Where Do We Go From Here?

A few days ago I watched a History Channel show on Rogue Waves. Basically, these are waves which can come out of nowhere and are at least twice as large as any other wave in the set. Often these waves are three and four times larger than anything in the area - and they can even pop up on calm seas. Apparently for a long time rogue waves were reported, but considered to be the excuses a drunk captain came up with to avoid the truth of his ineptitude...until people started catching them on camera. Waves of over 100 feet have been filmed, smashing into and completely destroying huge tanker ships and even oil platforms.

There’s a growing suspicion that these waves are particularly prevalent, and provide partial explanation for the strange disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle.

I was fascinated.

It wasn’t until the next morning that it struck me why these rogue waves captured my imagination. They are a perfect metaphor for the last several years of my family’s life. There have been storms, to be sure - even some that we were not sure we would survive. However, it wasn’t the storms that were the source of our anxiety, it was the random rogue waves which always seemed to come along in the calm seas after the storm had “passed.”

Our latest rogue wave came in the form of a series of disconnected (but utterly connected) bad tidings regarding finances. Without going into the boring details, I should be panicked right now...or selling a kidney. But what has been very perplexing is that I’m not. I realize the seriousness of the situation. I’m doing what I can to address it and “avoid the rocks” (in sticking with the maritime metaphor).

But I’m not panicking.

This baffles me. Why am I not a blubbering mess?!

At first I was afraid it meant I’d finally had a mental breakdown...the part of my brain controlling the self-preservation instinct had just dissolved or something. But, if that were the case (and yes, I seriously considered it enough that I had to actually rule it out), I wouldn’t be trying to do something about the situation.

I quickly ruled out both super-faith and Pollyanna-like naiveté. My faith in the face of risk has certainly matured, but I’m still plagued by doubt. My current lack of fear doesn’t stem from a confidence that “everything will be okay, because God won’t let the monster get us.” I have several years of empirical evidence to suggest that God is most certainly faithful and compassionate, but I do not take deliverance and rescue for granted. 

Bad things still happen in this world, and it will continue to be so until Jesus finally and fully establishes the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. I can’t be so arrogant as to think God will keep all the monsters at bay, because there are too many people in this world that get eaten...and I am no more precious to our Lord than they. (Which is not at all to say that neither they nor I are precious to God.)

The other night, as we had this very conversation, a friend asked, “Are you just numb?” I could only respond, “Well...maybe.”

But I don’t really think that’s it either.

I think - and I hold this belief with humility, knowing that tomorrow it could look differently - that I’m just getting a bit peace in the midst of the storm. The storm is real; the chaos - like the fiery furnace that three Jewish boys stood before - is threatening. And from somewhere I’m being given the strength to respond, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from [this threat]. But even if he does not...”

I don’t know that this is a test...and if it is, I don’t know that we’ll be delivered at the 11th hour for our faithfulness. But even if we are not, we will not bow down to the idol of fear. 

I don’t want to oversell it. There are too many people who love us for me to believe that my children will ever be truly hungry...there will be a place for them to sleep in peace. Perhaps that’s a source of peace as well. In the book God’s Economy, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove speaks to the wisdom of investing in relationships over financial security...perhaps for this very reason. Jobs have a tendency to go away, bank accounts seem to dry up. People who love you are much more valuable.

So, back to the title of this post: where do we go from here?

We’ve done what we can to streamline the budget, now we have a few short-term, a few mid-range and a few long-term plans.

For right now, here’s where we go.

Communitas

Over the last few years, I’ve been developing this six month process for groups (congregations, small groups, house churches, bible classes...or just a gathering of friends ready to move forward together). My doctor of ministry project (which is currently over half-way through the action phase) is focused on one particular aspect of the Communitas experience.

Communitas, which means a deep experience of community which is formed through a shared struggle, ordeal or common mission, combines online learning and dialog, with spiritual formation in community and practical engagement in missional life right where you are. Unlike other processes which either stress classroom learning or provide manufactured “practice” experiences, Communitas guides participants to begin learning what it means to live missionally by...well, living missionally.

I hadn’t planned to make Communitas available “to the public” until January. I was told pointedly this past week, “What are you waiting for?”

Message received. If you have a group of friends, a study group or an entire congregation that may be interested in this transformational experience, send me a message and we can talk more.

Seminar in Missional Living

In addition to the six month process, I’ve also developed a one-day seminar that can be hosted with your church or group in which we’ll address some of the basic biblical and practical concepts which can ignite the missional imagination.

This seminar can be incorporated into a church retreat - or even expanded to serve as the entire retreat focus - with very little advanced warning. This isn’t just an academic endeavor for me, its an orientation to faith that I live and breathe - if you need someone there this weekend, just give me directions.

