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Song: The Old Rugged Cross

I was at a funeral recently where a baritone soloist sang the dusty old hymn "The Old Rugged Cross." This song is full of contrasts - mainly the lyrics that focus on a cruel instrument of torture and death married to a sweeping melody that stirs the emotions as if we were singing about a long lost loved one.

The soloist sang the fourth verse as these words washed over us: "To the old rugged cross I will ever be true; its shame and reproach gladly bear..." As I listened to these words I wondered how many of us at the funeral understand what it means to "gladly bear" the old rugged cross. After all, how does one swear allegiance to an instrument of torture and death?

In Matthew 10:38, Jesus made a similar statement. He said, "Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." This harsh sounding statement is hard pressed to find its way into an inspiring and uplifting song any better than "The Old Rugged Cross." But what does it mean? How do we take up our cross, or 'ever be true' to the cross?

Some have concluded that the way to be 'true' to the Old Rugged Cross is to remember Jesus' death, and to hold it as special. And while these are commendable ideas, Jesus' call for his disciples to be cross carrying people is about something much more important than simply remembering fondly the instrument of Jesus' death. It is a call to die so that we might come to new life in the Kingdom of God!

This way of life that 'gladly bears' the old rugged cross is the way in which our self-oriented Self is put to death, and it must be put to death if our God-oriented Self is to become the reality of our existence. In Colossians 3 the Apostle Paul describes well this 'putting to death' and 'clothing' of one's self in our new identity in Christ. The way this happens is by taking up our cross.

Here is the rub, however, our self-oriented Self doesn't want to die! In fact it would rather kill you than be killed by the power of the Spirit working in/through you. It wants your destruction, and it accomplishes this best when our self-oriented Self is built up rather than being torn down.

This is why an old dusty song like "The Old Rugged Cross" points us towards a serious and life-ending struggle that must be undertaken by every person who chooses to follow Jesus. And when we do, when we choose to take up our instrument of death, we are also taking up our tree of life.

What do your books say about you?

Recently I had the opportunity to go through the 'library' of a friend who died for the purpose of relocating her books to good homes. If you have ever had this kind of experience you will know that carrying heavy boxes of books to the car is the easiest part of the process. Sorting through years worth of reading is the challenge.
How do you evaluate a person's library? How do you determine what book is worth passing along to a new generation of readers that will lift them into the heights of heaven, and what books should burn in the pit of publishing hell for all eternity? Okay, maybe that is slightly overstated.

Well as I was going through her books I felt like an intellectual voyeur. I was getting the chance to see what my friend had been thinking about, and what interested her the most. After all, she paid good money on a meager income to acquire these books. They told me a lot about her.

Then I started wondering what my books say about me. Certainly they tell a story, but what story do they tell? What book am I spending my hard earned money buying so that I can fill my mind with their juicy morsels? Would I be embarrassed for you to see my collection?

What do your books say about you?

"I Pledge Allegiance"

From time to time I get in trouble for what is perceived as a lack of gratitude and respect for the country in which I was born and choose to live in. I understand that I have a tremendous privilege to live in a country that still affords a large measure of freedom to its citizens. I am free to worship the God of my choosing. I am free to work, to travel, to buy and sell, to speak, to gather, and more. The freedoms that we celebrate on the weekend of July 4th (Independence Day) are not to be taken lightly because these are not freedoms enjoyed by many around the world. As a citizen of the United States I vote, honor my leaders, and pray for the president. So let me say, "I'm thankful to be an American."

However, being an American citizen is not my primary allegiance. I am a citizen of a different kingdom - a heavenly kingdom - which demands my supreme allegiance and affection. I have joined with countless voices over the past 2,011 years who claim Jesus as Lord. This is no mere religious commitment, nor is it simply a private devotion. Declaring "Jesus is Lord" is a political statement. It is a declaration that my allegiance and loyalty has been sworn to a King who rules over a different kingdom than the one I currently live in.

At times this puts me at odds with the kingdom of this world in which I reside, particularly as I long for the the Day when "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." (Rev. 11:15) On that Day "Jesus is Lord" will resound from the lips of every person because "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:11-12)

No more government shut downs because the political parties can't agree on a budget.

No more wars motivated by selfish desires and political expediency.

No more wasted resources.

Only the just and righteous rule of our King Jesus!

