Stuck in the Middle

It’s not easy living in the middle, especially when your middle is between good and great.   It may as well be the middle of a rock and a hard place, only I think it is actually worse to be stuck between good and great.  At least a rock and a hard place there is no right answer, so you can go with your gut and shrug off the results.  Not so with Good and Great.

You see, Good and Great demand a choice, demand a sacrifice of one over the other.  Good and Great involves risk taking, faith and dealing with fear.   Good and Great demand a decision and for you to put action to words; where as a rock and a hard place, well, they really don’t.  Good and Great can be the choice of teaching music or playing music professionally; it could be teaching Biology, or actually getting out of the classroom and into the Wild.  Good and Great can be between showing up on Sunday morning for an hour of worship before football, or leaving the comforts of your home town or country to take a six month mission trip.  The rock and the hard place will never make you suffer the way choosing between Good and Great will. 

Most Western Christians probably feel this struggle on a daily basis.  Do I choose the comfort and security that God has provided for my family, or do we step out of that comfort into a lifetime of service?  Do I keep my high paying job with fancy car and half million dollar home?   Or, do I take the offer to go build homes for the poor? 

I mean, the good job and nice car and home aren’t necessarily bad, and living in security and comfort are not by any means bad.  However, is that what Christians are called to do?  Are we called to just show up on Sunday and go throughout the other 6/7ths of our existence just kind of being good?  Or are we called as Christians to leave behind what the world values as Good and pursue what God calls Great? 

Let me start by saying that this is not about dropping everything and running out to the middle of Africa, I understand that many are not called to that (though more are than realize it), this is actually for those of us who say, “there is plenty to do right here.”  We use this as our excuse to not go around the world and live in poverty, because there is “plenty of ways to serve right here.”  Only…we don’t do anything right here!! 

I am going to say this, quite plainly, Jesus demands more from us than simply showing up to service on Sunday and dropping a few dollars in the bucket to think “there, I’ve done my part.”  You haven’t done squat.  You like the idea of Jesus, you like the idea of missions, but you think that missions are for the “Real Jesus Freaks”,  but you…you have bills to pay, with money you don’t have and so you have to work harder at a job you don’t even like, earning money to pay the bills for the stuff you bought, which you don’t need, to impress the friends whom you don’t like anyway.  So, you just don’t have time for any of that hippy stuff.  “Give me my Jesus on Sunday morning, but after that, leave me alone.”  Do you know what Jesus says about this attitude?  “Get away from me, I never knew you!” 

Do you realize that by sitting in the middle of Good and Great, you are missing the ENTIRE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 

“But it’s hard.” You say..It is supposed to be hard.  Jesus carrying his cross was Hard, you being a bit uncomfortable is not hard, you just don’t want to.

“But what about my kids.”  What about them?  Teach them that living a life for Christ is more fulfilling than anything they could ever want to do.  Teach them that feeding the homeless, and caring for the sick and loving the unloved is what Christians are actually called out to do. 

“But my husband/wife won’t go with me.”  Who is more important to you?  If your husband or wife is more important to you than Jesus, you need to reassess your priorities.  I am not saying they aren’t important, but even Jesus said that we need to hate everyone else in comparison to Him.  We need to love and obey Jesus first, and anyone else after, to include our spouses, our children, parents and family. 

This is one of the reasons people get stuck in the middle, they have a Good life.  Things are good, the kids are good, the husband/wife is good, the job is good, everything is good.  If I take Jesus too seriously and risk it all what will happen?  I might lose all that is good.  If my spouse won’t commit with me, I might lose them as well.  What if one of my actions following Jesus causes discomfort for my children?  These are the questions that every Christian in the west faces, and sadly most Christians choose Good over Great. 

Just imagine for a minute if you would, all the millions of church going Christians that live in America and Canada. Imagine the thousands and hundreds of thousands that live in each city, town and village.  Now, imagine if every single one of those Christians, rather than leaving church every Sunday morning going on with the “rest” of their lives, not thinking about Jesus or God for the next week …imagine if instead all those millions of Christians went out into the world and witnessed for Jesus, what if they went and took food to hungry, and medicine to the sick and lifted up the broken hearted.  Imagine, just imagine what it would look like if these people went out into their own communities and shined the light of Christ.  Can you imagine? 

Sadly, most wont.  Sadly, most will leave Sunday judging the Pastor, or the Sermon or the Worship style or the lady with the weird hat…or the girl that did not come in dressed in her Sunday best.  Most will block their hearts from actually experiencing the word of Christ and following His invitation to go where He is going.  Guess what, Jesus isn’t going to Golden Corral after service, so if you want to eat lunch with Him, why not follow him to the local shelter. 

