Dear friend,
I know this letter is pretty late, so sorry for that. It’s been a busy couple of weeks, but good ones. With things at the building settling down, and my sermon done, things will begin to fall back into place. And the job of getting to be a pastor again is getting more real all the time. While I can do the administrative side of my job, my true passion lies in getting to sit with someone who wants to know more about Jesus, and that is a blessing!
This month I thought I would change things up a bit in my newsletter and do a bit of sermonizing here. I thought that maybe we could share some thoughts on Jesus. I am going to give you a bit of a synopsis of my sermon last preached at Scum. If you want to hear more, you can visit our website at www.scumoftheearth.net and follow the link for podcasts. My sermon is entitled Suffering in Isaiah. You can also link it off of my blog at beardedjosh.blogspot.com.
So, in 30th chapter of Isaiah, the prophet is writing to the nation of Judah, who is looking at the immanent attack from Assyria. In the face of adversity, they do as so many of us do, and they turn to their own devices: they seek help from their southern neighbor, Egypt.
The chapter starts with this challenge: “Woe to the obstinate children… to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin.” The Lord is warning them of the destruction that awaits them as they turn from God to their own devices. It is a warning that we all face daily in the ways that we run from the God who offers us deliverance from the obstacles that we face in our lives: the suffering, the pain, the frustrations, the anger, etc. We are the obstinate children, who, like the Israelites, have such a longing for safety and security that we know that we need, but who do not find rest and peace in God, and so we run to our devices to ease the pain.
But, there’s an interesting twist in verse 23, when God speaks and says that he gives us the bread of affliction and the water of suffering. Now, I must admit, I was terribly troubled when I read this. Does this mean that a lot of the suffering that we endure is actually given to us by the hand of God? Well, knowing that this thought is borderline heretical, let me explain as such: while God does not create suffering, he allows it for our own good.
The fact is that we live in a world that is not as it was intended to be. There is evil in our world that causes things like cancer, genocide, and war. This is not in God’s original design, but rather is the result of sin that entered the world when Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the garden, and thus became the first ones to run from God’s intention and care. We’ve been following in their footsteps ever since. And God allows us to run just far enough that we will find ourselves in a position where we will want to turn back to Him. It is for our own good.
And so, when we face the trials that are sure to come as part of living in a fallen world, it is imperative that we turn toward Jesus and trust in Him. Our natural reaction is to take matters into our own hands, but just as Jesus stood waiting for us the first time we turned to Him, he still waits for us with open arms to rescue and deliver us from the pains that we are facing…if we would just turn to Him instead of running from Him.
This is the message that our church needed to hear, and it is probably the message that we could all stand to hear on a daily basis.
And so, please take this as an invitation to remember what it was like when you first encountered the Gospel, that sweet feeling of relief to know that the Savior was waiting for you to turn to Him and welcome you home. And turn back to Him again and again as you encounter the temptation to run to the many vices that offer us a sense of security, when the only true hope for peace is in the redeeming arms of our Lord.
May He bless you as you turn,
Josh Cook
Monday, November 24, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Me Preaching!
So, here's a couple pics of me being fairly animated while preaching at Scum...enjoy!
It was my first time in the new building!
You can hear the sermon here
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
October newsletter
Dear friend,
As I write this letter, we are just a couple of days away from our first service in our new building, so there is a mad rush to try to get everything together, or at least operational, for our first meeting. Inside the sanctuary is a sign left by the previous owner that reads, ‘Chaos is necessary, but cannot be scheduled.’ That is pretty reflective of this week for all of us.
Also, as I write this letter, we owe less than $30,000 on the building. From a church with an annual budget of just over $100,000/year, this is a miracle! Your gifts have been such a measure of grace to us, and we believe that we are going to be debt free by the end of the year. Now there are several projects that we need to do in the building to make it more functional, including a sprinkler system, more bathrooms, finishing out the basement with an egress stairway and window, and a commercial kitchen so that we might be able to prepare meals here for 200 people. And I believe that as God has provided the money for the building, he will continue to provide for our needs!
