This past week, the boys and I decided to try a new place to talk about Jesus. It was closer and was more "restaurant" than bar. Well, turns out the only people in this restaurant were here to drink...
Nevertheless, we opened our bibles and had a great conversation about following Jesus and the difference he makes, when all of a sudden a creature was standing over me. It was a medium build guy with a drink in his hand and a smile on his face. He was also fixed like a laser beam on one of my brothers. Seeing an opportunity, I asked the man what was up and invited him to sit with us as we talk about Jesus. He agreed.
Sadly, the man did not want to talk about Jesus, but rather how my one friend resembled a famous person on TV. When he did mention Jesus, it was weird and he equated Jesus with a "tingle" he gets from time to time. I stated that Jesus was better than any "tingle" because He is God and saves sinners from sin and death. Well, that was the straw that broke the camel's back. The man jumped up, stated how offended he was and walked off...for five minutes...
When he came back, he was in a violent mood and ready for a fight. Again, seeing an opportunity I rose to meet him eye to eye and toe to toe. I reminded him that he came and sat at our table, interrupted our conversation about Jesus, and if he wanted our attention he was going to have to get it by talking about Jesus. In an instant the man changed demeanor, began apologizing and walked off. My friend's were freaked out...
As I was driving out of the parking lot later that night the Holy Spirit spoke to me clear as a bell, "Go give him a bible." Without hesitation I turned the car around, got a bible out of my trunk and marked the Gospel of Mark. This dude was getting saved tonight... Problem was that now he was not alone, but with several others smoking cigarettes and drinking more beer.
(To be continued...)
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Bibles Don't Belong Here
Last week I went out to a sports bar with my friend here in PA. As always, we were hanging out, talking about Jesus, and I had my Bible with me. We were there intentionally having a good time and looking for opportunities to share Jesus with others. After all, this is what being a Christian is all about...
After several attempts to engage others, we prepared to depart but the Lord prompted me to talk to the table behind us before leaving. Turns out two of the three persons knew my friend and had remembered me from High School. I shared about being a pastor in NYC and asked them is they knew Jesus. One girl affirmed that she was a Christian and member of a great church. The guy at the table quickly pointed at my Bible and said that he didn't like that book, especially the second half as it was all about Jesus and not burning bushes and snakes. Finally, the other girl at the table responded that she didn't know if there really was a God. She never felt compelled to pray and had never really considered if God had ever done anything for her.
I challenged her to seriously consider that IF there is a God, what might the consequences of such be for her directly. I did not feel led to enter into philosophical or scientific reasoning, but instead to make it personal. What would it mean for her is God did exist and did create her on purpose?
It was awesome to see her mind consider the question and then to hear her Christian friend for the first time share the claims of Christianity with her. But in the midst of that incredible exchange, the devil showed up through the guy at the table. Immediately he began getting in my face and berating me for bringing a bible into a "bar." "People don't want that in here," he said, "it belongs in a church. Get out of here with your questions and opinions. We don't want it here!"
Tragically, his response caused the entire table to cease talking about Jesus...except for the girl who claimed to not believe in God. While the Christian girl tried to calm the man down, the other girl defended both me and the bible stating that she enjoyed the conversation and felt very grateful we talked with her. As we left these three personalities and positions to the workings of the Holy Spirit.
Please pray for my three new friends, but also pray that God will use you to share Him with others. Here we were in the midst of Central Bible, a very Evangelical community, and yet there are many who have not only heard about Jesus but who do not expect Jesus to be mentioned outside of a church building. What has happened to Christianity? How have we allowed Jesus to become so "personal" that we no longer talk about Him with others??
After several attempts to engage others, we prepared to depart but the Lord prompted me to talk to the table behind us before leaving. Turns out two of the three persons knew my friend and had remembered me from High School. I shared about being a pastor in NYC and asked them is they knew Jesus. One girl affirmed that she was a Christian and member of a great church. The guy at the table quickly pointed at my Bible and said that he didn't like that book, especially the second half as it was all about Jesus and not burning bushes and snakes. Finally, the other girl at the table responded that she didn't know if there really was a God. She never felt compelled to pray and had never really considered if God had ever done anything for her.
I challenged her to seriously consider that IF there is a God, what might the consequences of such be for her directly. I did not feel led to enter into philosophical or scientific reasoning, but instead to make it personal. What would it mean for her is God did exist and did create her on purpose?
It was awesome to see her mind consider the question and then to hear her Christian friend for the first time share the claims of Christianity with her. But in the midst of that incredible exchange, the devil showed up through the guy at the table. Immediately he began getting in my face and berating me for bringing a bible into a "bar." "People don't want that in here," he said, "it belongs in a church. Get out of here with your questions and opinions. We don't want it here!"