So as we celebrate our freedom from the grasp of the evil British Empire on the 4th of July perhaps as followers of Jesus we might consider where our ultimate allegiance lies. Is Jesus Lord, or is the American Dream Lord? Do we live in a way that reflects that we're citizens of a heavenly kingdom, or do our lives reflect the values and norms of the kingdom of this world in which we reside?

I leave you with these thoughts from the Apostle Paul:

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Happy Independence Day!

Jesus is Lord!

"Free to live and love as they see fit."

Yesterday President Obama attended a fundraiser for his re-election campaign that was hosted by a GLBT organization. Like all politicians, the speech was intended to express support for whatever that particular group champions. It just happened to be in this case that the cause being supported is the current legislation in the NY Assembly to endorse "gay marriage."

I'm thankful that every person in the United States is free to pursue 'happiness' as the Preamble to the Constitution states, within the boundaries of the law. I am not interested in trying to deny that right to the GLBT community. As far as I know, it is not illegal to be homosexual in the United States; although there have been laws regarding the sexual expression of homosexuality in a number of states in the past.

What caught my attention in the Yahoo news article about the President's speech was his statement that "he was confident that there will be a day when every single American, gay or straight or lesbian or bisexual or transgender, is free to live and love as they see fit." I thought that they were free to live and love as they see fit in the United States...aren't they?

The President's words "as they see fit" sounded awfully familiar. His speech writer may or may not be familiar with the Bible, but there is statement in the book of Judges that sounds quite similar to the President's dream. In Judges 17:6 we read, "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit." Sounds great doesn't it? Sounds like real freedom! But this freedom that the President looks forward too with confidence doesn't apply to everyone in our country. "It doesn't?" you ask. No it doesn't.

Let me offer a few examples:

Rep. Anthony Wiener is free to live and love as he sees fit, right? No?

Lindsey Lohan is free to live and party as she sees fit, right? No?

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger certainly can live and procreate as he sees fit? No?

Bernard Madhoff? Can he live and spend as he sees fit? No?

Rev. Fred Phelps got approval from the U.S. Supreme Court to live and protest as he sees fit?

Osama Bin Laden? Can he live and fight as he sees fit? No?

Why not? Why can't these human beings live as they see fit? Not all of them are even breaking the laws of this country? The reason, of course, is because they are violating our societal laws and norms. We've decided formally and/or informally that the way that they want to live is most definitely NOT okay.

So, the President's dream is not for everyone. It is only for those who have gained the approval of our society. What about those who are outside of the societal norms? I guess they have to keep dreaming.

What happens if one day you are found to be outside of societies norms? Will you continue to live and love as you see fit? And really, isn't there a basis for drawing the boundary lines that is not left up to the whims of culture or the political fundraising of a president? I sure hope so!

Ecclesia Church Planter Training - Audio

Repost: 8 Ways to Easily Be Missional

8 Ways to Easily Be Missional

Article by: Jonathan Dodson

Missional is not an event we tack onto our already busy lives. It is our life. Mission should be the way we live, not something we add onto life: “As you go, make disciples….”; “Walk wisely towards outsiders”; “Let your speech always be seasoned with salt”; “be prepared to give a defense for your hope”. We can be missional in everyday ways without overloading our schedules. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Eat with Non-Christians. We all eat three meals a day. Why not make a habit of sharing one of those meals with a non-Christian or with a family of non-Christians? Go to lunch with a co-worker, not by yourself. Invite the neighbors over for family dinner. If it’s too much work to cook a big dinner, just order pizza and put the focus on conversation. When you go out for a meal invite others. Or take your family to family-style restaurants where you can sit at the table with strangers and strike up conversation. Cookout and invite Christians and non-Christians. Flee the Christian subculture.

2. Walk, Don’t Drive. If you live in a walkable area, make a practice of getting out and walking around your neighborhood, apartment complex, or campus. Instead of driving to the mailbox, convenience store, or apartment office, walk to get mail, groceries, and stuff. Be deliberate in your walk. Say hello to people you don’t know. Strike up conversations. Attract attention by walking the dog, taking a 6-pack (and share), bringing the kids. Make friends. Get out of your house! Take interest in your neighbors. Ask questions. Pray as you go. Save some gas, the planet, and some people.