Interim or “Relief” Preaching

I love my church family. One of the most endearing qualities of this group of people is a genuine concern for people over programs. Rather than just being willing to press on without me if I’m invited to speak somewhere on a Sunday, these folks are willing to find other ways and times to get together.

If your church is in a period of transition between preachers, I am available to preach on Sundays or Wednesdays - for one week or several, whatever fits your circumstances. I’m also happy to fill in for the preacher who just needs a week off - whether its for an out-of-town trip or an out-of-pulpit respite.

If your church is in or around the DFW metroplex I’d be happy to come spend time and share the good news of God’s kingdom with you.

We also have several other things in the works which we believe will cultivate a more sustainable rhythm for our family and ministry. Some of these should come into fruition in the next six to nine months, some over the course of the next couple years. This post is already too long to get into them all...but maybe I’ll post some further thoughts in the next few days. 

The final piece I want to mention in this post is: 
Support for Church Planting.

Just in the past couple months we’ve launched out with our new church planting effort, The Gathering: Burleson. We have a fundraising newsletter that we’ve put together with more information about our work in this area, and we would love to tell you more if you’re interested in partnering with us. We’re grateful for the community of friends who’ve supported us over the last few years, and we’re praying that God will raise up a few more to get us through the wilderness and into (we hope and pray and hope and pray) Canaan, soon.

If you would like any further information on Communitas, the Seminar in Missional Living, Interim Preaching availability or supporting our church planting work with The Gathering, please don’t hesitate to email, post a reply or just yell really loud.

bret@missionalmonks.com

A Timely Retrospective

As we prepare to once again launch a fundraising effort for church planting, I decided to repost this article I wrote on the cusp of our move to Burleson nearly three years ago. The details are different this time around, we're hoping to relocate to the other side of town, not to another state. We have 3 years experience in the ministry of planting churches and specifically working with people in this area. We've now been married over 10 years and for the first time ever have lived in the same house for over 2.5 years. We're hoping our next move will be the last for many years to come. As I reread this post, I was struck by how much things have changed and how much they have stayed the same. The economy got worse, then it seemed to get a little better...nationwide, organizations are giving less to charitable causes and non-profits while individuals seem to be giving more. Our prayer as we begin this process is that the Holy Spirit will guide us to connect with both churches and individuals willing to partner with us in the ministry of planting churches and equipping congregations to live missionally in their neighborhoods.

Bad Ideas and Ones That Just Seem That Way. Oct 3, 2008

So as you may or may not know, Rachel and I have been married nearly 8 years and we are about to (hopefully) complete our 8^th move together. Over the years we have become pretty proficient packers and movers, with a thoroughly tested and carefully revised system. Rachel has always been in charge of packing (I handle the garage, my closet and anything she tells me to do…). I’ve been in charge of moving day and take pride in the fact that when folks show up to help us load the trucks there are pretty much only two types of items in our home: boxes and furniture. When we moved from Mesquite to Dallas the total time from when the first box was picked up until we were all sitting in the new house eating lunch was 2.5 hours (that’s including the 15-20 minute drive to our new house).

But times they are a changin’. If you read Rachel’s blog you know that she normally has nearly half the house packed before we send the kids to grandparents’ house for crunch time. The jump from 2 to 3 kids has shifted the balance of power and we simply did not have nearly as much done. Wednesday when I took the boys to my mom, Rachel was sick – which meant that the whole day she had to herself to get stuff done without me or the boys in her way was…well, it wasn’t good. Then yesterday I spent the day battling off the ick as well.

However, last night as we prepared for bed, we felt that all-in-all we were in decent shape. Joey had been incredibly cooperative, we actually had several boxes packed, the garage was close to ready…and we still had all day today, Saturday, most of the day Sunday and Monday before the big day Tuesday.

But that wasn’t good enough for me.

While carrying some stuff out to the truck I accidentally walked into the side of an open drawer. That was not a good idea. Three hours later we were back home with seven stinking stitches. But you know, we still got a lot done today.

The doctor, after conceding that I wasn’t going to stay off my feet, requested that I at least spend an hour of so with my leg propped up so that the bleeding would stop (which it didn’t do the entire time they were stitching me up…it was kinda cool). During my long lunch break I watched CNN. There was plenty of talk about the bailout plan – which at that point was being deliberated in the House of Representatives. There was also plenty of talk about the overall state of the economy and the future for jobs and financial security for American citizens.

This isn’t a bombshell; things have been looking a bit dreary for quite some time now. And to be totally honest there have been a few people look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them that we’re raising money to plant churches. “Now?” they often ask. A few have even come right out and said that they think this is a bad idea. Is the decision to step out on faith and plant new churches right now an idea comparable to kicking an open drawer while packing?

The short answer, I believe, is “no”.