Tragically, his response caused the entire table to cease talking about Jesus...except for the girl who claimed to not believe in God. While the Christian girl tried to calm the man down, the other girl defended both me and the bible stating that she enjoyed the conversation and felt very grateful we talked with her. As we left these three personalities and positions to the workings of the Holy Spirit.
Please pray for my three new friends, but also pray that God will use you to share Him with others. Here we were in the midst of Central Bible, a very Evangelical community, and yet there are many who have not only heard about Jesus but who do not expect Jesus to be mentioned outside of a church building. What has happened to Christianity? How have we allowed Jesus to become so "personal" that we no longer talk about Him with others??
Friday, September 23, 2011
It's Not TOP GUN, It's Better
Of course, the guys quickly asked me what I do and why I am not in the military. I told them that I tried joining the Corps several times, but have not yet felt a release from the Lord to do so. In the meantime, I keep serving in the Heavenly Corps as a pastor and church planter. This, of course, always draws a response...
The Chief at the station shared how he used to go to church all the time, but then felt like he was going "too much" so he stopped all together. He also asked why some churches are like rock concerts and others like funerals? Turns out his comments were two sides of the same coin: religion without relationship.
I explained to him that it is impossible to truly go to church "too much" if the church is truly all about its biblical mission. No one has ever stated that they were spending "too much" time with their kids, their wife, or any other loved one; therefore, it is not rationale to say that we are spending "too much" time with Jesus in church. If we love Jesus and Jesus is being preached at the church, then who could spend enough time in church?
Styles of church should be nothing more than a means of expressing a particular's cultures love for Jesus. For some this is like a rock concert, for others it is a more solemn event: style is simply preference. I have even found that in churches that are not my preferred style I can still have a great time and feel comfortable when it's all about loving Jesus.
We talked for over an hour about faith, Christianity and Jesus. I gave him a bible with my card and email. Please pray for the Chief and his walk with the Lord...and please pray for more chaplains!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
We Don't Ask
**Again, another one of the "philosophy-of-ministry"-related posts.
Going back to preconceived ideas and notions, is it any wonder why the book of Acts seems so foreign/radical to our current practice of church? Read the majority of books written on how to conduct church and you get more secular and corporate influence and reason then common sense. Did you notice that the Apostles were uneducated rednecks, yet they turned the world upside down with their ministry and preaching? How did they do this?
Now, some will point to Paul and his impeccable schooling and secular religious life. Well, this is true and noteworthy, but the ministry philosophy of Paul was nothing like the church today or the Sanhedrin's policy of his day. Paul and the apostles simply loved Jesus and loved others in the only way they knew how: like a family.
Read Acts 2:42-47. When you complete this assignment, take a minute and wrote down all that this passage describes concerning the behavior and practices of the early church. When you have created this list, ask yourself HOW they accomplished such? Does their ministry philosophy look more like an intimate family or a formal, hourly, program-driven institution? It's a no-brainer, really.
Man, we don't ask the question! We simply assume, inherit, or steal from the works of others in the name of achieving success and then wonder why our works don't look much like the biblical account.
Please hear me, I am not saying that big churches or programs are inherently evil. Programs can and do serve an invaluable service to the Kingdom, but they cannot be the chief solution. Programs and slick presentations are man-based and dependent, not Spirit-inspired and dependent. (For most churches, their success depends on the power company, not the presence of the Holy Spirit.)
Perhaps the Early Church's behavior as a Spirit-dependent family, expressing selfless love one for another while being centered on the teachings of Scripture and the worship of God, was the cause of its success. Church history seems to lead to the conclusion that the more formal and institutional the church becomes the less effective and supernatural its efforts.
Stop assuming, church leaders, and start asking the very simple question: how is this possible? Stop looking to the secular and human and start looking to the Spirit. The wisdom of God is often found in the foolishness of this world (I Cor. 1).
Going back to preconceived ideas and notions, is it any wonder why the book of Acts seems so foreign/radical to our current practice of church? Read the majority of books written on how to conduct church and you get more secular and corporate influence and reason then common sense. Did you notice that the Apostles were uneducated rednecks, yet they turned the world upside down with their ministry and preaching? How did they do this?
Now, some will point to Paul and his impeccable schooling and secular religious life. Well, this is true and noteworthy, but the ministry philosophy of Paul was nothing like the church today or the Sanhedrin's policy of his day. Paul and the apostles simply loved Jesus and loved others in the only way they knew how: like a family.