But, raising money for the church has put a strain on the staff accounts. Currently, several members of staff are underfunded, and as I noted in my last newsletter, I have been underfunded for the past two months. Additionally, I have not been able to expense my pastoral allowance, insurance, or cell phone since March, so things have been a little tight. I am hoping to go to Texas in October to do some fundraising, so please remember me in your prayers in this endeavor.
All that said, though, life in ministry is going well. I was able to take a few days off last week to get away to the mountains and enjoy the turning of the aspens. The hills are all shades of red, orange, and yellow. It is quite spectacular. And it was a much-needed respite after everything that has happened with the zoning and the building.
And as things with the building begin to smooth out, I am able to spend more time in pastoral ministry, which is where my heart lies. We will begin a new small group this week on a book entitled UnChristian: What a New Generation thinks about Christianity…And Why It Matters. It is a study on 6 principles discovered by researchers about what people outside the church in my generation think about the church. It gives practical steps toward bringing about dialogue with them. It is my hope that this will spur our church on toward a missional perspective, especially as we move into our new building and encounter a new population.
I am also working on guidelines for ‘Groups of 3’ which would be small groups for guys. There would be no leader, but each member would be responsible for preparing for the study. It has been my conviction recently that the guys at the church need something to spur them on toward growth and maturity, and by sitting under the teaching of someone, they are losing this opportunity to provide for themselves and each other spiritually. I must admit, I am nervous about this, as it might fail miserably, or even in part, but I feel that it is necessary for the maturation of the guys here at Scum. And as they grow in their maturity, the Kingdom of God will advance in our city.
And lastly, I am hoping to start another small group that brews beer and studies the miracles of Jesus (like turning water into wine, or malt, hops, yeast, and water into beer). I have been brewing for a couple of years ago, and have recently been brewing quite a bit of beer. I have found that it is an incredible opportunity to bring people together, and people are extremely excited about it! And so, as we brew beer (about 4 weeks), we would have an opportunity to discuss the miracles of Jesus, and how that relates to our present lives. Also, once it is finished, we can have a tasting, which would be an incredible opportunity for outreach!
And this is the stuff that gets me out of bed in the morning: seeing how our lives are changed and shaped by God, and how we might be agents of that change in others’ lives around us.
As I write this letter, we are just a couple of days away from our first service in our new building, so there is a mad rush to try to get everything together, or at least operational, for our first meeting. Inside the sanctuary is a sign left by the previous owner that reads, ‘Chaos is necessary, but cannot be scheduled.’ That is pretty reflective of this week for all of us.
Also, as I write this letter, we owe less than $30,000 on the building. From a church with an annual budget of just over $100,000/year, this is a miracle! Your gifts have been such a measure of grace to us, and we believe that we are going to be debt free by the end of the year. Now there are several projects that we need to do in the building to make it more functional, including a sprinkler system, more bathrooms, finishing out the basement with an egress stairway and window, and a commercial kitchen so that we might be able to prepare meals here for 200 people. And I believe that as God has provided the money for the building, he will continue to provide for our needs!
But, raising money for the church has put a strain on the staff accounts. Currently, several members of staff are underfunded, and as I noted in my last newsletter, I have been underfunded for the past two months. Additionally, I have not been able to expense my pastoral allowance, insurance, or cell phone since March, so things have been a little tight. I am hoping to go to Texas in October to do some fundraising, so please remember me in your prayers in this endeavor.
All that said, though, life in ministry is going well. I was able to take a few days off last week to get away to the mountains and enjoy the turning of the aspens. The hills are all shades of red, orange, and yellow. It is quite spectacular. And it was a much-needed respite after everything that has happened with the zoning and the building.
And as things with the building begin to smooth out, I am able to spend more time in pastoral ministry, which is where my heart lies. We will begin a new small group this week on a book entitled UnChristian: What a New Generation thinks about Christianity…And Why It Matters. It is a study on 6 principles discovered by researchers about what people outside the church in my generation think about the church. It gives practical steps toward bringing about dialogue with them. It is my hope that this will spur our church on toward a missional perspective, especially as we move into our new building and encounter a new population.
