suffering he experiences and sees taking place in his world; Robert, who had a fight with his wife and took off for a few days, and ended up on the streets, Princess, who wears a tiera and a veil and has an infectious smile.
One of the breakfast guests told me that they love to come to this breakfast because they feel welcomed and made to feel like real people. He compared it to other shelters where the attitude is more one of regiment, let's get this done, than hospitality.
I left the breakfast so full. Not from the food, I was too busy to eat. But, from the experience of offering Jesus a cup of cold water and a warm meal through the people he delights in! And on top of it, to see how Missio Lux really does understand that serving is a lifestyle, that when we go beyond our own borders and care about those outside of our everyday life, God's life in us rises up to bring us one step closer to the abundant life Jesus invites us to experience.
How are you living a Missio Lux lifestyle today?
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