Read Acts 2:42-47. When you complete this assignment, take a minute and wrote down all that this passage describes concerning the behavior and practices of the early church. When you have created this list, ask yourself HOW they accomplished such? Does their ministry philosophy look more like an intimate family or a formal, hourly, program-driven institution? It's a no-brainer, really.
Man, we don't ask the question! We simply assume, inherit, or steal from the works of others in the name of achieving success and then wonder why our works don't look much like the biblical account.
Please hear me, I am not saying that big churches or programs are inherently evil. Programs can and do serve an invaluable service to the Kingdom, but they cannot be the chief solution. Programs and slick presentations are man-based and dependent, not Spirit-inspired and dependent. (For most churches, their success depends on the power company, not the presence of the Holy Spirit.)
Perhaps the Early Church's behavior as a Spirit-dependent family, expressing selfless love one for another while being centered on the teachings of Scripture and the worship of God, was the cause of its success. Church history seems to lead to the conclusion that the more formal and institutional the church becomes the less effective and supernatural its efforts.
Stop assuming, church leaders, and start asking the very simple question: how is this possible? Stop looking to the secular and human and start looking to the Spirit. The wisdom of God is often found in the foolishness of this world (I Cor. 1).
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Sharing Isa
This past weekend was the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, and with the exception of all the FDNY guys in uniform and National Guardsmen in the transit station, you would have never known it was a significant day. Something is wrong with our country... But something else is wrong with the church.
Besides a few churches protesting the "clergy free" aspects of the 9/11 ceremonies, many made little effort to use the events of 10-years ago to promote God's glory to the world. Instead, the day was all about Patriotism and the evils of radical Islam. Nothing wrong with talking about those two issues, but there is something greater: JESUS.
At FHCC, we committed to make the day all about the God of Life, not the false god of terror and death. Instead of promoting a country, we are going to promote an eternal Kingdom. We're going to redeem 9/11 for God's glory! And when you commit to a promise like this, you know God is going to honor it...
The very next day, as I was riding the train into Manhattan, I noticed that three young fundamental Islamic men were sitting right behind me. Immediately, I turned around and said "hello" in Arabic. Turns out they were all on holiday from the UK and visiting NYC for the first time. They wanted to know all about City and what to see. Sensing an opportunity, I mentioned some cool sites but was also quick to point out the great sins of the City. I told them that as a Christian, I often have to look down or break into prayer when I am in NY; there is just so much that offends God. Immediately, these young men were hanging on my every word because they have never heard a Christian speak like this before.
As I continued to share my story about church planting, pastoring and being a daddy to three small boys, the guys became even more animated. Next thing I know, the whole train car is blatantly listening in on our conversation (one guy was hanging over the seat)! At that point I knew it was time to talk directly about Jesus (Isa in Arabic).
While the Koran makes much of Jesus, many Muslims know very little about the truth of who He is and what He said and did. I informed the men that they should read the Gospels because not only did Mohammad claim that he did, but also because of the wonderful way that Jesus explains God. Rather than only promote the justice and power of God, Jesus also communicated the LOVE of God.
To God's glory, the conversation ended with the men committing to read the Gospels and thanking me emphatically for talking with them. They had learned so much about Christians, Jesus, and the never before heard topic of God's love.
Besides a few churches protesting the "clergy free" aspects of the 9/11 ceremonies, many made little effort to use the events of 10-years ago to promote God's glory to the world. Instead, the day was all about Patriotism and the evils of radical Islam. Nothing wrong with talking about those two issues, but there is something greater: JESUS.
At FHCC, we committed to make the day all about the God of Life, not the false god of terror and death. Instead of promoting a country, we are going to promote an eternal Kingdom. We're going to redeem 9/11 for God's glory! And when you commit to a promise like this, you know God is going to honor it...
The very next day, as I was riding the train into Manhattan, I noticed that three young fundamental Islamic men were sitting right behind me. Immediately, I turned around and said "hello" in Arabic. Turns out they were all on holiday from the UK and visiting NYC for the first time. They wanted to know all about City and what to see. Sensing an opportunity, I mentioned some cool sites but was also quick to point out the great sins of the City. I told them that as a Christian, I often have to look down or break into prayer when I am in NY; there is just so much that offends God. Immediately, these young men were hanging on my every word because they have never heard a Christian speak like this before.
As I continued to share my story about church planting, pastoring and being a daddy to three small boys, the guys became even more animated. Next thing I know, the whole train car is blatantly listening in on our conversation (one guy was hanging over the seat)! At that point I knew it was time to talk directly about Jesus (Isa in Arabic).