It is true that finances are tight and we are asking people, in the midst this situation, to partner with us financially. It is true that many people are unsure about their job security. It is true that for many people the hope, optimism and general sense of well-being found in this country’s prosperity have been shaken. But that is all the more reason for us to be doing precisely what we’re doing.

Chris Chappotin, my new coworker, just read a book called Death By Suburb. I’m currently reading N.T. Wright’s Surprised By Hope. Both of these books, in one way or another, discuss the danger of putting our hope and faith in something less than God. I wonder how many people have been uninterested in God because a prosperous society has been providing them with liberal doses of pain killers - never truly addressing the problems in their life but effectively masking the symptoms in the short run. But (at the risk of overusing the metaphor) perhaps the prescription has run out for many of us.

I believe that today there are many people who have lost or are afraid they may lose their security net and I believe that those people are going to be more receptive than ever to hearing the good news of God who has come near; a God who has come to repair the broken systems of this world which lead to insecurity, fear and oppression; a God who has called us to work with him to reconcile, heal and restore his good creation.

I believe that people are going to be receptive, but there’s more to it than just that. I also believe that right now we NEED hope. Part of why folks are receptive is that the good news which we proclaim is something which we legitimately crave. The truth is that the Kingdom of God is breaking into this world, even in the midst of financial crisis. This kingdom has implications (as Surprised By Hope emphasizes) for life after death, life after life after death and even life BEFORE death!

There has never been a more appropriate time in our lifetime to be engaged in God’s mission; planting churches right now is a GOOD idea.

Those we are asking to partner with us are being faced with a big commitment of faith – trust me, I understand that very well. However, I am more convinced than ever that this is precisely the kind of risk we are being called to take in the name of Jesus. We have raised nearly 50% of our goal (for the first year anyway), we are moving Wednesday and we are convinced that God is opening these doors. We are also convinced that the hurdles which keep popping up this week are examples of spiritual warfare. I believe that the forces of darkness at work in this world should be nervous – not because of us, but because of the powerfully advancing Kingdom in which our citizenship resides.

We are talking with a few churches right now about coming on board as a supporting church for our family and the ministry of planting churches in the Burleson / south Fort Worth area. Several of these churches are considering one time or special gifts – which we of course appreciate greatly. Our church here at Tammany Oaks has agreed to partner with us for one year. We need other congregations to partner with us regularly over the next three years or so. Make no mistake, we’re still looking for individuals to join us. But perhaps your congregation or one you know of would be interested in supporting (or partially supporting) a domestic missionary family. Perhaps your church family also believes that it is time for the community of God to advance into the darkness in order to reflect light into every dark corner. If so would you help us get connected with your church? Would you be the voice calling your leadership to partner with us?

I have now officially shed blood for this ministry, and the 7 stitches (a good, holy number by the way) are symbolic of my commitment…not my inability to watch where I’m walking, as you may have thought. I pray that very soon we will have raised our full support (because apparently I really need to get medical insurance!!). In the meantime we are continuing to pray for the individuals and congregations that God is preparing to bring into our lives as partners, as well as the individuals and families that we are going to be blessed to be in relationship with through the ministry of planting new churches.

Prayer for Monday, June 6

Scripture for Monday

Acts 10:1-8

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

   The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

 7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Prayers for a Fruitful Church

Lord of the Harvest, we pray that your church will be fruitful. We do not want to be like the fig tree that didn’t produce. Our desire, O God, is for church to be vibrant and healthy; an organism that is growing and reproducing as you designed. Lord, as we begin the process of cultivating a new church, planting the gospel in our neighborhoods and community, we pray in faith knowing that you desire to bring about growth. We ask for the courage and faithfulness to serve as workers in your harvest field and we pray those you are even now preparing to send out as well. God, we pray that Intentional People will produce fruit for your kingdom as well. We pray for those with whom we will come into contact. We offer our lives and our efforts to your kingdom for the purpose of cultivating and equipping disciples who engage more fully in your mission. We desire, O Lord of the Harvest, to be a beneficial resource to your church. God, we offer ourselves to your service, use us as you see fit.

Our new house church met together for worship and a meal yesterday. 10 adults and 9.5 kids spent nearly 4 hours hanging out, discussing faith and what it means to be faithful, eating mountains of lasagna, studying Genesis...and going back for more lasagna. Afterwards a friend that was visiting with us made the comment, “I’ve never enjoyed being ‘in church‘ like I did today.” We made the decision to call our new church, “The Gathering.” We are harvesters and we are fruit from the harvest - God is gathering us together and we in turn are sent out to gather others in the name of Christ. Would you spend a few minutes today praying specifically for The Gathering? Pray that God will continue to produce fruit in our lives and that our growth in discipleship will be a compelling witness to our friends and neighbors.

