Trusting through pain

"Two full years later..."

~Genesis 41.1

Even our "Biblical" churches preach a health and welfare Gospel in the 21st century. It goes like this, "Say 'the prayer' (magic words) and God's great plan will unfold." Problem is - rarely does it. Solomon tell us fortune is by chance. Cancer happens, financial ruin happens, accidents happen, people act ungodly... timing sucks. Sometimes, it smiles, sometimes our complex God chooses to not according to our mathematical predictions of Him, or our finite grasp of His wisdom, his plan, His ways.



























Joseph understood this!
Sold at 17
Drug across the dessert bound
Sold on the slave block
Worked honorably and was promoted
Jilted by a "ho' of a wife - his owner's wife"
Imprisoned
Worked honorably and was promoted
Two guys see their dreams interpreted and is forgotten
"Two full years later..."


















None of it made since for thirteen years... ups, downs, no education, no honor, no promotion, no career, no advancement, no savings, no nothing... prison for years.



























At thirty it happened on a day he had no warning was here, over an event he had no knowledge of, one tied to global events no one knew, only God. He not only interprets the dreams, but gives Pharaoh, the most powerful King of the day, wise counsel and something beyond belief occurs... Last night he slept on straw, tonight he sleeps on silk.



















God is not safe. He is good, but His plans, His wisdom's, His ways, His love for us is often veiled, mysterious and seemingly im-pragmatic and even whimsical. That doesn't preach well... come follow this God you have no control of, some influence, no say into His ways or plans. And yes, you have no rights and will have lives as complex as everyone else, save the sparing from acting wisely from His guidance.


















Sounds cynical, but it's reality. His perfect plan which purifies us, disciplines us (instructs us how to live, follow, relate, worship and forges His character in us) is one of learning to trust in dependent postures....not comfortable and doesn't market well.

Yet, He calls us to trust Him and follow.




















But make no mistake about it, He loves us. Most of you reading this are younger than me. The one thing going from 'bring you' with my bushy eyed hope, was to slowly come to awareness that His plan folds out slowly, but surely, that His blessings are better when they do unfold. Yet, pain is part of following the Nazarene - abandonment of life apart from dependency upon Him is not an option. There is blessing, which over rides any loss and pain, but it doesn't mean there was not and is not pain.

Reading Genesis 41, you'll see Joseph name his two sons, one's name means "forget"...and he even tells us because "the Lord has caused me to forget" his painful life, pain from his family, loss of relating with and being with his father. The second, he names "fruitful, or twice blessed". He came to rapturous joy over his sons, yet the scars of the past remain.

Lord, please give us the grace to follow, to trust, to be conformed to Your Image. Lord, please favor us with blessing, with peace, with joy. Please spare us the pain which cuts so deep. And, thank you for the rapturous joy I have that covers a multitude of scars and all they represent.

Sarah Palin... ...REALLY?!

REALLY?!!!?

Come on, really!?


Yea, right. LOL!

Plowshares

Today. Today I "got to" reconnect with an old friend, from childhood and adolescence, from those days we don't often go. A friend with whom is a complex past, almost too ancient to recall the details. The person across from me was the same (same whit, same coy ability to laugh at himself and with others), and yet different (settled, mature, having already wrestled the demons, has his limp that makes him humble and filled with grace for others). Our paths divided - but somehow we grew up, came to a place of respect and reconciling mistakes of youth, put the dysfunctions of the past to rest without minimizing them or neglecting the positive, allowing time's salve to do its work and bring about healing, peace and the unthinkable, something I didn't expect: the restoration of respect, peace, good will and possibly even admiration.

This is rare. Usually people (not that I would ever do such a thing, tisk, tisk ...that's dry humor for those black and white friends) harbor and use it as the scape for the ills at present forever. What's amazing is that it took so long, but as this friend said, "No, it was the right amount of time for this, to reach this place." My friend is right. With age comes wisdom, not to always avoid mistakes, but to recognize and repent, reconcile and restore faster, and to give grace to others who have been and are as wounded as we are, as we navigate life - which so rarely works out as we planned.