I am also working on guidelines for ‘Groups of 3’ which would be small groups for guys. There would be no leader, but each member would be responsible for preparing for the study. It has been my conviction recently that the guys at the church need something to spur them on toward growth and maturity, and by sitting under the teaching of someone, they are losing this opportunity to provide for themselves and each other spiritually. I must admit, I am nervous about this, as it might fail miserably, or even in part, but I feel that it is necessary for the maturation of the guys here at Scum. And as they grow in their maturity, the Kingdom of God will advance in our city.
And lastly, I am hoping to start another small group that brews beer and studies the miracles of Jesus (like turning water into wine, or malt, hops, yeast, and water into beer). I have been brewing for a couple of years ago, and have recently been brewing quite a bit of beer. I have found that it is an incredible opportunity to bring people together, and people are extremely excited about it! And so, as we brew beer (about 4 weeks), we would have an opportunity to discuss the miracles of Jesus, and how that relates to our present lives. Also, once it is finished, we can have a tasting, which would be an incredible opportunity for outreach!
And this is the stuff that gets me out of bed in the morning: seeing how our lives are changed and shaped by God, and how we might be agents of that change in others’ lives around us.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Exhausted
So, this week is a community meeting for the neighborhood the new building is in...basically take a normal 50 hour work week and add some more...
And couple that with the feeling that everyone's lives around me are falling apart, and it's been an exhausting month. That God for fly fishing!
And couple that with the feeling that everyone's lives around me are falling apart, and it's been an exhausting month. That God for fly fishing!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Building Update
Hi, Everybody!
A few of you have asked for an update on the Scum of the Earth Church building situation, so here it is (succinctly):
1. We have raised close to $400K in four weeks by the grace of almighty God.
2. A group of Christian businessmen has given us a bridge loan of $250K for 90 days. This provides us the gift of more time to raise the remaining funds. If we don't raise it, we may have to sell the building, however.
3. We close the sale on Wednesday morning at 9:00 AM!
4. We have zoning issues. Although the building has been a church/community center for 120 years and had been "grandfathered" into zoning requirements, the last ten years have been as a single-unit dwelling. We now have to go through all the rigamarole to get a variance for modern parking requirements, etc., in order bring it back to use as a church. The first Zoning Board meeting that we could get into is September 9th.
5. As a result, we cannot use the building for large worship gatherings until the zoning comes through. For more details, please listen to the last two Sunday messages and the "Building Campaign Announcement" here
Thanks to all of you who have been a part of this with us!
By amazing grace,
Mike
A few of you have asked for an update on the Scum of the Earth Church building situation, so here it is (succinctly):
1. We have raised close to $400K in four weeks by the grace of almighty God.
2. A group of Christian businessmen has given us a bridge loan of $250K for 90 days. This provides us the gift of more time to raise the remaining funds. If we don't raise it, we may have to sell the building, however.
3. We close the sale on Wednesday morning at 9:00 AM!
4. We have zoning issues. Although the building has been a church/community center for 120 years and had been "grandfathered" into zoning requirements, the last ten years have been as a single-unit dwelling. We now have to go through all the rigamarole to get a variance for modern parking requirements, etc., in order bring it back to use as a church. The first Zoning Board meeting that we could get into is September 9th.
5. As a result, we cannot use the building for large worship gatherings until the zoning comes through. For more details, please listen to the last two Sunday messages and the "Building Campaign Announcement" here
Thanks to all of you who have been a part of this with us!
By amazing grace,
Mike
The Gospel
So, Monday night I went to go see Shane Claiborne, the author of Irresistible Revolution and Jesus for President, speak at a local church. He is a passionate speaker, who is wildly in love with Jesus.
In the process, I heard several things caught my ear, and was both encouraged and discouraged all at once. I was encouraged, because they spoke of change and the vividness of the Gospel. They talked about how God is still in the business of changing people's lives through the work of Jesus on the Cross. And how that work brings about holistic change.
But I was equally discouraged that I have lost some of this excitement in my own life. Over the past four years at Scum, a couple of rough summers in Glasgow, working with people with various addictions, and a seminary education that can act to sap anybody's faith, I have found that while my belief in the power of the Gospel hasn't waned, it has been tempered by experiences.
