A Morning Declaration

Good morning, Lord. Thank you for another day. Another opportunity to move forward with you. May I use this day for unprecedented joy in the hope of your glory. Move me, even if only one small step, closer to your mission. Draw me into your healing, into your promises. I choose to believe in you today. I choose to obey your commands and when I do not, I choose to come to you for forgiveness. I choose not to fear the darkness and gloom, nor to entertain the enemy’s lies. I choose to fight. I choose to be dependent upon your body, upon those you have placed around me. I choose to meet the needs of others and to be willing to have my own needs met. I choose to be true to who you have made me to be and not to desire someone else’s life. I choose to forgive others. I choose to forgive myself. I choose to conquer. I choose to live.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

-Romans 8:37-39

Play Your Position

“Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heart and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.”

James 1:9-11

Economic status was the order of the day at Mosaic. After running the camera for the first and second services/celebrations today, I was able to take notes during the final one at 5:00 pm. This week’s Ancient Proverb in Modern Times was “Play Your Position”.

Based on this passage from James, pastor Erwin began his sermon with a little history on the Protestant and Catholic wars in Belfast, Northern Ireland, from where he and his family returned last week. He had a speaking engagement there to celebrate the Day of Pentecost. He explained how the wars are/were not so much due to differences in theology, but differences in economic status.

Here are more notes from my journal. I’m running the camera for both of the morning celebrations now, and I’m doing other things during the evening celebration, so if my notes seem to jump around, don’t worry…I still know what they mean:) They’ll just seem scattered to you. Feel free to ask questions.

-the purpose of Jesus Christ is not to make us affluent and wealthy
-as Christians, we are all born into different economic statuses
-step into poverty with responsibility/step into wealth with responsibility
-poverty creates the environment for great faith in God’s provision
-don’t get lost in the wanting/don’t get trapped in the having
-poverty is a lack of opportunity of another choice (I’m more and more grateful to be here everyday; my life is rich with opportunity)
-REDEMPTION AND LIFT
*sociologists don’t believe in Christ, but they believe in Christianity, because Christianity breaks the cycle of poverty
*an person in poverty who comes to know Christ might not change their economic status within their lifetime, but within 2 generations their heirs will find themselves in a completely different economic status
*Christianity breeds responsibility
-do not abdicate your responsibility with wealth
-maximize your opportunities of being born to privilege

In summary: Play Your Position

(and yes, there were more fortune cookies this week)

Hymn

Anciet God
Present now
Hear my prayer
Heal this doubt.

If I step, if I set my foot
upon this ground
Give my life,
Sacrifice
If I lay it down

Can I go, will I know
That you’ll always go with me
And when I’m scarred
Torn apart
Can I hide inside your heart

Saved!

For any of you who aren’t aware, there is a movie out right now entitle “Saved!” It a satire on Christianity, specifically geared toward the happenings of a Christian High School. Ever since I read about this film in RELEVANT Magazine I’ve been anxiously awaiting its release. I went to a matinee of it yesterday afternoon and was not disappointed.

Now before I begin to write a bit of my thoughts on this film, let me say that it will most certainly not be for everyone. It is at points a harsh criticism, not of all Christians but of many. It generalizes, as many criticism do, to make a point. Last thing before I jump into some of my thoughts about it. Consider this a disclaimer: IF YOU SEE THIS MOVIE BE SURE THAT IT IS CLEAR IN YOUR HEAD THAT THIS IS SATIRE. Love does not easily take offense. We would do well to pay attention to how Christians are perceived, satire or not.

The movie begins with Mary, a high school junior, describing her perfect Christian life. The story follows her into her summer where she spends time hanging out with her perfect Christian boyfriend, who mid-summer tells her that he is gay. After seeking spiritual guidance, Mary decides that in order to save Dean from his abomination, Jesus has told her to sleep with him. Mary enters her senior year at this Christian high school pregnant with a gay guy’s baby. Throughout the rest of the movie we see the goings on of this Christian high school, from smoking, swearing and sex to spiritual rallies and prayer meetings (all of which happen at Christian schools, high school or college, I went to one). The characters range from the bad Jewish girl to Hillary Faye (the most spiritual, beautiful and popular girl in school) and her lemming-like followers. Ironically enough those who do not necessarily believe are those who are most like Jesus. And those who talk about him the most have the least capacity to love.

There are definitely parts of this film that are hard to watch. I found myself wondering if I should laugh at some of the things that really were quite funny. But, the truth is funny, and Christians are sometimes very very stupid and blind. Myself included. Although we may not find ourselves acting this way to the extent portrayed in the movie, I was able to take in the message and understand that my life does indeed sometimes reflect the themes. There are also ideas that seem very relativistic, but I would challenge everyone who sees this movie to dig deeper into the statements made and pull out the truth. At the same time, there is very much truth in this film, very profound truth. So, as Dr. Helyer always told us at Taylor, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” Watch this film with an open mind, a thinking mind, and a heart of love for its creators.