Season of Prayer, Week 7

Scripture Passage for Daily Reflection

Acts 10; 14:1-7, 20-28 

Thoughts for the Week

I have heard it said that “God didn’t call us to be fruitful, only to be faithful.” I understand the sentiment behind that statement - it is easy to get caught up in a competitive game of justifying ourselves by counting “converts,” increases in giving, attendance and other numbers games. The true measure, according to those who make this statement, is whether or not we (individually or corporately) are faithful to God and the way of Jesus. We plant the seed and care for the soil, but it is God who brings the growth.

And yet, we could look back to the beginning of the Bible and notice that God’s command to the first people was, “be fruitful and multiply.” I think a case could be made that while that text is speaking about the need for Adam and Eve to have children and populate the earth, it is also a prophetic text speaking forward to the mission of God’s people (don’t be satisfied keeping the blessing of relationship with God to yourselves - invite others into this life with you).

However, if we choose to stick with the claim that we should first pursue faithfulness rather than fruitfulness, we must be careful not to create a false dichotomy. There’s no need to see these two matters in competition with one another. Indeed it is God who brings the growth, and both scripture and experience testify that God is quite interested in bringing about this growth. If we are faithful we should expect to see fruit. We’ll see it in our own lives and the lives of those with whom we come into contact - Jesus said that fruit is the evidence of a healthy organism (whether its a fig tree, a disciple or a community of disciples).

Remember Jesus’ statement in Luke 10 - the harvest is plentiful, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his field.

For the church, fruit and harvest represent BOTH continually maturing lives of discipleship among the faithful AND introducing new people to the life of faith (those whose hearts the Holy Spirit is already at work preparing). If new people are “joining” the church but discipleship isn’t taking root in their (and our) lives, this should be an enormous red flag for the community of faith. However, we should also be concerned when months and years pass while the same group of people sits around looking at each other wondering (or not even thinking about) why nobody else seems drawn the message we’re proclaiming.

This week our prayers focus on the harvest and bearing fruit. I am convinced that if we are committed to living out the matters we’ve spent the last 6 weeks praying; if we live with gratitude, wisdom, faithfulness, courage, intent on discipleship, seeking partners, focused on God’s mission, then God WILL bring about fruit and growth in our lives and in our community. If we turn our attention to these matters in the church, in our local community, in the global community, among the poor as well as in our own lives, the Holy Spirit WILL bring us into contact with people who are searching for God even if they aren’t aware of it yet.

Certainly it is possible to put the cart before the horse in regards to “growth.” That is part of the reason we saved the theme of harvest and fruit for last in this season of prayer. However, in both our church planting work and in the ministry of Intentional People, we are engaged in serving others because of the work of Christ - the work of remaking creation and inviting all people to take their place around the table with Jesus.

Prayer for Sunday - The Lord of the Harvest

Lord of the Harvest, we praise you for your concern and compassion for all people. We rejoice that you have done all these things so that people everywhere may seek you and find you, though you are not far from any one of us. Lord, we give you thanks for the ways in which you have brought about growth in our lives and in our communities. God, we pray that we will continue to live fruitful, productive lives as your disciples; that our love for one another, for you and for our neighbors will be evident to all. We desire these things, O Lord, because we have seen them first in you. You are the God of steadfast love, you are the Holy One who has not stayed far off, you are the Lord of the Harvest. Father, we pray that you will continue to work in us and conform us more fully into your image. You are the only one who is worthy of emulation and you are the only one who brings about new life.

We began this season of prayer by focusing on gratitude and joy for what God has been doing, and we begin this final week with gratitude for the fruit and harvest that God has already brought. So...where have you already seen evidence of God bringing about growth in your life?  For what do you need to express gratitude to God as we begin this week?

Prayer for Friday, May 27

Partners and Community for Ourselves
God, Community of Love, you have created us to live in community rather than isolation. We pray, for our own continued health, that you will surround each of us with friends and family committed to a shared vision of following you together. We pray for the leadership of Intentional People, that these families will continue to cultivate trust and friendship, so that each will be nurtured and encouraged to continue serving others. We pray for our new church plant, that relationships will be strengthened and cultivated so that we will continue to move forward in discipleship with joy and passion. In both of these endeavors we continue to pray for those you are raising up to partner together in different ways. Grant us wisdom and discerning hearts to protect one another from those who would do us harm and guide us forward in cultivating community in the places where you have placed us.

Back on Sunday, we asked you to be praying for financial, prayer and ministry partners for both Intentional People and our church planting efforts. Has God put any names on your heart? If so, would you consider speaking with them about these ministries? Please also feel free to contact us with names of these potential partners. Are there ways in which God may be laying it on your own heart to join with us in some way or to take the next step toward deeper connection? Again, we are extremely grateful to you for joining us in this season of prayer. We thank God for your partnership in the gospel.