And so I've spent significant amount of times trying to understand the miraculous effect of the Good News on the lives of those around me, as well as its impact on my own life. I've tried to understand what healing is and isn't, only to come to understand that a healing God is One who loves us enough to allow us to wrestle with Him as part of the process of healing. Wrestling with God heals our pride, our self-centeredness, our selfishness, and our self-idolizing. It's the painful part of the process, but it's a good One. One that is transformative and healing. God's Gospel is changing lives all around me (and mine as well) in a way that is keeping with His patience and grace, so that the transformation will be lasting and effective.
So, may the power of the Gospel be ever with you!
Our Father, we have listened to thy word, and loved it; we have found comfort and inspiration in song and psalter; we have enjoyed the companionship of those who, with kindred minds and hearts, have praised and worshiped thee. Now help us to understand that, as we leave this sacred House of God, we shall become thy Church in the street.
In the process, I heard several things caught my ear, and was both encouraged and discouraged all at once. I was encouraged, because they spoke of change and the vividness of the Gospel. They talked about how God is still in the business of changing people's lives through the work of Jesus on the Cross. And how that work brings about holistic change.
But I was equally discouraged that I have lost some of this excitement in my own life. Over the past four years at Scum, a couple of rough summers in Glasgow, working with people with various addictions, and a seminary education that can act to sap anybody's faith, I have found that while my belief in the power of the Gospel hasn't waned, it has been tempered by experiences.
And so I've spent significant amount of times trying to understand the miraculous effect of the Good News on the lives of those around me, as well as its impact on my own life. I've tried to understand what healing is and isn't, only to come to understand that a healing God is One who loves us enough to allow us to wrestle with Him as part of the process of healing. Wrestling with God heals our pride, our self-centeredness, our selfishness, and our self-idolizing. It's the painful part of the process, but it's a good One. One that is transformative and healing. God's Gospel is changing lives all around me (and mine as well) in a way that is keeping with His patience and grace, so that the transformation will be lasting and effective.
So, may the power of the Gospel be ever with you!
Our Father, we have listened to thy word, and loved it; we have found comfort and inspiration in song and psalter; we have enjoyed the companionship of those who, with kindred minds and hearts, have praised and worshiped thee. Now help us to understand that, as we leave this sacred House of God, we shall become thy Church in the street.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Camping
So,
I decided that this weekend, after a LONG month, would be a great time to go camping. We ended up going down to Lost Creek Wilderness, about one hour south of Denver. It'd been quite a long time since I had gotten out of the city, so I was pretty stoked.
My buddies Keith, Jeremy, and Nick all traveled along. We did the basic car camping thing, where you pull up to a primitive space (i.e. no electricity or toilets), set up a couple of tents, built a fire (that withstood two rain storms), pulled the cooler out and had a great time. There's little in life better than cold beer, hot dogs, and good conversation.
We decided later in the night that Keith, Jeremy, and myself would share my two man tent (yes, three grown men in a two man tent). We inflated Jeremy's twin size air mattress, which took up well over half of the tent. In the end, Keith and I shared a the air mattress (yes, two grown men on a twin mattress), and Jeremy slept curled up in the corner. It was a tight fit, but we got along okay.
This morning we got up and made egg and bacon sandwiches. Then I got to take a little bit of time and go for a walk and pray.
Here was the key to the whole experience for me: presence. You see, I realized a couple of weeks ago that I sincerely struggle with being present in any one place at any one time. I am constantly thinking about where else I need to be. I feel pretty drained most of the time because my life is lived 30 minutes in advance, if that makes sense. Last night was a great opportunity to take periodic moments to realize that I was only in that place. There were no meeting to run to, no one demanding anything of me, no deadline that needed to be met. It was only that moment.
I have found that this is a struggle even in my time with Jesus. I have started a practice of keeping a journal with me while praying to make a to do list...a list of things that come to mind. As I write them down, I am able to let go of them. It is an incredibly liberating experience to just be where I am...and to enjoy Jesus' presence with me.
And this weekend was a great opportunity to rediscover that. Go forth and enjoy the presence of Jesus...