Essentially what I am trying to say is that the choice between Good and Great doesn’t need to take you a million miles from home (unless Jesus is calling you somewhere specific), but it does need to take you out of comfortable.  Jesus says in Luke 9:23 “Whoever wants to follow me, must die to himself and pick up his cross daily.”  This is where we are stuck, in the middle, trying to decide to pick up the cross and follow or get left behind chasing after things that are just Good. 

Go for Great, follow, die to yourself, pick up the cross.  Great is the Kingdom of Heaven, Great is easing the suffering of an orphaned child.  Great is letting the tears of mother who lost her baby to sickness fall on your shoulder.  Great is serving food at a homeless shelter.  Great, is loving your enemy.  Great is giving up your anger and loving someone who is unlovable.  Great is forgiveness.  Great is mercy.  Great is giving up fame on earth for being famous in heaven.   For a Christian, it really shouldn’t be hard to determine which path to take…Good or Great.  Jesus took sacrifice, Jesus took our sin, and Jesus paid our way to heaven.  Jesus took Great, and invites us to follow Him. 

Raising Your Hands To A Worship Song Doesn't Get You Brownie Points in Heaven.

Where is the line between Faith and Religion?  How does a Christian understand the difference of trusting in their salvation regardless of their works, and faith without works is dead?  How does the Body of Christ, His Bride remain the Body or the Bride, if the Church is walking away from what is truly Christ-like? 

Man, these are some great questions, and honestly it seems that everyone is talking about these topics this week and rightly so, because they are very, very relevant.  We as people (not just Christians) always have the need to justify things, to earn what we have and to always wait for the other shoe to drop.  We also prefer to be around people who are like us, we like to be told happy fortunes instead of dire warnings.  We like peaceful, loving, feel good messages and sunshine, rainbows and flowers rather than getting dirty with hard to handle discussions that hit home and are extremely hard to swallow.  We like watered down, Buddy Jesus, as opposed to the Jesus who actually went into the ghetto's and talked with the deaf, touched the leppers and accosted the rich. 

We like our Jesus to be just like us. 

But we are wrong!!  Jesus ISNT just like us, that is the ENTIRE POINT!  In the entirety of history, Jesus Christ was the only person (I was going to say man, but then all the women would think I wasnt meaning them too) who truly understood what God is really about! 

God is about passion; not rote ritualism. 
Dont mistake religious or ritualistic things in Christianity to have no meaning, or heart (Communion for example is a ritualistic device, however for many it is often a moving and meaningful experience for those who partake), but rather doing a ritual for the sole purpose of gaining favor with God is simply a waste of your time.  God does not take pleasure in men performing rituals, if they are not at the same time worshipping with their heart.  (raising your hands during a worship song, does not get you brownie points in heaven...sorry, it just doesnt). 

God wants your heart; not your money.
God would much rather have you worship Him with a glad heart and spend your time lost in prayer and loving him, than he does when you just write a check for the offering.  Now, God will use your money and commands us to give of ourselves in this way, but it doesnt garauntee our salvation.  No amount of giving, working, good deeds or charity will "earn you heaven".  But Jesus demands more of us than a blank check, he commands us to Love God with our hearts, mind and soul and to Love our neighbors as ourselves.  Jesus doesnt tell us to tithe 10% and the kindom of heaven is yours...he tells us to visit the imprisoned and feed and shelter the poor and homeless.  He tells us to do heartfelt things because that is where he lives, and you dont need to be rich to do it.  He will spend your money, and you're not getting it back, but tithing isnt the heart of God, Love is.  

Your political views demonstrate your religious understanding.
WRONG!!  There are too many diverse ideas and political agendas to clearly deliniate that a Christian can only be Democrat or only be Republican.  Political views are just that, political...and God doesnt play in politics.  He is the supreme ruler of the entire universe.  The social action of a Democrat mixed with the
evangelism of a Republican would be somewhere around where Jesus was...he would be both Democrat, Republican AND Independant....of course if Jesus were here, He would be reigning on His throne and this topic would be moot.  Keep your religion and politics seperate, they are not the same.

I LOVE Jesus, but I HATE the Church
Quite simply, then you dont love Jesus...you cant love Jesus and hate his Bride.  Jesus established the church, we are the body of Christ.  We are made up of people who are flawed, who dont always get it, but keep showing up anyway. 

Your church has lost its way and is more concerned about status and money and the proper worship style?  Believe it or not that happened in 1st Century Rome as well...it just takes reminding the leadership of what is truly important.