While the Koran makes much of Jesus, many Muslims know very little about the truth of who He is and what He said and did. I informed the men that they should read the Gospels because not only did Mohammad claim that he did, but also because of the wonderful way that Jesus explains God. Rather than only promote the justice and power of God, Jesus also communicated the LOVE of God.
To God's glory, the conversation ended with the men committing to read the Gospels and thanking me emphatically for talking with them. They had learned so much about Christians, Jesus, and the never before heard topic of God's love.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Reach Many or Reach THE One
**Just to give you all a "head's up," a couple of these posts are geared toward those involved in ministry. This is not to say that they are irrelevant for the lay person, but rather that my intended audience is my fellow ministers.
It's is so easy to overlook the obvious because of our preconceived ideas and notions. We read a biblical passage and because we are familiar with it, or a complimentary theological idea, we gloss over its implications and keep on reading. Man, what a disservice we do to the Scriptures and our ministries!
Perhaps the greatest gloss on our part is in regards to the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9). Here we have God supernaturally interrupting Paul's life, saving him and calling him into ministry. I am not going to argue over the Calvinist or Arminian process, but suffice it say that the man had an encounter with God and was saved, period. It is an amazing story, and we who read it are all grateful that God did all the work to save this one man. But, what about the incredible implications this story carries with it, such as: if God could miraculously appear to Saul and save him, then why not do it for many others, if not all?
Now, I know all the academic and historical answers, but I want to challenge them. I do not think the answer is a matter of God's respect for man's "free will," cessationism, or any other nonsense. Sure, elements of these arguments may be true, but I believe they create as many questions as they answer. But what if the reason God singled out Saul was because of the biblical principle that it is not how many you save, but who you save?
Like it or not, we are all hung up on numbers, especially here in the West; the bigger the better is a common defense. Church planting and being a pastor is no different, it is all about how many people are attending your church. Again, I recognize that each person represents a soul and Jesus preached to thousands, but what about that underlying biblical principle that it is who your reaching, not merely how many?
Romans 9 through 11 reminds us that it is the remnant who will be saved and that it is God who elects the individuals to be saved. Might the church and world be better saved if the church would adjust its evangelism strategy to accommodate these elements? Perhaps instead of trying to make the Gospel palatable to the masses or assume that conversion equal disciple, we could focus on the one who God is investing and seeing the promise of God fulfilled through him/her. Quality always supersedes quantity.
I want to hear, "Well done, Good and Faithful Servant," not, "Well, you had a big church, but where are the Christians?" at the end of my life. Again, I am not saying that "big" is equal to "bad," but I would like us to question why it is we do what we do. God's ways are not our ways. Perhaps, the Kingdom exists in a MUSTARD SEED?
It's is so easy to overlook the obvious because of our preconceived ideas and notions. We read a biblical passage and because we are familiar with it, or a complimentary theological idea, we gloss over its implications and keep on reading. Man, what a disservice we do to the Scriptures and our ministries!
Perhaps the greatest gloss on our part is in regards to the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9). Here we have God supernaturally interrupting Paul's life, saving him and calling him into ministry. I am not going to argue over the Calvinist or Arminian process, but suffice it say that the man had an encounter with God and was saved, period. It is an amazing story, and we who read it are all grateful that God did all the work to save this one man. But, what about the incredible implications this story carries with it, such as: if God could miraculously appear to Saul and save him, then why not do it for many others, if not all?
Now, I know all the academic and historical answers, but I want to challenge them. I do not think the answer is a matter of God's respect for man's "free will," cessationism, or any other nonsense. Sure, elements of these arguments may be true, but I believe they create as many questions as they answer. But what if the reason God singled out Saul was because of the biblical principle that it is not how many you save, but who you save?
Like it or not, we are all hung up on numbers, especially here in the West; the bigger the better is a common defense. Church planting and being a pastor is no different, it is all about how many people are attending your church. Again, I recognize that each person represents a soul and Jesus preached to thousands, but what about that underlying biblical principle that it is who your reaching, not merely how many?
Romans 9 through 11 reminds us that it is the remnant who will be saved and that it is God who elects the individuals to be saved. Might the church and world be better saved if the church would adjust its evangelism strategy to accommodate these elements? Perhaps instead of trying to make the Gospel palatable to the masses or assume that conversion equal disciple, we could focus on the one who God is investing and seeing the promise of God fulfilled through him/her. Quality always supersedes quantity.