Prayer for Thursday, May 26

Cultivating Community with The Poor and Oppressed
God, Community of Love, we want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. We want to be known as "friends of sinners," we desire to show solidarity with and developing community among the poor, the overlooked, forgotten and oppressed. Open our eyes to see these people which our society tries so hard to ignore and open our hearts to see them instead as you see them, as your beloved children. God we pray not only for opportunities to extend hospitality to the poor, but also for the grace to receive it. Grant us the honor of affirming the dignity of your image bearers who may have, this very day, been denied that birthright. God we acknowledge that among impoverished communities there is much darkness, sin and violence. We pray that you will bring light, repentance and peace to these places and that you will use us as your cracked and humble vessels in doing so.

Today, would you ask God to reveal ways in which Intentional People can serve as an encouragement to the poor and oppressed? We pray for partners and a growing community of people working together to eradicate the darkness around us through the Light of God that is within us. We have been blessed as part of Christ Journey to serve the poor in this area, and have cultivated some lasting friendships. We pray that this will continue as we launch out with our new church planting work as well.

Prayer for Wednesday, May 25

Cultivating Community in the Global Community
God, Community of Love, we are citizens of your kingdom which transcends national and ethnic boundaries. Teach us, Lord of Light, to see this world through your eyes and not be blinded by narrow, nationalistic thinking. Holy God, we pray that Intentional People will serve as a resource for inspiring those whom you are preparing to serve in various ways throughout the global community. We place our hands, our talents and our lives at your service to bless and encourage others wherever you may send them. In the same way, Father, we pray that our local church planting work will not lose sight of your love and concern for all people everywhere. Guide us in loving and caring for those who live across the street and together with them, in being mindful of those who live across the oceans. As citizens of your vast empire, God, Community of Love, erase from us any selfish desires or agendas for building empires of our own. We confess Jesus the Christ as both our savior and our Lord, to the glory of the Father and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Do you know someone who is working to build community or bring hope amidst the global community? If so, we would love to connect with them and perhaps even interview them for the Intentional People Video Project or the Missional Monks podcast. As we pray together, we invite you to think about and approach God with us regarding those we can partner with to inspire others.

Prayer for Tuesday, May 24

Cultivating Community in the Local Community
God, Community of Love, we know that you bless us in order that we will be a blessing to others. We pray that your wisdom will guide us into the midst of our neighborhoods and communities to model and invite others into a life of community - with you and with one another. Father, teach us to see the ways in which you are already at work bringing people together and allow us to serve as your co-laborers and ambassadors. Lord, we ask that Intentional People will serve to bring people together in their local context, working alongside you in community. We pray that you will show us those you are raising up to work in your fields - we pray that your Spirit will cultivate those relationships and produce a great harvest. God, Community of Love, we pray that through our work of planting the gospel in north Burleson, we will be aware of the people you bring across our paths - give us eyes to see and ears to hear so that we may make the most of every opportunity.

Be intentional today about looking for people that God may be bringing into your life. Cultivate awareness of those around you - often the only thing that keeps us from being able to have a positive influence for the kingdom in someone else's life is that we simply aren't present in the moment. God is already at work all around us. 

Prayer for Friday, May 20

Discipleship and Spiritual Formation in My Life


God Who Forms, we praise you for forming us in our mothers’ wombs. We thank you for placing within us your very image and we thank you for continually forming us into the likeness of Christ. Lord God show us the paths that will lead to greater wisdom, maturity, compassion and love. Teach us the ways that we should go and encourage us as we travel those paths. You are the God Who Forms and we are the people who desire to be formed by you.

If you have never done so, I encourage you today to begin developing a Rule of Life - this is simply an intentional rhythm of spiritual disciplines and practices that you will commit to on a regular basis. It can (and probably should) involve daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and occasional elements. It can include things like prayer, scripture reading, sharing of resources and service as well as things like silence, spiritual retreats and communal meals. Remember to include both active and contemplative practices and personal as well as communal elements. If possible, consider developing a communal rule with others with whom you are sharing the life of faith.

Prayer for Thursday, May 19

Discipleship in Response to Poverty and Oppression


God Who Forms, we know that you hear the cries of the poor and oppressed. We know that you have compassion on the weak and mistreated. We trust that you care about those who have been denied justice. God we want these things to be true of us as well. If these matters are important to you Lord, they are important to us. Thank you Father. You are the God Who Forms good things. We pray for you to form, through us, communities of justice, pockets of resistance to the self-centered ways of the world and neighborhoods where no one goes without because everyone shares what they have.

It has been said that churches and individuals who focus on social justice tend to focus less on personal spiritual formation and faith and vice versa. I admit I’ve seen that played out...and I’ve also seen the two sides (action and contemplation) held together beautifully. One key to be a fully formed disciple is to recognize your natural tendencies and intentionally cultivate the other areas as well. So which are you? Is your default set toward Bible study and prayer? Or is your default set to social justice and action? Are you one of those rare people who naturally engages in both? Share your reflections and ask someone else about their own tendencies.