Your pastor doesnt preach out of the bible?  find one who does.

There is this really nice lady, who is always sewing in the pew in front of me...doesnt she know we are in church?  (I have seen this, literally)...get over yourself, if you took the time to find out, she works 2 jobs, volunteers at a homeless shelter and makes blankets for orphan babies...what do you do (puts check in offering plate). 

Your church doesnt have an outreach (at all, or one that interests you).  Start one

There are quite literally a million different ways to make the church an effective body of Christ, but it takes someone stepping up and being a leader.  It takes someone that really does have a love of God to move, not complain about something, but to make something happen.  If you Love Jesus, you will love His Church and you will work to make it effective. 

Saving Grace is nice and all, but I still feel like I have to earn it, everyday

I read a story of a college professor who was trying to make this point (yes it was a bible college, dont lose your minds).  He knew that the test his Micro-biology students were studying for was going to be a killer.  And out of a sense of compassion, and to bring home the point of Grace that found the way into a class discussion a few classes prior, decided to do a social experiment of sorts. 

At the top of every test he wrote:  All you have to do to get an A is write your name at the top of this paper and turn it in....or, you can take the whole test and accept the grade you receive.

Guess who the only students were that received A's?  Yep, everyone else missed that A standard, because they refused the grace of their teacher and were prideful of their knowledge and study habbits and the effort they have already put in to that test.  That is what we do when we ignore the grace of God and decide that we can seek salvation on our own, through our works.  It is pointless, fruitless, a waste of time, energy, often money....and gets us no closer to God. 

What I am trying to say, to wrap this up neatly, is God wants a heartfelt relationship with you.  If your heart isnt in it, dont bother doing it.  Taking the "fake it till you make it" approach isnt going to get you closer to God, and will infact pull you further away as you run around chasing your tail.  Love God, Love Jesus, because he first loved us.  That's it.  When we love God, when we love Jesus, we will find that we start to love what He loves and are willing to do the things that He did.  It doesnt matter what radio station you listen to, who your pastor is, what big church you go to or all the great Christiany things you do...it does matter if you truly love God. 

Running with a Purpose

I have some rather large running goals this year and the more I think about them the more I realize that running just for myself and my own purposes are good, but I want this year to be GREAT.

So, while my schedule is ambitous with the Aspen Marathon on July 9th, the Leadville Silver Rush 50 mile trail run July 15th; a September Marathon or team relay and at least one marathon in October, possibly 2...I want to make another goal this year.

I want to raise 3,000 dollars for Global Action, a Christian organization that helps orphans in second and third world countries get off the streets, receive an education and a way for them to provide for themselves rather than submitting to the streets and becoming hooked on drugs or forced into prostitution and violence.

I feel very strongly that God has given me the ability to run these distances in order to strengthen His church, to care for His children and to spread His Gospel throughout the world. As I get the logistics of what this is going to entail figured out, and the donation page set up, I will post it both here and on runnersworld.com.

I am excited for this year, and putting in solid miles already, looking forward to taking on the challenges that lay ahead.

"I will run with endurance the race that God has set before me" Hebrews 12:1

Come and See

What does it mean to follow Jesus? To be his disciple? And why would a bunch of grown men drop everything to follow an unknown teacher?

To understand this, we have to first understand the upbringing and education of Jewish boys. From the time they begin to talk, they are taught and are expected to memorize the first five books of the Old Testament, or Torah, the Laws of Moses. By the time they are twelve years old they should have memorized all five books and are then tested by their Rabbi. At the time of their testing, they either “pass” and continue their education, or are sent back to their families to ply a trade. This learning and testing process continues for a Jewish boy, winnowing out those who are not quite good enough, until only the best of the best students are left. At this point the Rabbi chooses from these young men, who are between 18 and 20 years old, which of them will become that Rabbi’s disciple. Only the most accomplished students were called to be disciples.

Becoming a Rabbi’s disciple was the highest honor a young man could achieve for himself and his family, because only the best were called. All the rest who did not make the cut are then sent back to work.

This is significant because when Jesus arrives and calls these fishermen, tax collectors, farmers, shepherds, these “everymen”; He was making a distinction between how God thinks, and how men think. Naturally because of their up-bringing, these men all jumped at the chance to follow a Rabbi, to be a disciple, and to possibly one day become a full Rabbi himself. This group who were “not good enough” by the Religious elite, are now called by the Messiah Himself. The distinction that Jesus was making is clear, that God was more interested and more concerned with the hearts of the disciple than with their upbringing, grooming and societal position.