That’s all I’m going to write because I want you all to see it for yourselves. I know most of you well enough to know that this movie won’t be for all of you. I can’t make that call. If you are unsure and you want to see it anyway, make sure you go into it with the right mind and heart set. I apologize beforehand if any of you see it and are royally offended. Feel free to comment on my comments after you see it, and certainly feel free to disagree. I’m probably going to see it again with the interns from Mosaic, just to let it sink in more and form a better opinion of it.

Oh, and one more thing…IT IS ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!

May we never be found throwing our Bibles at someone and screaming “I am filled with the love of Christ!”

Peace

[my ticket said it was rated PG and I don't see how; consider it PG-13]

A Day at the Office, A Night at the McManus House

Today was my first day at the Mosaic office as an intern, where I was given some projects to begin working on. I will be the point person for was is called LA Tour. Basically, LA Tour is a (non-comprehensive) spiritual overview of the Los Angeles area. We will most likely make visits to a Buddhist Temple, an Islamic Mosque, and a Hindu community to learn more about these religions, the people that practice them, and how to reach those lost in their allure. I’m looking into adding a visit to a Kabbalah center in there too. Anyway, I’m in charge of recruiting people to help me with the details and setting up the tour. A group of interns from Germany are coming to LA for a couple of weeks and I’m scheduling the tour so that they can attend. So, a 23 year old girl from Mooresville, IN is taking Germans around LA for an educational look at other religious followings of the city. Who knew, indeed?!

I’m also working on putting college age people into life groups according to their location in and around LA.

Tonight some of the other interns and I watched the children of the Mosaic lead team while they were having a get together at the McManus house. Since I still haven’t changed much, I was more interested in the seemingly unending amount of books in the house rather than the children. Shocker. The room with most of the books was the room with the TV as well, and the walls are decorated with movie posters in foreign language (and a few in English). Braveheart, Mission Impossible, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Last samurai, to name a few. Cool room. I eventually found myself on the floor playing a German boardgame with two German/Brazilian boys, Adrian and Tony (I can’t imagine being tri-lingual at 5 years old). They were wonderful, pleasant boys…Clearly not American:)

I spent sometime talking with there mother. She and her husband (who is Brazilian and in Germany at the moment) have been in the States for almost a year as interns at Mosaic. They are planting a Mosaic church in Germany in the fall. It was amazing to hear the stories of how the two of them met and ended up at Mosaic. He was doing work at a German missions organization in Kenya (being from Brazil) and the Germans there got him to come visit Germany where he taught at a missions school attended by Andrea (his wife). They pastored a church in Germany and went on live for a while in Brazil where there sons learned Portuguese. They went to Minneapolis to look at the structure of some churches there, looking for something new and fresh to bring back with them to Germany. They were disappointed in what they found, but eventually wound up at Bethel Seminary where they shared there testimony. Erwin was in the crowd listening that day. He talked to them, they came to LA, and then moved to LA for a year. Remarkable.

An amazing, peaceful evening in SoCal.

The Summit

The Summit is the life group that I will be a part of every Monday evening. At six o’clock the interns will meet for intern “stuff” and then at eight o’clock anyone can come and join the group. This Monday we went though what the Character Matrix is (copyright 1985 Erwin Raphael McManus).

MAKING WHOLE DISCIPLES OUT OF BROKEN PEOPLE:

The First Journey [pride to courage]

PRIDE: self-focus
HUMILITY: the willingness to serve the needs of others above oneself
INTEGRITY: one can be entrusted with followers
COURAGE: the absence of self, NOT the absence of fear

The Second Journey [foolishness to wisdom]

FOOLISHNESS: a dog returns to its vomit
FAITHFULNESS: small commitments build a faithful life
PERSEVERANCE: do it when you say you’ll do it, and there is also grace
WISDOM: making right decisions repeatedly

The Third Journey [greed to generosity]

GREED: an insatiable desire for more (when Erwin’s children complain about something that doesn’t seem “good enough” or about circumstances, he will ask them “what do you deserve?” The learned response is “nothing” whether they believe it or not; one guys took a step towards reality and had his kids say “death and hell”
GRATITUDE: being thankful for what you have an not angry about what you don’t
WHOLENESS: giving more than you demand or receive
GENEROSITY: giving without the thought of receiving

Out of these three journeys comes a person of courage, wisdom, and generosity.

Face Your Fears and Live

The Summit is the life group that I will be a part of every Monday evening. At six o’clock the interns will meet for intern “stuff” and then at eight o’clock anyone can come and join the group. This Monday we went though what the Character Matrix is (copyright 1985 Erwin Raphael McManus).

