Force or Field

I just ran across this video on Tim Steven’s blog, Leading Smart.

In the video, Mark Beeson describes two ways of viewing the church. The church is either a Force or a Field.

Watch the video and then let me know which you think CPC is, and why.

Lost, Again

OK, I know I’ve posted about Lost like 3 times already, but I’m REALLY into this show. I’m only about half-way through the second season, but I’m addicted.

So far I’ve written about how much Lost reminds me of the church in some positive ways but lately I’ve also noticed a darker side of the commonality. This darker side, however, isn’t limited to the church. it can effect us in any relationship.

The thing I’ve noticed in the show is the secrets people keep. Everyone, it seems, knows a little piece of the island’s mystery, but because know one talks about what they know everyone continues to suffer.

The same thing can happen in our relationships. When we are unwilling to talk with each other. . . to open up with one another about our feelings, our hurts, our dreams. . . we all remain in the dark.

The truth will set us free.

Red Cross

One of the opportunities we have for serving the world is to team up with the American Red Cross. The Red Cross serves in countless emergencies ranging from war, to hurricanes, to single-family fires. They train people in CPR, first aid, disaster assessment, and much more.

Wouldn’t it be great if most of CPC was trained in CPR? Can you imagine the positive impact in our community if a Christ Point member saves someone’s life because of training they received through this church?

What kind of impact would it have on a family that lost everything in a fire if we were able to help them? Through the Red Cross we could have immediate access to the family and know first-hand what needs they may have.

Now, it is true, that while you’re wearing the “red vest” you can’t “witness”. But isn’t just being there a form of “witness”? And what about when you take the vest off? You can talk indepth with people you built relationships with whle wearing the vest. And what about the other volunteers? How many conversations could you have with the people whom you’re working side-by-side? I imagine a conversation going something like this:

You: “So, how did you get started volunteering for the Red Cross?”

Volunteer: “You know, I’ve been successful in my career and I just felt like it was time I gave something back. . . . What about you? Why do you do this?”

You: “Me? I do this because of what Jesus has done for me.”

Wow! What an opportunity.

The Red Cross will get us into places and situations where we may not otherwise be able to minister.

Jesus once told a parable about a man he called a “dishonest rascal” (New Living Tranlsation) because the guy acted shrewdly to get his way. Jesus applied his teaching by saying, “For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:8).

I view the Red Cross as a way to shrewdly use the things of this world to accomplish the things of the kingdom.

The Spirit of Jonathan

I’m teaching a Wednesday night class on prayer. I love teaching and preaching on prayer . . . not because I’m a great prayer warrior, but because I’m not.

I want to be; but honestly, I feel my prayers are weak. It’s not that my faith is necessarily weak, but that my prayers are weak. I pray for small things. Easy things.

I need to pray for BiG things. God-sized things.

I love this post from Mark Batterson’s blog. It reminds me to pray big prayers:

Here’s one of my favorite phrases in Scripture. [In] I Samuel 14:6 [Jonathan] says, “Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.” I love that modus operandi. But I honestly think many if not most Christians take the opposite approach. Perhaps the Lord WON’T act in our behalf. We let fear dictate our decisions. We have a better-safe-than-sorry mentality. We live as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.

Maybe it’s time for a paradigm shift. When did we start believing that God wants to take us to safe places to do easy things? Here’s a thought: the will of God is not an insurance plan. It’s a daring plan.

I think we’ve made a false assumption that the will of God gets easier as we grow spiritually. Some dimensions do get easier with the consistent practice of spiritual disciplines. But I also think God will give us more difficult, dangerous, and daring things to do!

I love this phrase. It’s so hopeful. It’s so optimistic. And it’s the key to living with holy anticipation. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. May God give us the spirit of Jonathan!