Thank you friend. You model grace in a way that only Christ can do. See you around.

"Lord, when did we see you sick?"

Yesterday, Susanne shared about a fellow who came into her work. He has a son with a chronic disease, and it is accompanied by chronic pain. He earns a good living and has insurance. BUT, the insurance company is wanting to raise the premiums [business speak for make the premiums so high and painful that you "go away" so as they don't spend money on you... it is a business for profit afterall.] because the medication he is on to continually manage the pain contains a small percentage of morphine. Therefore, they've asked their son to take less effective prescriptions [business speak for live with CONSTANT PAIN every moment of your life] that do not contain morphine, so the entire family can remain insured.

This morning, my neighbor shared he was going to the doctor and worried about the cost, the prescriptions forthcoming. You see, he makes about $49K/anum. His medical insurance premium is 10% of his gross income. This is before the bill for seeing the doctor, tests, prescriptions, deductible, etc. He and his wife work, earn decent wages, pay the bills, love their kids. You get it - you, me, us.

THEN I heard a fellow on the radio - he complained he had to pay 13K for his insurance/anum. He has the "Cadillac" insurance option where everything is covered, including premium optional procedures [business snob speak for beauty vanity plastic surgery]. He is in the top 1% of American income households in the nation. He was whining about how unfair it is for him to pay so much, and how it is unfair for him to pay for others and ranting about the unfair Obama socialist medical plans".


Hmmm. You know, I don't know which plan is best, which system. I know the ills of the US government run [read special interest hog fest] systems of anything. I also know the sins of greed run American business, such as the pharmaceutical industry. Don't whine at me... I know the complexities of developing medicines. I also know the sins of those associated with these industries are going for the Darwinian choices they make in who gets their cures and who doesn't, the prices and the egregious profit margins. I also know of the sins of the insurance companies and their devilish profit margins as they tell people no, treat them purely as economic transactions.

I don't know if a co-op system is better than a government socialist system. I do know I lived under three and they worked fine for me - did you hear me: THREE different nations. It was fine. I also watched my own mother go from hospital to rehab center, back to hospital and back to rehab... WEEKS of care at UNBELIEVABLE costs. She didn't choose anyone other than her normal GP. All others were chosen for her based upon where she was for what. Sounds like the socialist approach worked fine.

I don't know if the health care system can be rehabilitated or not - not when the special interest industry will spend BILLIONS to make sure they protect their "special interests". I do know that the lowest number I've seen is 18K/anum, but I've also seen up to 40K/anum die because they cannot access health care, and/or the insurance industry has cut them loose to die: "I'm sorry Mr. Smith. I wish there was something we could do." DO? Like maybe spend a buck, lower the profit margin by 1% and save thousands of lives!

So, as the wealthy people I know suck up to Rush Limbaugh as he spews hate and even accuses the President of intentionally wanting to destroy America, [No, I'm not kidding.] and cling to fear, as they spend untold expendable dollars, my neighbor will scramble to pay for going to the hospital after being sick for a month. The fellow who came into Susanne's work will hold his son as he cries from the unbearable pain, and Jesus will weep and then rage in fury because the church, the US church, could make it right with our money, with our political vote, with our voice. Instead, the most visible church is amongst the wealthy in America and it is protecting its interests. I pray they don't become like the fellow with his chronically ill son, or my neighbor, and certainly not like the poor.

Before you blast me out of the water, as you jet off to your holiday, consider my words, spoken in conviction, yes-some anger, and in tears:

Before we wrestle the merits of which health care system (ideology/philosophy) we need to pursue, we need to wrestle with why we are against one or the other. Is greed, selfishness, "mine" in our equation of deciding. Are we just wanting bigger barns? Are we wanting extravogent levels of lifestyle, and will what we're talking about really change the lifestyle of those affected? The guy who pays $13K/anum, versus the neighbor who pays 10% of his income before the associated deductibles, etc.: What is the percentile of $13K of several million? If his insurance was doubled, would he even skip going to a top star restaurant one night? Uhm, no.

