Jesus Junkie

This week's focus book(s) to read is: TITUS / PHILEMON


From Titus 1:1-3

 ¹ This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. ² This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began. ³ And now at just the right time he has revealed this message, which we announce to everyone. It is by the command of God our Savior that I have been entrusted with this work for him.

That pretty much says it in a nutshell for me. I am a slave of Jesus Christ. And, by nature of my calling to ministry, am an apostle, "sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God- who does not lie- promised them before the world began."


What is a more important role than that for a preacher? Ya, I know as a church-planter I am forced to wear a lot of hats... but frankly, I don't like that part of this job. I suck at administrative tasks... and people remind me of that often. Ya, I know paperwork is important. I know organization is necessary. I know communication is paramount. I know tasks have to be delegated. I know emails have to be answered and phone calls have to be returned, and websites need to be updated, etc., etc., etc.


But when it comes down to it... all I really want to do is two things: (1) spend time with God, listen to God, pray to God, serve God, cry out to God, and seek God's Word for wisdom and revelation... and (2) sit with people, talk with people, laugh with people, cry with people, pray with (and for) people, learn from people, debate with people (sometimes), wrestle with biblical issues with people... heck, sometimes even argue with people! All to accomplish one thing: to stand in the gap as a shepherd between God and the people of my flock to, "proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives." And allow that truth to give them, "confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began."


You see, I believe in the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. I don't always act like a holy man... far from it. I'm a work in process. But nevertheless, I'm a legitimate, authentic sold-out Jesus Junkie... a nutjob for Christ who really and truly believes that...


1. God made us to be whole and good and eternal, but...


2. Individually and collectively, we all have chosen to rebel against God's boundaries. Consequently, the curse of sin that we invited into our world prevents us from living the fulness of life God originally intended, but...


3. God did not give up on us. Through Abraham He called a people, and...


4. Raised a nation. God spoke to them and blessed them, taught them, warned them, and promised to save everyone through their obedience to His law, but they could not live up to their high calling, so...


5. God did the craziest thing imaginable. The Son of God came to our world and obeyed for us vicariously... He lived a human life for us... died a sacrificial death for us... obeyed the Law for us, and was resurrected to fully and completely reveal the power and grace of the Father... all for our sake. Then He...


6. Established His Messianic presence right here on earth. With mercy and forgiveness we can't begin to imagine, through His Holy Spirit God continues to reveal Himself to those who live by faith and trust and obedience to His invitation to EVERYONE to become reconnected to eternity and therefore become whole again (holy), reflecting the gift of His love. Finally, He will...


7. Come again at the right time to fully and completely establish His kingdom. He will create a new heaven and a new earth, fusing the two together He will live among His people (His true disciples) who choose to love Him seek to be with Him for ever and ever and ever.


I know. Crazy, huh?

Spiritual Fitness

This week's focus book(s) to read is: 1 & 2 TIMOTHY

I re-learned something recently that I already knew intuitively. Fasting is a great spiritual discipline, but a lousy way to lose weight (in the long run). Many of you already know, just less than a couple of weeks ago I completed a 40-day fast, whereas I only drank water, juice, broth, and a lot of yukky tea and some other distasteful things. And I lost 30 pounds in the process. But here's the kicker: since I started eating again, I've gained much of it back already... yep, I'm growing the gut again.  :-(  Oh well, that's because fasting as a diet is a really lousy, rather unhealthy way of shedding weight. During the famine you lose weight (though not at first, since your body goes in to starvation mode)... but eventually it comes off. However, during the feast you gain it back again in a great big hurry! 

I firmly believe that losing weight is more about paying close attention to eating a balanced diet (less carbs in my case)... moderating the portions (listening to my body)... EXERCISE... and frankly, giving my health/vanity over to God (recognizing it first and foremost as a spiritual battle). All of those things are key if I ever want to lose the gut once and for all (and perhaps live longer too).

Want to know the truth? I kinda do the same thing with Daily Bread too... that is, I have a feast or famine approach to chewing on the words of Holy Scripture. I might go a few days without reading a word... then spend several hours immersing myself in seeking what God has to say to me through the stories of His people. Why am I like that? Why do I starve myself for awhile, only to piggishly slop around in it later? Wouldn't a more mature approach be to marinate my soul (to continue the food analogy) in the Word daily... tuning my ear to God's Spirit, and seeking to know the will of God through an intentional, disciplined time of prayer?