Prayer for Wednesday, May 18

Disciples in the Global Community


God Who Forms, you are the One in whom we live and move and have our being. You are the One who sent your disciples to proclaim the arrival of your kingdom in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. And you are the One who has allowed us to live in such a time that the ends of the earth are not nearly so far away as they once seemed. God we pray that we will be formed into people who are concerned and involved in your ministry of reconciliation wherever there are signs of alienation. You are the God Who Forms and we cry out to you with an intense hunger for your kingdom to not only advance but to fill and fulfill all corners of earth.

One very simple need for discipleship across the global community is the need for Bibles in native languages. There are ministries, such as Pioneer Bible Translators (www.pioneerbible.org) which are working to get Bibles into communities who are hungry for the Word. Check out PBT’s website and consider ways that you can encourage such ministries.

Prayer for Tuesday, May 16

Discipleship in the Midst of the Local Community


God Who Forms, give us eyes to see our community the way that you see it; lead us to opportunities to display your love, grace and compassion. Lord we know that our discipleship is not for us alone, we are blessed in order to be a blessing to others. God grant us, as your image bearers, the wisdom and courage to love the people you love. We believe in your ministry of reconciliation. We believe that if life with you can happen anywhere, it can happen here in our town, on our street, in our coffee shop. You are the God Who Forms and we pray that you will continue to form connections we can see and threads we can follow in order to not only display but also witness your transformation in this place.

So often the spiritual practices we engage are either private or something we pursue in a “safe” context with other Christians. But our faith is meant to be experienced in the midst of the world. What is one spiritual practice you could participate in “out there”?  If you’re interested, ask me about using Lectio with something other than Scripture.

Prayer for Monday, May 16

Discipleship and Spiritual Formation in the Church

God Who Forms, your Church and your Kingdom will not be stopped, because they are yours. We recognize this and praise you for it. And yet Father, we also confess that the temptation toward the path of least resistance is powerful. It is not easy or painless to conformed to your image, because of our desires for instant gratification and the hold that sin has on everything around us. But you are the God Who Forms! To you we turn for our salvation, our transformation. By your grace, strengthen your Church to live boldly as a community of discipleship; as those who are committed to continual spiritual formation.

Its unavoidable: anything we do as humans is going to be flawed. The Church is a partnership between God and humanity. God is no fool. If the Lord chose to invite people into the mix, flaws were always going to be part of the story. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t continue striving for perfection in the image of God (which is only achieved through authentic, full connection to and relationship with God)- what else would be a worthwhile goal? So, as you have time today, make note of practices which have benefitted your own process of discipleship and those which may have had less of an impact or were even detrimental. Please share these! FB, comments here, email messages, twitter, text, smoke signal, whatever!

Season of Prayer, Week 4

Prayers for Discipleship and Spiritual Formation

Scripture Passage for Daily Reflection

Acts 4:23-31 (NIV 2011, via www.biblegateway.com) 

Thoughts for the Week

If you remember our reading from last week, Peter and John were headed to the temple at the time of prayer when the encountered a lame man - whom they healed. When the people saw this and were astonished, Peter began to speak to them about the kingdom of God, drawing from both recent experience and ancient scripture.

This all upset the religious teachers and they were commanded to stop preaching and teaching about Jesus. So last week, we prayed for the faith and courage to respond as Peter and John did on that day: “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

What enabled these men to speak so courageously? Well, the easy, but true nonetheless, answer is that they were empowered by the Holy Spirit. A little more specifically and challenging to us - they were empowered by the same Holy Spirit promised to EVERY believer through faith and baptism. 

But I think its also important to remember the first detail mentioned in that story was that they were headed to the temple to pray with other Jews and God-fearers (a term used to refer to Gentiles who worshipped God). 

The call to be more missional is not a call to neglect the spiritual disciplines which have proven so valuable throughout history. Jesus was pretty harsh on religion, but he and his disciples still gathered with other believers to pray and study the scriptures. 

In this week’s reading we see what happened when Peter and John were released from jail. They went back to the people (who were apparently gathered together) and told their story. What was the response of this young faith community? They began praying; praising God, quoting scripture and asking for continued boldness and miracles. It says that “after they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” 

Obviously its important to again note the natural response of prayer showing a commitment to spiritual formation and relationship with God. However, I also want to comment on the mention of them being filled with the Holy Spirit. Throughout Acts, the gift of the Holy Spirit coming on those who received Jesus’ baptism - as opposed to John the Baptist’s baptism, which was a kind of preparation through repentance, waiting on the resurrection of Jesus and the sending of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Holy Spirit was a basic, fundamental aspect of the Body of Christ - so why is it that this obviously faithful gathering includes a reference to being filled with the Spirit?