One CANNOT claim to be a Jesus follower if one does not act, see, think, feel and long to be like Him. I'm not talking about the mortal sins - but the greed, the selfishness, the individualism as well. It is dangerous to name oneself a Jesus follower who is saying "following in the ways of Jesus" and dismiss His words. So as we wrestle what the heck to do with healthcare, what stance do we take as followers of Christ, what and how do we engage and interact in this hugely important and very, very expensive area of our complex technical world (be it socialized or not), we must heed and have the Spirit of God in how we form our convictions and what we say and determine where we stand. So, as we wrestle what to do, our posture comes first. Our decision to be worldly or Godly must be decided before we wrestle systems that work in the 21st century.

Let us practice Lexio Divina with these passages:
1. Lord, when did we see you sick?
2. Unless you do this to the least of these...
3. The last shall be first, the first shall be last...
4. I came to proclaim salvation to the poor...
5. Don't store up treasures in barns...where it rusts...store it up in heaven...
6. Imitate Christ.

Just how would Jesus vote? Really?

Lowering Expectations & Raising them - the church centred on mission...

A friend of mine, Chris McKenzie posted a great article on his Facebook Page . You should have a read:

A Warning List for Those Who Would Join a Missional Church Gathering

Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 5:20am

Heaven knows that Mosaic has had its fair share of challenges establishing itself as a viable, thriving church community over the years. There are enough reasons, theories and rational explanations to write a book on the common variables Mosaic shares with many fresh expressions of church (wait... hundreds of books have already been written on the subject); these variables have, for better or worse, shaped Mosaic into the delicate yet resilient, vacillating yet enduring, joyful yet exhausted community that we are.
There are myriad obstacles that have challenged Mosaic's growth, depth and presence in the west end of Glasgow. Some of these obstacles are cultural; some are circumstantial; but some come from within. I wouldn't identify it as 'in-fighting,' per se. I think it's more clearly associated with a misunderstanding of what our church's vision is, and where Mosaic is going.

In my limited experience, I've come to learn that 'broken fellowship,' or relational fallout among members of the Church community, can often be linked to differences in the understanding of common values and vision, combined with the definition and application (or living-out) of those shared values and vision. What ultimately results is the loss of faith, trust and respect in one another's leadership or role within the church/community - wounding, bitterness and blame may potentially follow.

I suppose this could now become a 5-Point rhetorical analysis on the areas of character, responsibility, biblical behaviour and such, but I'd prefer to take this opportunity to prehab the issue by addressing the root of such problems, particularly as it relates to our existing community at Mosaic.

David Finch is the pastor of a missional church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago called Life on the Vine Christian Community. He's also the author of The Great Giveaway, and writes regularly on his blog, Reclaiming the Mission. Almost three years ago he wrote a post entitled A Warning List for Those Who Would Join a Missional Church Gathering. Although he admits to having written it during a time of frustration with his own church-plant, and the fact that "some people (NOT ALL!) weren't connecting with where the church was going," I found much of what he was frustrated with to be similar to that which we have encountered as a church pioneering as a missional community.

In order to make some of the core points on the list more relevant to Mosaic, some of the content has been adjusted, and as I am not currently writing from a place of frustration, the tone of the list will most definitely be different. The overall ethos of it, however, will remain true to the general message of what people can and should expect when joining a missional community church.

Like some members at Dan Finch's church, Mosaic has struggled at times to get people on the same page with where we're headed as a church. Are we a Bible-teaching church for mature Christians? Are we a 'seeker' church for first-time churchgoers? Should people feel like they're in church when they're at Mosaic, or should it feel more like a café, a pub or a living room? Is Mosaic a place where people will grow deep into their faith in Jesus, or is it a place where they will explore spirituality and participate in ongoing discussions about God and culture and Creationism and Intelligent Design? Of course, the hope is that the answer to all of these is, Both, or Yes, or All! We could talk ad nauseum about when 'church' happens and what it means to 'be the church.' We could talk about the purpose of the Sunday gathering and who it's for and who it should really serve. But really, all I want to do is help the folks that I do life, church and community with understand what to expect in a missional church/community... which may be the best place to start...