⁶ If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed. ⁷ Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. ⁸ “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” ⁹ This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. ¹⁰This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.

Man, I really do want to get into shape. I want to look better, feel better, and live life more fully by getting into good physical condition. But more than that... much, much more than that - I want to train myself for godliness - and consequently, teach others how to receive the, "promising benefits in this life and in the life to come." I am not a perfect person... far from it. But God has called me to grow and mature in my faith, and passionately encourage others to bear down, to breathe deeply, and discipline themselves to do the necessary hard work so they can walk in the narrow path... the path of holiness... the Way of our Lord and our salvation... the resurrected life.


Thank you, Cole, for constantly and continually reminding me of my need to feed on the Words of God daily... and spend enough time in prayer to really and truly hear what He wants to whisper into my ear. You indeed are my Timothy, as well as my son.

PHILIPPIANS - Working Out Our Salvation

This week's focus book to read is PHILIPPIANS (NLT)


There's a passage in chapter two that has always kind of jumped out at me. At first sight, verses 12 and 13 seem to throw a curveball at us "by faith alone" kind of believers.

¹² Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Wait a minute. Work out my salvation with fear and trembling? What's there to work out, Jesus? Ahem, I seem to remember the little detail in the four gospel accounts that YOU worked out our salvation already! I mean, you died on the cross for us, right? You paid the price for our salvation, correct? It's not something we could earn on our own... we're not capable of bringing about our own salvation... are you with me so far? SALVATION AIN'T POSSIBLE APART FROM GOD... so how in the world are we supposed to "work out our salvation"? And, for that matter, why the fear and trembling? Didn't Jesus absorb the punishment for the sins of mankind on that same cross (hence, "salvaging" us from God's garbage heap)? What's to fear?


Well... I learned this amazing phrase in seminary that helps to explain this kind of situation. Yes/and. (Wait... I can hear you asking: you went to seminary for the better part of a decade to learn that?) Yep, but rest assured, I learned a couple of other tidbits too.  :-)  Anyway, yes/and. YES, our High Priest (Jesus) stepped into our world and took our place on the altar of death... shedding his priestly robes and becoming the sacrificial lamb on the cross. Yes, in so doing, he did indeed bring about our salvation. That is God's gracious act in this covenant relationship. AND, we Christians - having accepted the gift of life, now are called to fulfill our part of the bargain... by living our lives by faith, seeking to reflect the nature and character - a.k.a. love - of our Lord and Savior. As it says in Matthew 5:48 (The Message), "In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."


Exactly... you've been given the gift of salvation... now live like it. Act like it. Believe it. Let that eternal fact saturate your soul. Work it our in your life each and every day. And, while you're at it... do it with fear and trembling. No, not the kind of fear you experience when you watch Saw IV... that's carnal fear. The kind of fear (and trembling) this passage is getting at is the kind that comes from being overwhelmed by the presence of something... or someone that make you draw back in total awe. Like if you met the President or something (hmmmm... perhaps Sarah Palin is a better example if meeting the current president wouldn't get your adrenaline pumping)! You get the idea, right? God is big, He's powerful, He's awesome, He's holy... and because of that, mere humans couldn't help but shrink in His presence. He may be GOOD, but I guarantee you... He ain't safe. He's GOD for goodness sake! If the thought of encountering Him someday (and we all will) doesn't bring about a sense of fear and trembling... then you are what the Palmists would call a fool. An Englishman might call you a bloody fool. But I would just call you very, very brave... or maybe just plain stupid.


Anyway, you gotta admit... this whole thing is a yes/and situation. You and I are saved and salvaged, brothas and sistas who embrace the cross... so let's respond to and confirm the covenant by doing what we ought... by working out our salvation with fear and trembling!

Ephesians - Slaves Obey Your Masters

So, I'm trying something different, and yes, Glenn... I'm planning on sticking with it for a long time!  :-)

As shepherd of the people who claim The River as their spiritual home (and anyone else who may listen), it is my heart's desire to get everyone reading the Word of God regularly - so that they may hear the voice of, and better discern the love and grace continually poured out by our Father in heaven.


So just to keep everyone on the same page... and to make it easy, I've been encouraging everyone to read (at a minimum) one book of the Bible per week. As it is, we've been making our way through the New Testament for a few weeks now, and at our current pace, we'll be on track to finish it by Easter Sunday.