So here we have a new Rabbi, who in the book of John, has not been quoted as teaching anything yet, but says to “follow me” and as Matthew 4:19 states…”And I will make you fishers of men”. They drop everything. Immediately. To follow. Jesus sees in these men that which the religiously pious do not, a heart focused on God, good men, with good hearts, not concerned with stature, wealth or fame.

What was special about these men?

Nothing really, except they had believing hearts, they knew the truth when spoken and acted on it…Immediately.

Notice the vignette concerning Nathanial. Nathanial asks if “anything good can come from Nazareth?” He is then challenged to “come and see”. Phillip wants him to look with his own eyes, and hear with his ears, so that he will know the truth. Does Nathanial scoff? What does Nathanial do? He goes to see for himself and upon speaking with Jesus, and knowing the truth when spoken, Immediately praises him as the Messiah and the Son of God and the King of the Jews. That is the example I am trying to get at, to know the truth when you see it. And then act.

This could have gone a different direction though. Nathanial spoke from a prejudice against Nazareth. Nathanial didn’t have anything personal against Jesus, but because Nazareth is a small town outside of Jerusalem, with a “poor” population, probably filled with day laborers, roughnecks and undesirables, Nathanial dismissed it out of hand. It was not until Phillip said “Come and See” that Nathanial gives pause to his train of thought. But suppose Phillip doesn’t challenge Nathanial to see the truth? Suppose Phillip backs down and says something like “You’re right”.

How many of us were once prejudice against the Gospel, how many of us have friends who dismiss the Bible out of hand for some reason or another? Almost every person I know who scoffs at the Bible as being the true word of God, as the story of the ONLY redeemer, has never even bothered to open its cover. They have never heard the Gospel presented faithfully. What these people do is exactly what Nathanial initially did, dismiss it because of what they “heard”. Our news today is always talking about fallen Christian leaders, or people doing horrible things in the name of the Lord. Westboro Baptist Church comes to mind, as does the preacher in Florida who burnt all those Qurans, we have the Crusades also to thank for negative publicity along with Catholic priests caught in sexual scandals. These are the things that people hear about being “Christian” and they dismiss it. They have never heard the truth presented honestly to them.

The assaults against the Gospel don’t end with Negative Publicity, the “evolutionists” and atheists claim to know better and are prejudicing America’s kids from as early as elementary school against the truth of the Bible, all the while, most who claim to be atheists or evolutionists have never opened a Bible or had the truth presented to them. More and more people are dismissing God’s word out of hand.

That is why Phillip’s response to Nathanial is so important. Phillip doesn’t back down. Instead of not wanting to offend his friend, Phillip thinks this is important enough to challenge Nathanial to “Come and See”

It’s uncomfortable to many of us to be challenged for our faith, by someone who does not know Jesus. In fact many of us would rather do anything than talk to our unbelieving friends about Christ. But why is that? Why do Christians, who know the truth, back down from it when challenged? We can learn from Phillip.

Phillip said “Come and See”, in the dry, non hyperbolic terms of the Bible, however there was probably more to the conversation than this. It could have gone something like this, “Come and see Nathanial, you claim to look for the truth, that you want to understand; yet you scoff at the possibility of learning from someone, even from Nazareth; Come and See.” Phillip didn’t go into a full discourse, explaining the Messiah and salvation, he didn’t go into the apologetics of Christianity, or delve into deep theology. He simply invited Nathanial to “Come and See” and then let Jesus speak for Himself.

Phillip invited Nathanial to experience the “Word” for himself. The Word will ALWAYS speak for itself. We need only to present the word, to share Jesus and let Christ do the work. While a farmer may plant a seed, someone else will water it and yet another will harvest. We only need to plant the seed, to invite them to “Come and See”

Now look at Nathanial’s reaction to Jesus. After Jesus speaks to him, Nathanial exclaims “You are truly the Son of God, the King of the Jews”. Nathanial followed Jesus. Once Nathanial heard the truth and recognized it, he followed. Immediately. Without hesitation. The same is expected for us. We have heard the truth and Christ expects us to follow. Following the first disciples examples we are to pursue Christ with all our hearts, minds and spirit. We need to learn and study, it’s not just enough to believe that Jesus is the Christ, because as Christians, followers of Christ, Disciples, or as the word Christian means “to be like Christ” it is our responsibility to share that message.