MAKING WHOLE DISCIPLES OUT OF BROKEN PEOPLE:

The First Journey [pride to courage]

PRIDE: self-focus
HUMILITY: the willingness to serve the needs of others above oneself
INTEGRITY: one can be entrusted with followers
COURAGE: the absence of self, NOT the absence of fear

The Second Journey [foolishness to wisdom]

FOOLISHNESS: a dog returns to its vomit
FAITHFULNESS: small commitments build a faithful life
PERSEVERANCE: do it when you say you’ll do it, and there is also grace
WISDOM: making right decisions repeatedly

The Third Journey [greed to generosity]

GREED: an insatiable desire for more (when Erwin’s children complain about something that doesn’t seem “good enough” or about circumstances, he will ask them “what do you deserve?” The learned response is “nothing” whether they believe it or not; one guys took a step towards reality and had his kids say “death and hell”
GRATITUDE: being thankful for what you have an not angry about what you don’t
WHOLENESS: giving more than you demand or receive
GENEROSITY: giving without the thought of receiving

Out of these three journeys comes a person of courage, wisdom, and generosity.

Grand Canyon

Today’s travels brought us through the rest of New Mexico and on into Arizona. We found our way through the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert, stopped at the Sweet Pea Cafe for lunch and drove on to the Grand Canyon. The drive was continuously beautiful and continually desolate. And for most of the drive there was a single cloud in the sky. Yep, just one. Oh, I almost forgot. Mom forgot she was driving a stick shift at one of the exits. Killed it again It was another extravagation. Now, on with the Grand Canyon. All of Arizona really. It is so amazing that its hard to even try to describe it. Words like awsome, beautiful, and amazing do not carry enough meaning in them to justly describe the sight. Silence, in this case, is the greatest compliment that can be given to the Creator. I’ve been thinking about how I’m on my way to the opposite of the places I’ve been driving through. Vast desert will soon be replaced by miles and miles of concrete and millions of people. I’m soaking up the silence. Yet I am at the same time looking forward to the newness of Los Angeles, looking forward to a change. It is not Los Angeles in itself that is exciting. It is not the fame, the industry, the glamor. It is not the beach or the weather (dry heat is definitely an extra bonus), and it is certainly not city life. It is Jesus that excites me. It is what he is up to, of which I have no idea, that excites me. It is indeed the experience. All I know is that Los Angeles, California is where I need to be. This is where I need to learn for a season, however long it lasts. Jesus had to make time for solitude. He had to make time late at night or early in the morning. This was a part of his greater sacrifice and it will have to be a discipline that I too take a hold of. He was surrounded by crowds, noise and much of the hedonism and paganism of the Roman Empire, and within this realm he declared, “I am the light of the world”. So it is with me, and I shall point to him. No, living in Los Angeles in not my “American dream”, but I don’t really have one of those anyway. Andrew asked Jesus, “Where do you live?”, and Jesus replied “Come and see”. Like Andrew, I have chosen to follow him and see, and my home in this world will be wherever he leads. For now, Jesus wants me to see where he lives in Los Angeles, and to see what he can do with this broken vessel.

Quotes for the day:

“And the mountains sing your glory, hallelujah.
The canyons echo sweet amazing grace.
My spirit sails the mighty gails are bellowing your name,
And I’ve got nothing to say.
I’ve got nothing to say.

Hey Jamie would you mind driving down this road awhile?
Arizona’s caught me by surprise.”

-Andrew Peterson

“Inhale the nations. Exhale the gospel.”

-Erwin Raphael McManus

Indiana to Albuquerque

Today marks the third day of our journy from Mooresville to Los Angeles. Our first stop on Sunday evening brought us to Rolla, MIssouri, where we were unfortunate enough to watch the fourth quarter of another Pacer’s homecourt debacle. We’ll see what tonight holds for them in Detroit. Yesterday took us to Oklahoma City, our first intentional stop for entertainment: the Women’s College World Series (fast-pitch softball). UCLA played California in Oklahoma City, go figure that logic out. Anyway, it was a great game with Cal scoring early in the first inning, but being overtaken by three runs from UCLA in the bottom of the fifth. That was it, game over. The game was followed by what my mom called a fireworks “extravagation”. It’s a apparentlly a mix between an extravaganza and a celebration. Much laughter ensued. After breakfast at the IHOP this morning and a tumbler full of Panera’s Hazelnut House Blend coffee, we were on our way west to Amarillo (not quite by morning for you George Strait fans) and on to Albuquerque for our evening meal. I’m writing from the outskirts of Amarillo, and I’m guessing that at some point or another I have eaten a hamburger or perhaps a filet mignion from the vast plains we are passing that are dotted with cattle. Mmmmm…. (ha! mom just killed the engine on the stick shift, more laughter). The flat plains remind me of Africa, where you can see for miles without a building in sight (besides a farm house or two off in the distance). My imagination wonders what America looked like before it was “civilized”, when the land was untainted by concrete and cinder blocks and the buffalo populated the “empty” space. And now, I’m traveling through those same plains on I-40 westbound at 80 miles per hour, typing on my iBook.