There are different reasons this could be, but it seems to me that the answer isn’t one of identity but action. Receiving the Holy Spirit is a basic part of our identity as Christians; we are being continually formed into the image of Christ, by the Spirit of God at work within us. What’s being mentioned here in Acts 4 is something different than receiving an identity. And I think it also transcends the contemporary use of the phrase that refers to the “charismatic gifts” - though that may well have been part of what happened.

No, I think what we see here is a group of people encountering an example of the Kingdom of God at work, immediately responding to God in prayer and then experiencing the natural result - encouragement and sending by the Spirit of God. This is the very purpose of discipleship. We engage in the stories and activities of Jesus because we believe that in so doing we cultivate an environment where we are more prepared to be transformed. We can’t bring about the change being described - it is in a very real sense a filling of the Holy Spirit, not ourselves - but we can make room for the Holy Spirit, we can prepare ourselves to be more receptive, we can expect the transformation promised us.

As we pray for discipleship and spiritual formation this week, this is why. We are praying, studying, sharing, serving and collaborating not as ends in themselves, but for the purpose of transformation which propels us deeper into the active life on mission with God.

Prayer for Sunday, May 15

God Who Forms, we have you to thank for our very existence and every blessing that has come after. Thank you, Almighty God, for speaking the Word that ignited the universe. Thank you, Father, for walking in the garden, kneeling in the dust and breathing life into a being created in your own image. God we pray that you will continue teaching us what it means to be created in your image. We struggle to see because our eyes have been damaged by sin. Make us new, Lord. Repair our eyes, our hearts and minds, our world, our existence. You are the God Who Forms, and to you alone do we offer our prayers for transformation.

How long has it been since you stopped to consider the wonder of creation formed by God? Spend a few minutes noticing and then thanking God for the work of creation. Today, make a note of one or two areas of your life where you need the God Who Forms to work. If you are comfortable doing so, share these with your faith community or a friend.

Season of Prayer: Week 2

Prayers for Wisdom and Discernment

Scripture Passage for Daily Reflection

Acts 2:5-47 (NIV 2011, via biblegateway.com)

Thoughts for the Week

"Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, 'What does this mean?'" (Acts 2:12)

I didn't have specific passages of scripture in mind when I put the schedule of prayers and themes for each week together. When I chose Acts 1 last week, I didn't do so with every week in mind. I simply chose it because the story of the disciples waiting together in Jerusalem, worshipping, praying and anticipating the Holy Spirit, had grabbed my imagination regarding how we should prepare for the beginning of a new work.

As I put together the prayers for this week I still didn't have a specific passage in mind. So I picked up the Bible and began reading where last week's section left off.

Not everyone knows the whole story, but it was a late night reading through the whole book of Acts that stands out as a catalyst in moving forward with what would later be named Intentional People as well as preparing to eventually launch out in new church planting work. I won't go into all the details, but as I sat at work late that night reading, it seemed that over and again, the Spirit was affirming my calling and convicting me that the time was approaching for us to be set aside for the work that God had prepared for us.

So I shouldn't have been surprised when the story immediately following last week's stood out as pertinent for our prayers regarding wisdom and discernment.

The Jews and people living in Jerusalem were amazed by what they saw happening in the midst of the believers - and they wanted to understand its significance. Peter, a character known for impetuous and rash behavior, stood up and clearly and convincingly spoke about the elephant in the room. This man who had recently disguised his identity in order to avoid arrest and execution, courageously described humanity's plight and God's solution.

And then the believers, an increasingly large community of folks in the city of Jerusalem, committed to meeting together daily. They listened to the apostles' teaching, broke bread and shared everything they had with one another.

In each of these stories we find glimpses of wisdom and discernment. The people of Jerusalem (some likely with poor motives...don't judge them too harshly, our own motives are seldom pure), were amazed at what they saw and wanted help understanding the significance. Peter, recognized that the time had come for clear, bold, dangerous speaking. The believers saw that to follow this radically disorienting and reorienting Way of Jesus would require more than occasional worship, it would require a whole community of people coming together around a common mission.

As we enter this week, I wonder, who are we most like here? The people of Jerusalem? Peter? The believers? The skeptics and mockers? I hope and pray that your own process of discerning this and other questions will always lead to deeper understanding of and connection to the God of Wisdom.
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Prayer for Sunday, May 1

God in God's Wisdom

God of Wisdom, in you all things find meaning; we acknowledge you as the source of order, reason, discernment and knowledge. Where there is confusion, we look to you for clarity; where there is doubt, we cling to your confidence; where there is fear, we depend on your courage; where there is indecision, we trust in your decisiveness. We confess before you and one another, that all true wisdom is your wisdom and any valid discernment we obtain is a gift from your throne room. Thank you, God, that you do not withold your wisdom, but freely pour it out upon those who seek it. We, Lord God, desire to be the people who consistently seek your wisdom. You alone are worthy of praise, O God of Wisdom.