This is evidenced in the “Great Commission”. In Mark 16:15 Jesus says “…Go into all the world and make disciples of all the nations…” He was talking to us. Those who have given their lives to Him are to lead others to Him, we are to invite others to “Come and See”. And so it goes in a complete unending circle…Come and See, Follow Me, Go and Do

Afghanistan Ministry "Blanket With Love"

"Go and make disciples of all the nations" That was one of the last sermons that was given at Sunnyside before I deployed. I had recently been ordained, but since I am not a chaplain, I wasnt sure what type of ministry I would have over here. But I trusted that God would have something for me, and does he ever. There is a congregation of about 20-40 here on my FOB, and most Sundays the Chaplain delivers the sermon and I lead worship. This week, though I have been given the extra task of leading the weekly Bible study. I will also be delivering the sermons when the Chaplain is not available to do so.
As I was talking to Sarah about this, a thought arose that we should do more with this ministry than simply talk about Christ, but we need to show everyone here what Christ looks like. Sarah is the co-leader of a Women's Christian group back at Ft. Carson, and her group, although just getting started was looking for something to do as well. What Sarah and I came up with was a blanket ministry for the children here.
Afghan winters get very cold, and being that everyone here is basically in poverty, many go without the basic comforts of a warm blanket or hat. The hardest hit by this need though, are the small children, the newborns and the orphans. Together both the women's ministry and I hope to be able to Blanket the Afghanistan With Love. We are still working out the finer details, however; if you want to get involved please, please contact myself or Sarah through blogger or facebook.
This ministry will be one that I intend on keeping when we launch 12:1 Ministries after I return home from Afghanistan next summer.

God Bless
The Rev

Preparing for the Eternal Marathon

This morning, as I was going through my normal routine of post run coffee, bagel and runnersworld.com, I was struck by the headline "Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist Sammy Winjiru Dead at 24". Not exactly what you want to read first thing in the morning. My first thought was "heart condition", however, I was wrong. As I read the story, I couldnt tell if his death was accidental, suicide or homicide. I just knew one thing, that this amazing athlete and champion had gone to meet his maker.

It is just another proof that nothing on this world lasts and that fame and fortune do not garauntee us a great life, a long life or any treasures beyond this world. Being a world-class athlete does not mean that you have it all "together", and definetly wont make you a better person. The amount of time that we put into training ourselves for the physical and emotional rigors of selected sports, occupations and hobbies should be matched by the amount of time we put in to our spiritual lives as well. It reminds of the writer to the Hebrews, who stated that "...I will run with endurance the race God has set before me."

We each need to spend as much time as we can with God, preparing for our Eternal Marathon's, or Triathlons, or Century rides. We need to know that Jesus' sacrifice for us was real, and that we all will meet him one day, and through Him we are promised eternal life. Jesus overcame the world, so that we would not have to. That through belief in Him and his work on the Cross, God has opened the Gates of Heaven "which never close."

I dont know if Sammy Wanjiru was a Christian or not, I only hope that he was prepared to meet The Father. May you, while you are out on your run or ride, or crosstraining this morning, spend some time with God. Glorify Him through your efforts and push yourself spiritualy as well as physically. And my you "run with endurance" this morning and every morning. Amen

Evangelizing for......Vibrams?

I have noticed that it is so easy to talk to people about Vibrams, evangelizing if you will. It takes almost no effort whatsoever. Its funny, if someone sees me wearing them they will walk right up and ask me about the funky shoes on my feet.

I then go into this long conversation explaining all the benefits of running "barefoot", how its so much better for our feet; that it helps strengthen all the supporting muscles, ligaments and tendons; how God designed our feet to be able to do these amazing things and we "like idiots" keep putting them in these casts. I am normally met with agreement and vows to go and "check 'em out".

I was out with my family at Garden of the Gods last week when we came across a couple climbers, one was on belay the other, female, was high up the rock. We decided to stop and watch her climb for a while, and soon there was a whole group of us watching this amazing woman climb this seemingly sheer face. I happened to be wearing my Vibrams and before long people start talking to me about my feet, rather than watching the woman climb.

I thought this was pretty odd, but I answered their questions, gave them my opinions and even the guy on belay seemed to be paying more attention to me than his girlfriend. What struck me later on, after the conversation was over and we were back in the car, my brother said "Mike, you were wearing a Jesus shirt, your Cross hat and yet all anyone wanted to talk about was your Vibrams."

(commentary) Why is it easier to talk about running, barefooting, or anything else we are into, however when it comes to the extremely important topic of God, Christ, Salvation and Redemption. What could possibly be more important of a topic?

Oh, my response to my brother: "Yeah, Andy, I guess they were really interested in saving their soles!"