I want to hear, "Well done, Good and Faithful Servant," not, "Well, you had a big church, but where are the Christians?" at the end of my life. Again, I am not saying that "big" is equal to "bad," but I would like us to question why it is we do what we do. God's ways are not our ways. Perhaps, the Kingdom exists in a MUSTARD SEED?
Sunday, September 4, 2011
The Problem with Convictions
Nothing happens by accident. The past several months have been revolutionary for myself and the church. God has allowed us to go through so many hardships and victories, yet none of which we were able to anticipate. Both the highs and the lows have been nothing less than miraculous, but they have all stemmed from the sovereign eternal will of God for us and the church. The truth is that God allow these things to reveal His holy convictions for our lives and ministry.
The truth is that ALL of us allow our understanding of God's will to be corrupted and shaped by our personal preferences and experiences. Now in all fairness, it is also true that God allows our tendencies and experiences to reveal His will; but there is a difference between revealing and shaping. Revelation comes in a pure form, "shaping" implies alteration and manipulation. I believe God's will is REVEALED, not shaped. This may sound contradictory and like splitting hairs, but I challenge you to consider it...
Regardless, I am amazed at the beauty of God's intervention in my life, both before this summer and now in the midst of this amazing season of challenge and victory. The result is a greater revelation of God's will for the Sweetens and the church in NYC. In revealing His will He has revealed our convictions and calling. It is a bittersweet experience because they seem so unexpected, atypical, and controversial; but isn't that just proof coming from a God who is separate from this world and holy?
Yes, but is merely being unexpected, atypical and controversial proof that it is from God? No. What is validating, however, is what this divine call and conviction will accomplish: souls for the Kingdom.
Luke 19:10 declares that the sole mission of Jesus was "to seek and save the Lost." He then goes on to teach a parable about servants who were given their Master's minas (currency) yet failed to do His business. Although they were once called "servants" and members of his Kingdom, their failure to obey and continue His work resulted in banishment and death. The point is that Christians must ALWAYS be about seeking and saving the Lost, period.
Yes, this is hard and leads to places we would rather not want or expect to go, but we must if the Master is calling and has entrusted us with His business. We and the church have always known this truth and tried earnestly to carry it out, but we can't do it our way with our understanding for our set period of time. We must always be led by the Master to do the Master's work. This is what having convictions is all about.
Please don't read too much into this post and seek a message or assumption the text does not support. But do pray for us, the church in NYC, and you and your local church. Ask God is you are perceiving His revealed will or if you are allowing that will to be shaped and compromised by your preference and experiences. Also, please consider if you are doing the Father's work of seeking and saving the Lost. If you are leaving that work to someone else, please consider Luke 19:20-27.
Be led by His convictions...
The truth is that ALL of us allow our understanding of God's will to be corrupted and shaped by our personal preferences and experiences. Now in all fairness, it is also true that God allows our tendencies and experiences to reveal His will; but there is a difference between revealing and shaping. Revelation comes in a pure form, "shaping" implies alteration and manipulation. I believe God's will is REVEALED, not shaped. This may sound contradictory and like splitting hairs, but I challenge you to consider it...
Regardless, I am amazed at the beauty of God's intervention in my life, both before this summer and now in the midst of this amazing season of challenge and victory. The result is a greater revelation of God's will for the Sweetens and the church in NYC. In revealing His will He has revealed our convictions and calling. It is a bittersweet experience because they seem so unexpected, atypical, and controversial; but isn't that just proof coming from a God who is separate from this world and holy?
Yes, but is merely being unexpected, atypical and controversial proof that it is from God? No. What is validating, however, is what this divine call and conviction will accomplish: souls for the Kingdom.
Luke 19:10 declares that the sole mission of Jesus was "to seek and save the Lost." He then goes on to teach a parable about servants who were given their Master's minas (currency) yet failed to do His business. Although they were once called "servants" and members of his Kingdom, their failure to obey and continue His work resulted in banishment and death. The point is that Christians must ALWAYS be about seeking and saving the Lost, period.
Yes, this is hard and leads to places we would rather not want or expect to go, but we must if the Master is calling and has entrusted us with His business. We and the church have always known this truth and tried earnestly to carry it out, but we can't do it our way with our understanding for our set period of time. We must always be led by the Master to do the Master's work. This is what having convictions is all about.
Please don't read too much into this post and seek a message or assumption the text does not support. But do pray for us, the church in NYC, and you and your local church. Ask God is you are perceiving His revealed will or if you are allowing that will to be shaped and compromised by your preference and experiences. Also, please consider if you are doing the Father's work of seeking and saving the Lost. If you are leaving that work to someone else, please consider Luke 19:20-27.
Be led by His convictions...
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