Crazy Days

Today marked our 4th Annual Best Buy service project. It is something that I now look forward to every year. For those that are still somehow unaware, today was Black Friday. It is the day that officially starts the Christmas Shopping Season.

I used to believe the people who woke up early on this day to get some special "deals" were just out of their minds. Then 5 years ago I was awakened. Our church was in dire need of new computers, and the deal that year was for $200 machines... monitor included. We saved thousands by showing up at about 2 a.m. From that moment I was hooked.

That first year I was a complete Noob. I had no idea what went on and what I was expected to do. So, I showed up in a long-sleeved shirt and prepared to sit in my car until the doors opened. Imagine my surprise when I actually saw people standing outside of the Best Buy in some sort of line. That is one time my lack of cleaning came in very handy as I happened to have a few blankets sitting in the back of my car. I wrapped up as best I could and endured the freezing cold. About 5 a.m. someone came by handing out coupons for breakfast at Sonic. I thought to myself, "Man if they brought the food here I bet a lot of people would buy it." As we discussed our increasing hunger and cold the idea continued to grow in us... If there was food and drink here I bet people would want it.

So, the next year when we returned we came back with hot chocolate and cookies. The hot chocolate was a hit, but the cookies not so much. Then we noticed that we had some competition. There was man who had brought a small grill and was selling hot dogs; that is until the Sheriff came and asked him to stop. But, we saw that people were more willing to buy hot dogs than to eat our free cookies...

Last year we upgraded to hot chocolate and hot dogs. There were probably 400 people in line and we served until we ran out of stuff to serve. It was a fun time and incredibly cold. I don't think I even bought anything that year, as by that time the service project was way more fun than the shopping.

That brings us up to this year, where we had about 15 people show up to help us serve hot chocolate and hot dogs to the waiting people. We even had a travel service this year with a rolling cart filled with food and drink. We also added another cool piece this year... surveys. It is our desire to minister to our community in many ways this year, and we want to know what kinds of things they would be interested in doing. Our survey team did a great job... even though their pens were apparently frozen.

Some people look at us strange when we say we are going to Best Buy early in the morning to serve people standing in line. Some of them look that way simply because it is so early. Others seem to be thinking, "Why are you serving those people. They obviously don't have any needs, I mean they are consumers!" It is almost as if people are unworthy to be served unless they cannot afford food, clothing, and transportation. The problem I have with that way of thinking is that the community God has placed us in is able to afford all of those things. If we were to restrict our ministry to purely physical needs then we would only reach 5-10% of our community.

I am convinced that the other 90% of our community has needs too. In fact, those needs may even be more critical that the physical needs that we so often focus on. The next 6 weeks mark the highest suicide weeks of the year. And if think it is only the poor and hungry who commit suicide, you would be wrong. This time of year also sees marriages collapse, families splinter, and lives fall apart. And, most of these needs cannot be met with food or clothing. They take deeper things that only come in relationship. And, that is what we are aiming at with our projects like the Best Buy service project. As strange as it is, we have a relationship with these people. Some of them have been with us all 4 years and remember us from year to year. Every time we are out there we have people comment on how strange it is that people would just... serve people they don't even know. In the midst of a purely consumerist location we offer a slightly different look at what people can do with their time and resources.

This is the first in a line of things that we are going to do to minister to the emotionally, relationally, and spiritually needy people in our community. Will we still serve those who are also physically needy? Of course. Even this year we are encouraging every family in our church to adopt one family in need and buy them a box of Angel Food. We are even investing in them to help them on their way. We still believe in helping those in physical need. We are just no longer content to minister only to them. I remain a both/and kind of person.

It's Like an Evil Snail

So, if you got that reference in the title than you probably share my addiction to The Office. Well, perhaps addiction is too strong a word, but I do have it in my queue on Hulu. There is no big lesson here, just a line that struck me a extremely funny... and when I retold it to my wife I realized that I was probably alone in that feeling.

But, just to add something of worth to this blog, let me share a new goal of mine that I would encourage you to adopt as well.

Hand

Written

Notes

I wrote a couple this last week, as I felt the need to communicate something that was very important and I did not have the opportunity to do it face-t0-face. I could have called or sent an email, but there is just something about a hand written note that speaks to me. Perhaps I am alone in this too, but I somehow doubt it. In today's fast paced world of information overload I think people appreciate the fact that you slowed down and intentionally became less efficient in order to communicate with them.

I am not saying that I am giving up email and going back to snail mail; the rise of postage will assure that if nothing else. But, every so often when you have something important to communicate... try a note and see how well it works.

The Almost Sin

I am pretty sure most Christians do not like to sin. At least we have conditioned ourselves to say that we don't like to sin because we know that we are not supposed to like to sin. As we grow in maturity and experience we actually build a large case against sin as we see the effects it has on our relationships with other people and with God.