Throughout this week our prayers are focused on wisdom and discernment. What areas of your life seem beyond your ability to understand or reconcile? Jot down some specific examples and take a moment to turn these over to the God of Wisdom each day this week.

Prayer for Friday

Friday - Gratitude for Ourselves

Lord, we praise you because we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We rejoice because you know our names. We are grateful for the love that you show us.

Psalm 139:1 “Lord, you have searched me out and known me: you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar.”

We are grateful God that (Romans 5:8) “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We are grateful that we have received your call and invitation to not only experience the joy of reconciliation, but to find meaningful work as agents and ambassadors of your Kingdom. We thank you God that you have seen fit to work through our weakness and imperfection to make your glory known. We thank you God, because we are not forgotten; because you remember us.

Today take a few minutes to reflect on the past week. How has God affirmed your identity as his beloved child? Return these reflections to God as prayers of gratitude.

Prayer for Thursday

Thursday - Gratitude for God’s Solidarity with the Poor and Oppressed

Come, let us bow down and bend the knee: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

God, we confess that we regularly fail to love the least as you have called us to do. We rejoice that our weakness reveals your strength, because we know that you have not forgotten the plight of the poor. We pray, Lord, that no one today finds themselves without hope, without a glimpse of the empty tomb. We thank you God that continue to proclaim hope to those in seemingly hopeless situations. We ask God that you will enable us to see the opportunities we have today to reflect your love for those that society has forgotten, that circumstances have been harsh toward, that others have neglected or abused.

We thank you God that you continue to give us new opportunities to love. And we thank you God that so often when we open our eyes to the people behind the label “poor,” we find generosity, compassion, love and wisdom far beyond our own.

Today, make eye contact and extend a simple acknowledgment of shared humanity to someone you may have normally ignored, missed or dismissed. Take a few minutes to listen and look for reasons to express gratitude to God for this beloved child.

Prayer for Wednesday

Wednesday - Gratitude for the Global Community

Lord God, we rejoice and are grateful that you hear the cries of the orphan in Uganda, the terrified in Afghanistan, the weary but hopeful in Libya, the oppressed in China, the silenced in North Korea, the poor in Brazil, the devastated in Japan and the desperate in Haiti. We thank you God that we can lay our heads down at night knowing that you are fully aware of the situation that each person on this planet is experiencing. We are grateful Jesus that you are continually calling your disciples to action across the globe.

We are grateful, Lord, that we have the opportunity to hear the stories of your children all over the world and we thank you, Lord, that these stories can teach, transform and inspire us, just as they also often convict, chastise and bring us to lament. We thank you, O Lord, that you are not a regional God...you are the Father of all!

If you regularly watch, read or listen to world news, listen for something happening in the global community that you can express gratitude to God for. If you don’t usually check in on these things, (probably because its so depressing) try doing so today with an eye toward gratitude and thanksgiving.

Prayer for Tuesday

Tuesday - Gratitude for our Local Community

Father we thank you that you have seen fit to guide us to this place at this time. Teach us to joyfully reflect the incarnation of your Son as we seek to inhabit our neighborhood. We are grateful that in you we live and move and have our being and that you have seen fit to give that life expression in the midst of this neighborhood, this coffee shop, this office, this park, this school community.

We ask Lord that you will open our eyes to the expressions of your Kingdom that are being displayed in this place. Teach us to rejoice and be glad when we see the poor neighbor opening their home to others, when we see the single mother sacrifice much out of love for her children, when a city official takes a stance in defense of the powerless. God we are grateful that you are working in this place and we ask that you continue to give us opportunities to join you in your mission of reconciliation right here, right now.

Today, take a moment to notice and express gratitude to God for some example of the Kingdom working its way into your local community. Take a short prayer walk through your neighborhood, expressing gratitude to God for the people who dwell in those houses. Let those who have eyes to see, see.

Prayer for Monday

Monday - Gratitude for the Church

Lord, we are grateful that you have not called us to serve you in isolation, but have joined us to your body, the Church. We thank you that we have companions to work alongside, to laugh with and to lean on. Grant us, today, eyes to see and ears to hear the movement of your Spirit in the midst of your people. Forgive us for our readiness to find fault in our brothers and sisters, for being so quick to argue and complain. We ask Lord that you will continue forming a spirit of gratitude within us so that the spirit of cooperation can take hold.

Today, express gratitude to one of your fellow disciples and share it also with someone else. Let us be a people known for gossiping about the virtues and value we see in one another.