This week's focus book is EPHESIANS (This link sends you to the NLT translation, which, along with The Message, are my personal preferences). My sermons will not necessarily follow the reading schedule, so instead I'll resurrect this blog site to journal about something I read each week... while continuing to blog about the upcoming sermon at River Ramblings. Clear as mud?


Anyway, today, I was struck by Ephesians 6:5-8, as follows:

 ⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. ⁶ Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. ⁷ Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ⁸ Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

Okay, so it's not likely anyone reading this is a slave - at least in the sense of slavery as we know it, marked by it's brutality and bondage. However, all of us who claim that Jesus is Lord is considered a "slave to righteousness"... so as far as I'm concerned, this is a passage for you and me just as much as anyone else.


We are willing subjects of God's kingdom, bond-servants of the One who sits enthroned above and has all power and authority to rule over us as He sees fit. So, if we are not "independent" contractors, but indeed slaves to the cause of Jesus Christ (as Paul so often described himself in various ways) - then what do you think it means to serve Him, O Christian? Haphazardly? Once in awhile? However and whenever we want? When it fits our busy schedule? When it's fun? When it stays within our comfort zone? When it doesn't hurt?


Um... no. I don't think so. Serving the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind and strength can be a pretty frightening experience sometimes. And yes, servanthood can potentially bring about a huge amount of pain and suffering on our part. Let's face it... being a disciple of Christ is not easy. Sometimes it's lonely and often it's frustrating doing what you hear the voice of God calling you to do.


But it's worth it. I heard someone say once... "God isn't interested in our happiness, He's interested in our holiness." However, even though that expression may have a ring of truth to it, I tend to think the gospel of Christ goes much deeper than that. I definitely don't think following Christ was ever meant to be easy, but on the other hand, God is eager to pour out His Spirit on His children, to make even the most difficult of circumstances lead to joy. Joy isn't what's felt on the surface when we get what we want out of life... it's what is felt deep down inside when we humbly obey God's will for our lives. Joy is what comes about when we, "Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."

Pathways

I had a nice conversation with a good friend the other day. We talked about pathways to God and other mysteries of life... you know, some light conversation over coffee. Anyway, according to the well-known religious guru, Oprah Winfrey, there are many pathways to God, and (my interpretation of her words) Christians are rather arrogant to think they know the only way to eternal life.

Hmmmm... I realize Oprah is a very good and very powerful person. She has very publicly, very generously given away many things to needy people, and has poured herself into causes of injustice around the world. But just because she's popular... just because she's giving... just because she's a celebrity (in a culture that worships celebrities)... just because she's a "good" person, I have - and always did have - a problem with Oprah's "many pathways to God" theology. Just who is her god anyway? I submit she believes that "god" is found deep within ourselves. With enough positive thinking, we can tap into our inner god. A novel idea, but one that goes against the Jewish/Christian concept of a powerful creator.

For example, here is an Oprah quote from a 2002 article: "I became calm inside myself and I thought, The outside world is always going to be telling you one thing, have one impression—accusatory, blaming, and so forth. And you are to stand still inside yourself and know the truth, and let it set you free. And in that moment, I won that trial."

Now, I don't pretend to know whether "good" sacrificial, generous, god-fearing (i.e., Christlike) people of other world religions are on the right pathway toward salvation. No one knows the eternal destiny of other human beings... only God alone knows that. As followers of the Way, we are called to discern a person's standing before God perhaps - and be witnesses of His mercy and grace - but never to judge or condemn them to "hell".

Like Oprah, I do not believe that people must (magically) utter the name of Jesus, or bow down to the cross, or read a Bible, or say the sinner's prayer... or (for heaven's sake) be regular church attenders in order to be on the "path" of salvation. So, if Oprah believes Christians are arrogant to think they are the only people on earth who have even a glimmer of hope of eternity (just because they were lucky enough to be born into the right culture)... I would agree with her. I firmly believe salvation is far more complex, far messier than that... part of the divine mystery. Finite creatures attempting to know the ways of the infinite God will never fully grasp Him.

However, unlike Oprah, I don't believe there are many pathways to God... there is only one... and that is right response to the light we have been given (by whatever means that light may be shed). In other words, I believe the One true God can and does have the power and motivation to reveal Himself to humanity... ALL of humanity. And ultimately, He invites every human being to look outside themselves - to walk on the path of eternity - through His Spirit. For many, this light is the gospel of Jesus Christ... that is, an invitation to walk in relationship with the Jewish Messiah - to live as he lived, and believe as he taught. For others, the light... the revelation of God... may be cast in different shades or colors... but nevertheless, the invitation to turn away from self-worship (to repent) and turn toward something far more powerful than themselves... is given. Now, just how and where salvation plays out in the midst of this revelatory transaction takes place is a complete mystery... wouldn't you agree?