I decided that this weekend, after a LONG month, would be a great time to go camping. We ended up going down to Lost Creek Wilderness, about one hour south of Denver. It'd been quite a long time since I had gotten out of the city, so I was pretty stoked.
My buddies Keith, Jeremy, and Nick all traveled along. We did the basic car camping thing, where you pull up to a primitive space (i.e. no electricity or toilets), set up a couple of tents, built a fire (that withstood two rain storms), pulled the cooler out and had a great time. There's little in life better than cold beer, hot dogs, and good conversation.
We decided later in the night that Keith, Jeremy, and myself would share my two man tent (yes, three grown men in a two man tent). We inflated Jeremy's twin size air mattress, which took up well over half of the tent. In the end, Keith and I shared a the air mattress (yes, two grown men on a twin mattress), and Jeremy slept curled up in the corner. It was a tight fit, but we got along okay.
This morning we got up and made egg and bacon sandwiches. Then I got to take a little bit of time and go for a walk and pray.
Here was the key to the whole experience for me: presence. You see, I realized a couple of weeks ago that I sincerely struggle with being present in any one place at any one time. I am constantly thinking about where else I need to be. I feel pretty drained most of the time because my life is lived 30 minutes in advance, if that makes sense. Last night was a great opportunity to take periodic moments to realize that I was only in that place. There were no meeting to run to, no one demanding anything of me, no deadline that needed to be met. It was only that moment.
I have found that this is a struggle even in my time with Jesus. I have started a practice of keeping a journal with me while praying to make a to do list...a list of things that come to mind. As I write them down, I am able to let go of them. It is an incredibly liberating experience to just be where I am...and to enjoy Jesus' presence with me.
And this weekend was a great opportunity to rediscover that. Go forth and enjoy the presence of Jesus...
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Hey
So, I know it's been awhile since I've posted, but things have been BUSY here. Just wanted to take a minute and let you know that we are going to close on the building on Friday...Praise be to God
Monday, June 2, 2008
They accepted!
Yes, it's true, the real estate company accepted Scum's offer for $625K on the building at 935 W. 11th. Now, we just have to come up with the money.
But, thanks be to God, we are already 1/3 of the way there! We had already raised $100K from 2 years prior, and then we had a church give us $50K and then a private investor who partnered with the LLC for another $50K. So that totals 200K, which means in a week's time we raised 1/3 of the money.
We still have a long way to go, so please continue to pray with us. Thank you for all that you do!
But, thanks be to God, we are already 1/3 of the way there! We had already raised $100K from 2 years prior, and then we had a church give us $50K and then a private investor who partnered with the LLC for another $50K. So that totals 200K, which means in a week's time we raised 1/3 of the money.
We still have a long way to go, so please continue to pray with us. Thank you for all that you do!
Monday, May 26, 2008
New Home
Here's a flyer for our new church home we're trying to get
you can see more pictures here
We're trying to raise $600,000 for the building. I know it's quite the task, but I trust that God is still in the business of doing miracles!
WE FOUND A BUILDING!!!
That’s right! Scum has found a place to call home! Where? 935 W. 11th Ave, on the southwest edge of downtown Denver in the heart of the arts district and a mere four blocks from thousands of college students on the Auraria campus. It is an old brick church with a long and storied history, originally built in 1881, and most recently renovated (interior, plumbing, electric, roof) and used as a studio/residence by a local artist. Never before had we seen anything that fit our personality so well – a classic brick façade paired with a quirky, artistic interior, an historic place of worship with a creative flair. Finally, a place where we can see our hopes and dreams come true! 935 W. 11th Ave is the first place we’ve seen that has given all our staff and board members that “this is the one” feeling when viewed in person; it is the same feeling many of us had when we met the one we wanted to marry or walked into the house for sale that would soon become our future home. Do you know that feeling? Isn’t it great?! Needless to say, we are extremely excited and feel that our prayers have been answered. What’s more, we feel that God is excited to see this former house of worship reclaimed for His kingdom.
