I am working my way through the Mark Batterson book, The Circle Maker, and am pleased so far. I mean, yeah, it bothers me that he is a bit of a book hawk. In addition to The Circle Maker, he has additional Circle Maker resources for children, students, parents, classroom, etc... It is the same content repackaged and marketed a hundred ways. But aside from all this, at its core, the Circle Maker is a solid image for prayer.
It is based on the story of a Jewish sage named Honi (apparently a historical figure from the Jewish Talmud) who, during a time of drought, drew a prayer circle in the sand. According the legend, Honi literally drew a circle, stood inside it, and refused to come out until God brought forth rain from the heavens and refreshment for his people. In like manner, we can draw spiritual circles around the different areas of our lives and pray through our requests until they come to pass.
It is not about demanding things from God.
It is not about putting God to the test.
It is not about us receiving stuff from God like he is a divine candy dispenser.
Drawing a prayer circle is about wrestling with our wants/needs in life and matching them against the will of God (testing it against Scripture). Once we are convinced our prayer request is the will of God, we should draw a spiritual circle around that prayer and see the request through. So often, we throw prayers to the sky and do not really know what we are asking. Or we pray for a season, but then grow weary and give up. Batterson encourages us not merely to "pray for" things, but "pray through" them.
Our congregation will be using Batterson's resources for a 40-Day prayer challenge beginning on Sept. 8. I will be targeting a vision for Men's Ministries at GPC and for The Gathering, a contemporary worshiping community that I lead at GPC. I will also be drawing prayer circles for my marriage, my children, my health, and other things.
I invite you to join us on this 40-Day Challenge, whether or not you buy the book. Let me know if you choose to partner with me on this challenge. Blessings to you!
Monday, August 26, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
'Heal our Land'
Two Oklahoma teens, the newspapers report this week, were sitting on their front porch with a handgun. They saw a man jogging by them on the street, and so they decided to hop in their car, follow the man, and shoot the man in his back. The reason? They were bored and thought they would kill a guy, "just for fun."
In California, a new law allows transgender kids to choose which locker room they would like to use. If they are a boy, but feel more like a girl, they may use the girls locker room, and vice versa.
In New York City, 16-year-old girls can take the morning after pill from a school nurse, without the consent of their parents.
Something is happening (or has happened) to the soul of our nation. It seems as if God has removed his hand and is allowing for us to function according to our own plans. We do not apparently value God's plans, and do not want to live according to his Word, and so he is allowing us to have our way.
We will see how long we can go on this path before we finally return to God.
I have heard and seen this oft-quoted passage of Scripture, and it has finally found a place in my heart: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and I will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
I apologize if my last two posts are kind of Debby-downers, but I see wickedness around us and I am growing more distressed. The only way forward is if we would abandon our plans and return to the Lord humbly in prayer. It starts with congregations and denominations abandoning attempts to be "relevant" to cultural trends, and preaching and teaching (in the simplest sense possible) the Word of God (as revealed in Scripture). It continues with believers responding to the Word in their own lives, and becoming Light shining in a dark place. And if more of us from the Church (the "called out" ones) will live as God's called-out people, the Light will gradually overcome the darkness that has set in.
In California, a new law allows transgender kids to choose which locker room they would like to use. If they are a boy, but feel more like a girl, they may use the girls locker room, and vice versa.
In New York City, 16-year-old girls can take the morning after pill from a school nurse, without the consent of their parents.
Something is happening (or has happened) to the soul of our nation. It seems as if God has removed his hand and is allowing for us to function according to our own plans. We do not apparently value God's plans, and do not want to live according to his Word, and so he is allowing us to have our way.
We will see how long we can go on this path before we finally return to God.