Yet, there is still that temptation that crops up, that voice that reminds us how fun sin could be. And, if we could just go for the good part and leave out the relationship-killing part wouldn't that be great?

And so in true genius form we create The Almost Sin. That is an intentionally vague term that describes any situation where people use the words, "How far is too far?" How much cursing is too much? I mean sometimes its just fun, or funny to be hangin' with the guys and crack that perfectly-timed joke. How much skin is too much before the really great and funny movie just becomes something I would be completely ashamed to let my small group see me watching? How much bitterness is understandable, because they really hurt me this time and I just need time to be angry with them!?

I am not sure how it is that my brain keeps coming up with convoluted ways to try to explain my need for things that it knows will only bring pain. But, I am pretty sure why it happens. When I begin sensing these feelings in myself and hearing these little advertisements-for-sin in my own head I know that I do need something. I need more time with God. Every time I am tempted with The Almost Sin it is because I have attempted to fill a true need that God intended to fill with something other than Him and His plan.

It could be "the guys" and the feeling of belonging that they bring, it could be "the girl" and the sense of excitement that she promises, it could be "the friend" and the absolute faith I put in our relationship that would never let me down. Any time I try to fill God-created needs with Me-created solutions I begin walking down the path that God describes in James when He says,

"but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."

Be careful of The Almost Sin, because when fed it always leads to The Full Grown Sin. I remind myself that I don't have to fight the desire of my heart, I just have to refocus my mind on Who will satisfy that desire. As a believer, God is shaping the desires of my heart. My problems arise when I stop going back to Him for their fulfillment too.

Who Does That?

It seems that every time I have an original thought I get linked to a person that had the same thought months or years earlier. That is OK, I am cool with having a shared thought, as long as it is a good one.

In the last couple of days I have read from several other pastors and bloggers about the same basic idea that I presented on Wednesday. That idea is that just like people, Churches have been shaped to fulfill a specific role in God's plan. The thing I have not yet seen is...

Who Helps Them?

I have read blogs encouraging churches to find their passion, follow through with their vision, make their plan. But where is the system that helps all of this to take place. None of these pastors would be satisfied with such an approach for their own churches. It is not enough just to tell people, "Hey, go find what God put you on this earth to do, and then do it. Good luck! (Well, God Bless would be more fitting there I suppose)"

No, these churches form a system that intentionally walks people through teaching and accountability and relationships designed for the purpose of exposing and developing those passions and visions that God has placed in people. And, it seems to work very well. So, it leaves me asking the obvious questions of...

Who Does That for the "Church"?

The answer currently is, No One. There is no person that I have seen in my 14 years of ministry that does this for the local, state, and national church. There are many, many people who are telling churches what they need to do. I don't know of any people who actually walk alongside of them and help them do it?

If you are like me then your first questions might be, "Where would these people come from? Who would pay them? How would churches join such a network?"

I love questions, it gives me something to think about and post later.

Spiritually Gifted... Churches?

I have grown up learning about Spiritually Gifted Christians. The basic premise is that God has given us all special gifts, shaping us for a particular ministry. He then uses us not only to fulfill that ministry but to be an example to others, training them in how to minister as well. That all makes sense to me, and I can see God as the great puzzle-maker positioning Christians within churches so that all of the ministry gets done.

Recently I have been taking a step back looking not just at life within my church but life within my city. It began a series of questions such as, "If God positions people within churches to provide for ministry, does He also position churches within cities for the same purpose?" Is there such a thing as a Church Gift? Are churches called to similar but unique purposes?

Someone's first reaction may be to say, "Yes, of course, that make sense." I would argue, however, that most pastors and church leaders do not live this way. In fact, if you ask most pastors what the purpose of their church is they will likely offer you something along the lines of the Great Commission, "Go into all the world making disciples and baptizing them". Though I agree that all churches should and will accomplish this, the real question is "How have you been called to accomplish the Great Commission?"

I am really just beginning this line of thinking in my own life, but from my experience it seems that churches are often shaped by the vision of their pastors. That vision attracts people who are called in-line with the pastor. In this way churches actually take on a "persona" of their own. I think it may very well be that God shapes churches for ministry in this day and age, and that He wants us to work together in unique ways to fulfill the Great Commission in our city. That means not every church will be the Evangelist (seeing thousands come to Christ), not every church will be the Teacher (leading the way in spiritual understanding and communication), not every church will be the Pastor (meeting needs and ministering to individuals). But, if every church is doing its part and working in conjunction with the others... then we will all grow up into the Head, who is Christ.

What would this look like? Well, I have to save something to talk about later this week...

The Other Thing

In my last post I mentioned politics as one of the things I avoid much like an alcoholic avoids alcohol. I know that many of you probably left wondering, "What is that other thing?" Finance, and the world in which it resides. Let me clarify with a story.