Anyway, here's my beef with Oprah. Ultimately, it seems her god is found from within... in other words, we are god. If we just believe in ourselves more, if we search deeply inside our soul... our inner sanctuary, if we seek inner peace and harmony (the goodness within us all)... we will find salvation... bliss... the pathway to God.

But the God I know... the One who whispered my name and revealed Himself to me... The One who was, and is, and always will be... let me in on a little secret: Creation is good, very good... but within the bounds of human history, something very bad occurred... something which profoundly damaged the goodness of creation... In the context of freedom, a wrong choice was made, thereby damaging humanity's eternal relationship with God. But God - knowing our determined desire to find the answer within ourselves - allowed humanity to attempt to fix their own problems... to be "good" and moral beings strong enough and righteous enough to restore the broken relationship (in their own strength... with some help from God). But after thousands of years and countless cycles of failure (as told in the Old Testament stories of God's chosen people)... After it became abundantly clear humanity is "lost" apart from God... In the fullness of time, God revealed Himself more fully, more personally. The Lord Himself joined us in our stead, He came to our world and personally paid the high cost of our salvation. We, therefore - through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ - have the opportunity to live in a restored relationship with our Creator.

The answer is not found within ourselves, Ms. Winfrey... the answer is found outside of us, as we invite Him to come near. The answer is found in the loving, faithful, ever-so-patient, sacrificial, and yet oft-frustrated God who made us, cares for us, disciplines us, goes to the ends of the earth for our sake... and yes, the God - the ONLY God - who provides the Way for our eternity. "god" has a name - He revealed Himself to us as Yahweh. He then chose to more fully reveal Himself to us through His Son, Jesus... and by His Spirit. That is not a statement of arrogance... it is a Trinitarian statement of faith - it is an articulation of hope for those who seek something powerful and grace-filled of which they can cling to... forever.

Cafe Living

It's been a couple hundred years since I made a post at good ole' Cafe Verona... but I really miss it! And things have certainly changed since the last time I wrote down my spiritual thoughts here in this thoughtful, friendly, cozy, and powerfully aromatic Italian espresso bar at the far reaches of my mind. Actually, there are several reasons I haven't written for so long... one is the Daily Word, which takes a lot more time than I would have ever supposed. But the overriding reason is pure and unadulterated laziness!

One thing I have experienced since I last visited the Cafe is an unforgettable time working for several months as a Barista at Starbucks. Holy cow... that is one butt-kicking (but wonderful) job! I don't know if I miss making endless lines of lattes and caramel macciotos, but I really do miss the people a lot... both fellow partners (employees) and customers! Someday soon, I'm going to post on some of the lessons learned at Starbucks. It's been a couple of weeks now since I've "retired" from the Canyon Road (Ellensburg) location, but my body is still trying to get used to not getting up at O'Dark-thirty. Seriously, I believe a middle-aged guy getting out of bed at 3:30 in the morning to go to work has learned the definition of hell on earth! No biggie for the young kids I worked with - sometimes they came in to work without sleeping at all the night before... a suicidal approach my brain can't even begin to fathom. Let's face it, quad-grande americanos might help (and taste really good), but NOTHING could give me the energy to think and do all the necessary things if I even dared walk in the door with less than six hours of sleep. After a few minutes, they'd send me home in a basket.

So, here I am... all of a sudden I have more time on my hands than I've had in nearly eight years (after a lifetime in seminary, and nearly a year as a bi-vocational church planter)... I'm actually able to read more, think more, and write more. Oh, don't get me wrong... I manage to stay really busy these days, but it's amazing how different it is to have only one full-time job, rather than trying to keep several plates balanced in the air and constantly spinning.

So anyway, my new goal is to post my thoughts here on a weekly(ish) basis. Sounds easy, I know... but do you have a blog? If so, are you consistent with it? Ha... I thought so!

The way I see it, I have about a 12 month (give or take) window of opportunity to see for certain if God has something special in mind for creating a new kind of church in the Burg. After that, things get a bit more complicated, especially financially... but for the next year, I can focus all my energy and effort into The River. As I step back from my job as Barista and once again begin to dream big dreams about this church-planting adventure, I am fearful yet confident, anxious yet relaxed, and overwhelmed yet faith-filled. I'm likely to have a lot of thoughts along the journey... and I'd love to get your input as I write down my random thoughts on church-planting, discipleship, and life-in-general.