I have heard and seen this oft-quoted passage of Scripture, and it has finally found a place in my heart: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and I will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
I apologize if my last two posts are kind of Debby-downers, but I see wickedness around us and I am growing more distressed. The only way forward is if we would abandon our plans and return to the Lord humbly in prayer. It starts with congregations and denominations abandoning attempts to be "relevant" to cultural trends, and preaching and teaching (in the simplest sense possible) the Word of God (as revealed in Scripture). It continues with believers responding to the Word in their own lives, and becoming Light shining in a dark place. And if more of us from the Church (the "called out" ones) will live as God's called-out people, the Light will gradually overcome the darkness that has set in.
Monday, August 12, 2013
We're All Nuts!
In hindsight, I can see how the Left-leaning folks in America were turned off (and even nauseated) by the Religious Right political-religious movement of the 1980s and '90s. Fundamentalist leaders like Jerry Falwell (of the Moral Majority) and Pat Robertson (Christian Coalition) came across as smug and self-righteous. They served up a mix of political and religious rhetoric and then shoved it down our throats.
Before becoming a Christian (in the early 1990s), these guys infuriated me. And to be honest, I still find myself shaking my head in disbelief every time they open their mouths.
But a paradigm shift has occurred of late. The political Left today is every bit as obnoxious as the the Religious Right ever was, and they display many of the same tendencies. If you believe abortion is morally wrong and that legislation should tightly restrict (if not eliminate) the practice, don't bother sharing that viewpoint with others. If you so much as question Obamacare, they wonder how you can call yourself a Christian. If you affirm that God does not (nor ever will) affirm homosexual practice (or heterosexual promiscuity) as acceptable lifestyles, you are labeled a bigot.
I still remember the words of my AP European History teacher in high school. Chuck Lucas taught us, with a coffee mug in his hand, that there is little difference between the extreme Right and the extreme Left. Zealots will always be zealots, whether they are on the Right or Left side of the aisle (or pew).
So how do we live passionately as Christians today, and work for justice and the truth of God's Word, without becoming Right-wing or Left-wing nuts? Is it even possible?
I have not read much of Friedrich Nietzsche, but perhaps his writings on "A Will to Power" aren't that far off the mark. Maybe it comes down to the Left and Right lining up on both sides of the ball, and going at it relentlessly when the whistle blows, until one side emerges victorious. Maybe today there is no compromising or "third way" in the ideological and theological disagreements that confront us.
I am certain there is a way (something about "speaking the truth in love"), but I have not yet seen it modeled effectively. And I have not yet discovered a way to be transparent and honest about the grave concerns I have for the morality of this nation. As a pastor, my fear is that if I lean in too prophetic of a direction, I will alienate people and become a poor witness to the love of Jesus Christ.
This is always the danger. In speaking the truth, we can easily compromise love and compassion (or create the perception that we are not loving or compassionate).
Jesus managed to balance the offices well, but can we?
What are your thoughts? How do you live passionately and champion what you believe in the marketplace of ideas (the Public Square)? How do we fight the good fight? Can we, in good conscience, remain silent, if what we see around us is contrary to the love and truth of God's Word? I welcome all responses, whether you are Left- or Right-leaning, or even a Left- or Right-wing nut.
Before becoming a Christian (in the early 1990s), these guys infuriated me. And to be honest, I still find myself shaking my head in disbelief every time they open their mouths.
But a paradigm shift has occurred of late. The political Left today is every bit as obnoxious as the the Religious Right ever was, and they display many of the same tendencies. If you believe abortion is morally wrong and that legislation should tightly restrict (if not eliminate) the practice, don't bother sharing that viewpoint with others. If you so much as question Obamacare, they wonder how you can call yourself a Christian. If you affirm that God does not (nor ever will) affirm homosexual practice (or heterosexual promiscuity) as acceptable lifestyles, you are labeled a bigot.
I still remember the words of my AP European History teacher in high school. Chuck Lucas taught us, with a coffee mug in his hand, that there is little difference between the extreme Right and the extreme Left. Zealots will always be zealots, whether they are on the Right or Left side of the aisle (or pew).
So how do we live passionately as Christians today, and work for justice and the truth of God's Word, without becoming Right-wing or Left-wing nuts? Is it even possible?