EXPECTATIONS - Many people bring with them (from previous churches) expectations that certain things will be in place when they come to church. One of the expectations that has been an ongoing topic of discussion at Mosaic has been an established youth program that is consistently in place every week that parents can count on for their kids. You know the kind - it's the only kind that most of us know - arrive, give kids hugs, kisses and name badges, and then leave them with qualified childcare providers until returning after church to collect them before going home - the Sundays of my youth in a nutshell.
I'll be the first to admit that participating in the childcare at Mosaic can be exhausting some weeks; and sometimes I fall into the trap of believing that church shouldn't be so draining. One of the concepts that some are having great difficulty grasping, is something that many of us are convinced of... that the best way to raise children is in vital community where we encounter Christ together in worship and mission; where youth are asked to join in mission with adults (of course, we also have a high value of mentoring and educating the youth so we're not chucking the baby out with the bath water when we seek to adjust the norm when it comes to youth programs).

The following list could be read and viewed as somewhat harsh, or perhaps a bit off-putting - typically anything that rings with some level of absolution (especially when it conflicts with other points of view) can be interpreted as unsettling to say the least, and downright threatening at worst. Nevertheless, it's important to be wary of expectations at the outset of a missional community. Most missional gatherings begin by calling out already existing Christians to gather in a time and place to give witness to the Kingdom of God (so that God might expand it). Most seasoned Christians come from somewhere else with perspectives and expectations about what church is. I think a warning list, therefore, serves a good purpose for both the beginning stages of a community's planning, as well as for a church community (like ours) that has struggled since its inception to truly land on a common understanding of what it means to be a missional community.

I believe an important posture to have is that of a learner, or someone that is teachable. I'm not saying that on my authority this is the official missional community list. As always, these things should be unpacked, sifted through and shaped by those in the community that call Mosaic home.
Is this list necessary? What would you add or subtract from the list?



TEN THINGS ANYONE JOINING A 21ST CENTURY MISSIONAL CHURCH-PLANT SHOULD NOT EXPECT:

1. Should not expect to come to church each week as a consumer - getting what you need for your own personal growth and development, and your kids needs, and then leave until next Sunday. Expect mission to change your life - however, expect a richer, fuller life than you ever imagined.
2. Should not expect that Jesus will fit in to our conditioned capitalist assumptions, lifestyle, schedule or accoutrement that may have been adopted before coming to Mosaic.
3. Should not expect to be anonymous, unknown or able to disappear in this church community. Expect to be known, loved and supported in a glorious journey.
4. Should not expect production style excellence all the time at Sunday worship gatherings. Expect organic, simple, creative and authentic.
5. Should not expect a cracking youth program that puts on a show every week and really gets the kids 'pumped up,' without parental involvement. Instead, as the years go by, with our children as a part of our lives, worship and mission (after the hype would have died down), expect our youth to have an authentic relationship with God through Christ that carries them through a lifetime of journeying with God.
6. Should not expect every Sunday to be a 'feel good' experience, or leave feeling ecstatic. Expect that there will ALSO be times of pain, lament, exhaustion, self-examination, and just plain silence. At the same time, never let us get away with allowing you to leave unchallenged to dig deeper in your faith, worship or mission.
7. Should not expect sermons that promise that God will prosper you with 'the life you've always wanted' if you just believe him and step out on faith and give more money. This is a life that Jesus promised would be filled with loneliness, trials and persecution.
8. Should not expect rapid growth whereby we grow this church from 10 to 1,000 in three years. Expect slower, organic, inefficient growth that engages peoples lives where they are at, and sees troubled people who would have nothing to do with the gospel marvelously saved.
9. Should not expect that all meetings will happen where we meet for church (The Annexe). Expect a lot of the gatherings to be in homes, out in culture, or sites of mission.
10. Should not expect arguments over style of music, teaching or even outlying doctrinal issues like dispensationalism. Expect mission to drive conversation.