So... welcome back to Cafe Verona. Grab a chair, sit back, relax, order your favorite coffee beverage, and join in on the conversation!

Authentic

authentic | involved | eclectic | missional

Authentic [aw-then-tic]

1.	not false or copied; genuine; real

2.	having the origin supported by unquestionable evidence; authenticated; verified

3.	entitled to acceptance or belief because of agreement with known facts or experience; reliable; trustworthy

Source: http://www.dictionary.com/

We at The River seek to be a community of faith that is authentic. But what exactly does that mean? Isn't every church authentic? Well, maybe... and maybe not. But we're not trying to presume the motives of other groups in this discussion. We are simply asking what the shape and priorities of our church should be if we're seeking to be (as in definition number one) "genuine" followers of Jesus in this little corner of the world.

One thing that comes to mind for me is that we need to see people here as loved by God - no matter where they are in their beliefs. There is a huge population of spiritual believers and seekers in the Pacific Northwest. But - here's a shock - not all of them are looking for... or finding their answers in Christ. I don't know if that is the church's fault or not... but I do know that we have kind of settled into a polarized society here: Essentially, the Christians and the non-Christians.

We have a decent (if not statistically low) number of Bible-believing, regularly church-attending folks who make it to worship service each Sunday. And then we have a massive group of people who don't fit into that category... probably because there are so many outdoor activities in (or close to) this little valley. Why mess up a perfectly good chance to go skiing or snowmobiling by going to church?

I don't have a great answer to that last point. Sometimes I wish I could go fishing, or skiing, or hiking, or camping, or river-floating (or whatever) on a weekend without having to go to the modern version of church. But hey, that's the price you pay to be a disciple, isn't it? By now, you may be asking yourself... Does Jeff have a point to make here? Actually, I don't know for certain - but I do know I'm kind of sick of the polarity.

Perhaps it's just the nature of the beast, but why do Christians have to be so different than the rest of society? Why do we have to put up so many walls... blocking the way for people to experience what we have to offer... that is, the person of Jesus in our midst? Why have we positioned ourselves as so different from (i.e., out of touch with) our unbelieving friends and neighbors?

I understand that not everyone wants to know about Jesus... BOY do I understand that! But how many people would demonstrate more interest in the Christian faith if they encountered more authentic Christ followers in their daily lives? What if - instead of taking pride in our separation from the "sinners" among us - we took pride in our integration into the lives of pre-Christians... that is, people who don't yet know (but have a destiny with) Christ?

Okay... a controversial point perhaps... but let's say we agree that we need to be more integrated into our local community... Somehow we need to overcome our collective "holier-than-thou" reputation, and earn a new reputation as authentic, empathetic and completely trustworthy. But how do we go about it? How do we change our reputation? Is it even possible? How do we allow others to see that we're real people... with real problems and concerns? How do we live among the people and tell them the truth... the compelling story of God's relentless pursuit of our salvation... without coming across as jerks and self-seeking manipulators?

Wikipedia says that authenticity "refers to the truthfulness of origins, attributions, commitments, sincerity, devotion, and intentions" and "a particular way of dealing with the external world." Wow... If we could stop trying to build a church... (yes, that's what I said). If we could stop trying to win more people to Jesus (don't faint... stay with me). Heck, if we could just somehow, some way resist the overwhelming sense of "us and them" syndrome for just a little while... If we could live our lives before God with "truthfulness of origins; attributions; commitments; sincerity; devotion; and intentions"...

Who knows what God could do with that kind of authenticity from His followers!

So, blog reader... what does authentic Christian discipleship mean to you? I know, I know... online comments are about as popular as a root canal... but just this once, give it a try... There is no right or wrong here (well, unless you're really off the deep end). I'm simply curious what people think when they hear the term "authentic follower of Christ." How does a little, emerging, and (hopefully) out of the box gathering of everyday people live in, and connect with folks on a deep level... and find creative new ways to "deal with the external world?"

How do we spread the good news authentically (that is... with our actions as well as our words)? How do we speak the language of "outsiders" so they hear the relevance of Christ... and positively respond to Him? Just what does it mean to be aw-then-tik?

Hmmmmmm... I'm curious to read what you think.