3. Be a Regular. Instead of hopping all over the city for gas, groceries, haircuts, eating out, and coffee, go to the same places. Get to know the staff. Go to the same places at the same times. Smile. Ask questions. Be a regular. I have friends at coffee shops all over the city. My friends at Starbucks donate a ton of left over pastries to our church 2-3 times a week. We use them for church gatherings and occasionally give to the homeless. Build relationships. Be a Regular.

4. Hobby with Non-Christians. Pick a hobby that you can share. Get out and do something you enjoy with others. Try City League sports. Local rowing and cycling teams. Share your hobby by teaching lessons. Teach sewing lessons, piano lessons, violin, guitar, knitting, tennis lessons. Be prayerful. Be intentional. Be winsome. Have fun. Be yourself.

5. Talk to Your Co-workers. How hard is that? Take your breaks with intentionality. Go out with your team or task force after work. Show interest in your co-workers. Pick four and pray for them. Form mom groups in your neighborhood and don’t make them exclusively Christian. Schedule play dates with the neighbors’ kids. Work on mission.

6. Volunteer with Non-Profits. Find a non-profit in your part of the city and take Saturday a month to serve your city. Bring your neighbors, your friends, or your small group. Spend time with your church serving your city. Once a month. You can do it!

7. Participate in City Events. Instead of playing X-Box, watching TV, or surfing the net, participate in city events. Go to fundraisers, festivals, clean-ups, summer shows, and concerts. Participate missionally. Strike up conversation. Study the culture. Reflect on what you see and hear. Pray for the city. Love the city. Participate with the city.

8. Serve your Neighbors. Help a neighbor by weeding, mowing, building a cabinet, fixing a car. Stop by the neighborhood association or apartment office and ask if there is anything you can do to help improve things. Ask your local Police and Fire Stations if there is anything you can do to help them. Get creative. Just serve!

Don’t make the mistake of making “missional” another thing to add to your schedule. Instead, make your existing schedule missional.

=====================================

Jonathan Dodson is one of the pastors of Austin City Life in Austin, Texas and also helps lead The GCM Collective, Acts 29 Texas, and PlantR.

This article was originally posted at the GCM Collective site, here.

Find more resources from Jonathan at his website, here.

Have any stories of your missional community putting any of these into practice? Share those stories with us, and let us know how these easy practices have challenged you. Join the conversation in the comment box below!

JR Woodward: Missional Communities

JR Woodward: What is a missional community? from Verge Network on Vimeo.

Mike Breen: Missional Communities

Mike Breen: What is a missional community? from Verge Network on Vimeo.

Missional Community: Austin

The Austin Stone Community Church - Austin, TX from Verge Network on Vimeo.

Alan Hirsch: Disciple-Making

Alan Hirsch: Disciple-Making [VERGE video] from Verge Network on Vimeo.

Cape Town Commitment

Discussion of the Cape Town Commitment

John Piper & Rick Warren Discussion

Francis Chan - Hell: We can't afford to get it wrong.

"The End of the World"

Most of you have heard of the prediction by Harold Camping that the rapture and ensuing 'end of the world' will happen tomorrow starting at 7am in the UK. This is the not his first prediction, nor is it the first prediction of 'doomsday' or the 'end of the world.' As you are probably aware, many people (including Christians) are making great fun of this prediction with their prediction that the world will most certainly not end tomorrow.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to respond in two ways that appear to be a contradiction. First, we are to be eagerly longing for and looking for the return of Jesus! (Matthew 25, Revelation 22:17) It is with great hope that we look forward to the return of Christ, not so that we will be 'raptured' away and the rest of the world will be burned up, but because when Jesus returns the Kingdom will be made manifest in all of its glory! "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever." That is worth getting excited about!!!

At the same time, we also say with humility that no one knows when that time will come except for God. Jesus said, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:36-37) Not only are Camping's predictions on shaky ground, but all those who seek to predict days and hours, seasons and time lines with certainty are missing the point. Most of these predictions come out of a miss understanding of what Jesus taught about the Kingdom.

The Kingdom of God is here, it is all around us, it is breaking in upon us in both startling and comforting ways. And you and are to be a sign of that Kingdom, a foretaste of that Kingdom, and an agent of that Kingdom in the world around us! We are not looking to be 'raptured' off to an alternate universe, but instead we pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples: "May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth as it is in the heavens." (Matthew 6:9) While we pray we also live in such a way that we build for that Kingdom in the confident hope that Jesus will indeed return in all his glory and consummate the Kingdom of God on earth. “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:3-5) That is worth telling someone about!