Oh yeah... and one more thing: you should not expect that community comes to you. The truth is, real community in Christ requires effort and a reshuffling of priorities for you and your kids. I understand that you want people to come to you and reach out to you and that you're hurting and busy - we all feel that at times - but assuming that you are a follower of Jesus Christ (this message is for the people who would claim that), you must learn that the answer to all those things is to enter into the practices of "being the Body" of Christ, including sitting, eating, sharing and praying together.

As I read and reread this before posting it, I'm reminded of the struggles we have to contend with by choosing to be part of a missional church. There are certainly easier models that I could be a part of as a leader or as member, and maybe more importantly, there are a number of churches out there that may have more mass appeal, that people may feel more comfortable in. I'm not criticizing those models, I'm simply saying that I have chosen to be part of something more organic, something messier. We'll never be program-driven or teaching-driven. We'll likely never be able to compete with youth programs that attract kids like magnets to a frenzied collision of enthusiasm and energy every week. We're not likely to volunteer how many people 'attend our church.' When we gather, we don't gather for the sake of church, and we don't gather for the sake of community. But when we gather to worship God and love people, we are the Church... and we're in community.

It may be cliché to say we are Christ-driven, but what impassions us is shaping those in our community to know and love God more deeply, and in turn, to bring His Kingdom to a hurting world through mission.

Silence from the church

Mother Teresa, humble, servant, selfless. One of the crowd of witnesses calling us to reckless abandon



Ten years ago, there was much furor over the changing culture, the need to "plant" relevant churches that are Biblical, yet engage the culture in a manner that if can be heard and understood. Recently the conversation has shifted from such discussions, and begun to chat about "holistic Gospel" - a good thing to discuss for sure.

What concerns me is that the majority of the church seems to have moved past the conversation about engaging the culture, past creating new communities better postured to engage a culture that finds the church and what it says, or at least how it says it, as irrelevant. It seems "business as usual". It's back to building bigger buildings, creating more celebrity leaders, and publishing more books that are about "us".

In the conversation regarding holistic Gospel, I am encouraged in the discussion of the entire Gospel - fresh, new, needed! Yet, some how almost all the discussion is by people who don't live it, don't know the taste of it, the cost of it, the sacrifice, the simple white space needed to practice that. One cannot read "Oliver Twist" and understand being a homeless teen, can you? Yet, people are writing theology, good as it is, yet without one ounce of understanding that theology from any experience, any mud on the boots, any credibility of knowing it first hand. Therefore, these supposed Christian book publishing company darlings, talk about that which they have no earthly idea. They pontificate about that which they have never tasted. They are counterfeit.

One cannot espouse holistic Gospel when you don't as an organic, natural, continuous, normal rhythm of life, know your neighbors, sacrifice your resources (time, money, energies) for others to the extent that it costs, hurts, causes you to alter how you live your life. Living for others requires time, your emotional energy and entangles you with their lives over a long journey together. It's not a trip to the soup kitchen. As great as that is, as noble a cause as it is, and needed as it is-it is not the defining reality of holistic Gospel.

It's messy, day by day boring normal life entangled with the people right there in our lives today. One cannot live a materialistic, consumer, pietistic church groupy life when you know others to the extent that you are humbly dependent upon them and you give yourself away in love to, for and with them.




William and Catherine Booth, founders of the Salvation Army, moved to action when the status quo dismissed them. Heroes of the faith!






So, as we talk holistic Gospel, may we do so with the proof of calloused hands and knees, tired at the end of our days and weeks, volitionally compelled to live simpler that others live better, giving the gift of love in action and serving others face to face, eye to eye. May we be compelled to listen that we might actually answer questions being asked - not proclaiming in ways that alienate, are not understood, and come to understand and know before we speak. We'll speak more wisely, more humbly, more softly, and with more tact. We'll actually say less, yet say more; and see God's name made renown and people thirsty to know this personal God who is a shepherd, with a yoke easy and not burdensome.