I knew what I wanted to be about the time I turned 11. I did not know like some other kids my age, who were thinking about being a fireman or an astronaut. I had a carefully laid out plan that all began with me driving My Dream Car. I saw it, and I knew I wanted one, and so I asked my parents what kind of job was necessary to buy a car like that. I soon realized that the job did not matter so much as the money, so my calling in life became to make enough money to buy my dream car. Strangely enough I do make enough money to buy that car now... but getting it 22 years used was not my original idea!

I know that God tells everyone that they cannot serve both Him and Money, but I think it goes a little deeper for me. There is just something about amassing wealth that can take control of my mind if I am not careful. Back in Business School we "had" to read the Wall Street Journal every day and would be tested on it in different classes. I cannot think of many school requirements that were easier for me to do. I love the whole process of investing and earning and risking great sums to make even greater sums. Even now I have to pull myself back from the Abyss as my mind flows into that world.

That is the world God called me out of when He called me "into the ministry". I was 13, headed on my way to do what I needed to make money and God started asking me a series of questions. It went sort of like this:

Me: "I want that car. I need money to get it. Let's go make some money!"

God: "Just how long do you think that car will last? How long will it make you happy?"

Me: "Until I can afford the next one? I don't know I figure it will die eventually... but I can get another one."

God: "And what about when your time on this world is over... what happens to the car then; to all the cars even?"

Me: "Well, I suppose they will end to. From what I read in your Word not much of this world is going to last."

God: "So, if you were going to spend your life earning something that lasts; investing in something that is going to be worth something for the long-run... what would that be?"

Me: "The only thing I can think of is... souls. And, that means People."

You may think such an internal conversation is strange for a 13-year old... and perhaps it is, though I get the feeling most teenagers have deeper thoughts than we realize. But, that was the beginning of the change for the focus of my life. After I decided to invest in People rather than Money I had to face the decision between Ministry and Politics... which we have already covered.

I think all of us have vision thiefs that enter our lives at some point. These are not the Evil things that tempt us to betray God; they are the good things that keep us from seeing God's best. I have friends who spend a lot of time in the world of Finance and Politics, and are following God's call for their life doing so. But, these are not my calling, and they ARE my weakness, so I do my best to keep them in check.

Frustrated... and Focusing

I did a good job of staying out of the whole political scene for the last 10-12 months. I did not watch much news, I did not read all that many reports. I simple did some research, developed my opinions, and then went back to doing the things that make up my daily life. It is not that I believe the political process is unworthy of my time; in fact it is almost just the opposite. Politics is one of two things that I avoid much like an alcoholic avoids, well alcohol.

These days I intentionally attempt to stay out of political discussions because I know myself, and I know how easy it is for me to fall back into an old trap... the trap of believing I can create real, meaningful change through intellectual discourse. You see, I am a rather intelligent person, and I have a good command of the English language. I am pretty charismatic in person, and I tend to be able to shape conversations toward my own ends regardless of who I am talking to and what we are talking about. I also tend to struggle with pride, but that is another topic.

This whole season has reminded me of that former self as I waded back into the waters of things like political, social, and economic systems. In a matter of two days I was already frustrated to the point where I was stressed all the time. Everywhere I went it seemed that I was seeing people who had either completely lost hope, or were placing their hope in a system, a person, or a political party. And it reminded me why years ago I decided not to enter into politics, but to become a minister. It is because I am convinced that the only Person who deserves such faith, because He is the only Person who can accomplish such results, is Jesus.

It is quite possible that the next four years could be great years for this country... just as the last 200+ have been. The economy could grow, wars could end, peace could reign, and in the middle of all of that I have to wonder who would get the credit? I know who deserves the credit, and the thing that has been really bugging me these last couple of days is that I see more hope being placed in men than I do in God. This really goes beyond political party, as some people seem to be in despair while others are jubilant. To both sides I find myself asking, "Was God not in charge a week ago? If things had happened differently would your 'faith' be different today?" I was at peace on Tuesday before any results came in because of two things. First, I had been obedient to what I believe is a God-called duty to vote. Second, I knew that God was in control regardless of what my ballot said. I am at peace once again today because I once again reigned in my Focus... taking it off of man-made systems and putting it back upon Jesus. He may choose to work through these man-made systems, but He has not chosen me to be a part of that process, and so my focus will remain on my calling.

Perhaps you are not a recovering Politicaholic like me and you can handle such discussions without any bad side effects. But, if you do find that Frustration begins seeping in to your thoughts, I would suggest you try the same remedy that works for me and Focus your mind on Jesus.

Once every four years

I have already written my thoughts on the whole political process in other places, but honestly I liked the writings of a guy named Jon that I read this morning and thought I would just link to his site. This is most likely dangerous as he is much more prolific than I am and in general much more interesting too!

But, check out his thoughts on StuffChristiansLike over here. Make sure to read his post from Tuesday night (#432).