So let me encourage you this day to look for opportunities to share the real message of God's Kingdom with those around you. As the topic of the 'end of the world' comes up...and it will...don't just make fun of Harold Camping, but instead take the opportunity to share about the Good News of the redemption, reconciliation, restoration, and renewal of all things through the death and resurrection of Jesus! Share with this person about how they can enter into that kind of life here and now, and in the afterlife.

Are you with me? Let's take this opportunity to share real hope...this open door won't last long!!

Dan Kimball on Heaven, Hell and Evangelism

Steven Hawking and the Impossible God

In an article titled "Stephen Hawking says afterlife is a fairy story" by Liz Goodwin, we are once again reminded that Hawking is truly a brilliant man. Despite the physical challenges that he has endured in his life, this man has accomplished tremendous intellectual feats. And when he describes his brain as a computer, one can certainly understand how his experience has led him to relate to his Self in this way.

In the above noted article Goodwin wrote, "What could define God [is a conception of divinity] as the embodiment of the laws of nature. However, this is not what most people would think of that God," Hawking told Sawyer. "They made a human-like being with whom one can have a personal relationship. When you look at the vast size of the universe and how insignificant an accidental human life is in it, that seems most impossible." "

I agree with Hawking that it "seems most impossible" that a personal God would be interested in a relationship with an 'insignificant' human life given the enormity of the universe. On a purely intellectual level it does seem hard to believe!

Hawking, as brilliant as he is, is not the first person who display intellectual or artistic brilliance in human history. One of those brilliant human beings was a man of humble beginnings, but despite his farm-boy upbringing he shared this same perspective as Hawking. He (David) wrote, "When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?" (Ps. 8:3-4)

Perhaps you can relate to these words from Hawking and David. When you look around at your corner of the universe it seems impossible that a God who relates to 'insignificants' even exists. You are not alone if this is how you feel.

Yet in the face of this impossibility men and women throughout history have attested to their intuition that such a God does exist. They have shared their experiences of personal encounter with this God who is infinitely beyond us and who comes to us in the ordinary means of human existence. Some of them even recorded their encounters so that future-humanity would have a divinely-breathed description of this impossible God.

One of these writings records this statement, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ " (Acts 17:24-28)

I marvel at those rare gems of humanity, like Steven Hawking, whose minds have been unlocked with the potential to comprehend the mysteries of the universe. I am also astonished at our human ability to miss the beauty that is hidden in plain sight. I believe that one day Hawking will see and comprehend the One who is hidden to him in his brilliant theories of the universe. And one day I too, like Hawking, will see the One who has been hidden behind my theories of life, fears of the eternal, and assumptions of 'the-way-things-are.'

So I pray for Hawking and myself - and all those who read these words - that "...the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you..." (Eph. 1:15-18)

May you find the impossible God who is hidden in plain sight...

Conversation about 'Missional'

Ed Stetzer & David Fitch - a missional conversation from Missional Tribe on Vimeo.

Dr. Bob Rakestraw

I had the privilege of studying theology under Dr. Bob Rakestraw at Bethel Seminary. He is a humble man with an astute mind and caring heart. However, his physical heart has given him much trouble through his life. He writes an insightful blog titled The Benediction Project. May you be blessed through his observations on suffering and faith.

Cost of Discipleship

The year started off with a bang in Egypt as Coptic Christians were killed leaving a New Year's Mass. 21 dead, around 80 wounded. The cost of discipleship to Jesus remains very high in many countries around the world. In the United States, it costs very little to follow Jesus. Not that I am wishing for car bombs outside of church buildings, but if they were would the majority of church attendees in the U.S. still choose to worship?

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:10) No one wants to be persecuted. No one likes having their lives put in jeopardy, or having property seized by the government. But what if it was like this in the U.S., would we still choose to be disciples of Jesus?

This said news of the death of the coptic Christians in Egypt on New Years 2011 causes me to consider for myself, what price am I willing to pay to follow Jesus? Many might say that they will die for Christ, but will I live for him? Will I live as his hands and feet in the world when it inconveniences me or cost more of my time and money than I would prefer? In short, will I choose to take up MY cross daily and follow him?

Jesus calls everyone to come and follow him, but it's not cheap. The cost...my entire life.