I have not read much of Friedrich Nietzsche, but perhaps his writings on "A Will to Power" aren't that far off the mark. Maybe it comes down to the Left and Right lining up on both sides of the ball, and going at it relentlessly when the whistle blows, until one side emerges victorious. Maybe today there is no compromising or "third way" in the ideological and theological disagreements that confront us.
I am certain there is a way (something about "speaking the truth in love"), but I have not yet seen it modeled effectively. And I have not yet discovered a way to be transparent and honest about the grave concerns I have for the morality of this nation. As a pastor, my fear is that if I lean in too prophetic of a direction, I will alienate people and become a poor witness to the love of Jesus Christ.
This is always the danger. In speaking the truth, we can easily compromise love and compassion (or create the perception that we are not loving or compassionate).
Jesus managed to balance the offices well, but can we?
What are your thoughts? How do you live passionately and champion what you believe in the marketplace of ideas (the Public Square)? How do we fight the good fight? Can we, in good conscience, remain silent, if what we see around us is contrary to the love and truth of God's Word? I welcome all responses, whether you are Left- or Right-leaning, or even a Left- or Right-wing nut.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Feeling Like a Rubber Band
About this time every year, I start to feel like a rubber band that is being gradually stretched to capacity, hoping I don't break. As the pastor who oversees discipleship ministries, it is my responsibility to make sure that all Sunday School classes, small groups, etc..., are formed and ready to go. I also work with men's ministries, nurture ministries, and other areas.
I love it.
The church is an exciting place to work in August, because with the start of the school year, so many people are open to new routines and new beginnings. My prayer is that, as a congregation, we learn to identify the BEST opportunities for growth and say yes to those things. I also hope we learn to say no to other things, even things that are otherwise good.
I struggle with this. There are so many GOOD things to engage in this fall. There are music ministries, mission ministries, Sunday School classes, men's ministries, nurture ministries, youth and children's ministries, and young adult ministries, just to name a few. Even though these are all good things, we cannot do it all! We have to identify the BEST for us and our families, and the right balance of rest, family time, worship, service, fellowship, etc... If we don't choose, somebody else will write our schedules for us and soon we will feel like the rubber band, ready to break.
I have some tough decisions to make for this fall, not only as a pastor, but as a dad, husband, and follower of Jesus Christ. How will I connect with my children in meaningful ways this fall? What is the BEST opportunity available for us to do this? How will my wife and I stay in touch amidst all of the shuffling back-and-forth between home, church, school, work, and activities? And how will I find time to hear the whisper of God in my own life? Will I overbook myself, so that I don't have time to reflect and pray? Or will I build that time into my schedule.
So many choices out there of how to spend our time. May we listen to God leading us to those best opportunities, and let the other things fall by the wayside.
I love it.
The church is an exciting place to work in August, because with the start of the school year, so many people are open to new routines and new beginnings. My prayer is that, as a congregation, we learn to identify the BEST opportunities for growth and say yes to those things. I also hope we learn to say no to other things, even things that are otherwise good.
I struggle with this. There are so many GOOD things to engage in this fall. There are music ministries, mission ministries, Sunday School classes, men's ministries, nurture ministries, youth and children's ministries, and young adult ministries, just to name a few. Even though these are all good things, we cannot do it all! We have to identify the BEST for us and our families, and the right balance of rest, family time, worship, service, fellowship, etc... If we don't choose, somebody else will write our schedules for us and soon we will feel like the rubber band, ready to break.
I have some tough decisions to make for this fall, not only as a pastor, but as a dad, husband, and follower of Jesus Christ. How will I connect with my children in meaningful ways this fall? What is the BEST opportunity available for us to do this? How will my wife and I stay in touch amidst all of the shuffling back-and-forth between home, church, school, work, and activities? And how will I find time to hear the whisper of God in my own life? Will I overbook myself, so that I don't have time to reflect and pray? Or will I build that time into my schedule.
So many choices out there of how to spend our time. May we listen to God leading us to those best opportunities, and let the other things fall by the wayside.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)