Here’s the catch – the building is selling for $650,000, has been on the market for two years, is in foreclosure, and has already entered a 60 day notice of public auction which ends on July 3rd. Scum is going to put in an offer of $625,000 contingent upon our ability to secure financing by June 27th. Time is of the essence, to say the least. Through diligent fundraising efforts, the church has raised $100,000 toward purchasing its own facility. However, Scum does not have sufficient resources to obtain a real estate loan through conventional lending institutions. We are seeking to raise enough money to purchase the building outright as well as establish a small reserve fund for renovations and ongoing maintenance. Therefore, in addition to the $100,000 we already have, we need to raise $600,000 by June 27th.
We fully realize that pulling this off will take a miracle. In fact, that is what we expect to happen. We’re praying for it. As friends of Scum who have already helped us out so much, please know that we deeply appreciate you and realize that we would not be in the position we are today without your generosity. We hope that you will continue to partner prayerfully and financially with Scum of the Earth Church in this exciting moment as well as the days to come.
How can you help? We need two things – prayer and money. We may be looking for donations of labor or materials in the future, but at this point we just want to get in the door. At a bare minimum we can begin holding services there and can then develop a long-term plan for fully utilizing the space.
Join us in praying for a miracle. This is something our board members, staff, lay leadership, and congregation are committed to doing over the next month. We want to be incredibly sensitive to what the Holy Spirit has to say, especially since emotions and stress may be running high.
Sponsor square feet. With 5,541 finished and 2,325 unfinished square feet, the cost of the building comes out to about $80 per square foot. Would you be willing to sponsor one or more square feet? You can:
· Mail a check to Scum of the Earth Church. PO Box 101808. Denver, CO 80205. Please make all checks out to Scum of the Earth Church and write “Building” in the memo line.
· Donate online at www.scumoftheearth.net. Follow the donation link on the main page.
· Donate stock. This can be a great strategy for avoiding that nasty capital gains tax.
Get creative! Contact friends and family and hold an impromptu fundraising dinner – we can provide you with materials. Sell some old cds or dvds. Auction off that old record player on Ebay or Craig’s List (I know of one donor who actually sold an old guitar and gave the cash to the Scum building fund). Collect loose change around the home or the office. Whatever.
Pass this email on to anyone you can think of!
What happens if we don’t reach our goal in time? We desire to honor your intentions in helping us obtain this specific property. Scum of the Earth Church will hold all donations in an special account until June 27th. If we fall short, we will contact you to ask if you would your donation to fund our ongoing efforts to find a home or if you would like it returned.
Thank you for your time and consideration. As always, feel free to contact me by phone or email if you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas.
Feel free to check out more pictures of the place here.
Peace be with you,
Timothy Dunbar
Administrative Pastor
Scum of the Earth Church
720.810.0575
Saturday, May 17, 2008
The Grieving Heart
When I was five years old, the oldest daughter of the family next door committed suicide. Her death was traumatizing to the whole neighborhood, and her family was devastated.
The mother later published a story of how our relationship developed over the following months. In the story, she recounted how I would go by and sit with her, comfort her, and speak tenderly toward her. At one point, I put on a coon skin cap and a stethoscope and told her I was a country doctor who had come to care for her.
I write this not as a self-aggrandizing statement, but more to show that God has created me to care for people as a pastor and a friend. He has enabled me to, for the time being, do that at Scum of the Earth Church, a gift that I am (mostly) grateful for.
But it is part of who I am, a very large and definitive part.
The problem, though, is that in caring well for others, I oftentimes find myself overwhelmed. It is a necessary part of empathy that enables a pastor to enter into the pain of another person. But it can be crushing at the same time. Not in a co-dependent way wherein an unhealthy attachment is made, but more in a 'Jesus please come back and bring your healing power' sort of way.
As I seek to detach myself from the situation, I understand that there is a necessary part that requires an attachment to be able to pastor a person through the waves of life.
The place of resolution has been the constant reminder that I give myself: It is God who brings about healing, not me. I am not the Savior!
And to see the redemption that God has brought (and is bringing) in my own life gives me hope that this will all come to resolution as we submit ourselves to Him and look toward the Cross. It is this hope that brings about hope and rest in the midst of turmoil.
And it is this hope that sustains us. May we all find the peace of Christ in our lives as we walk through suffering with those whom we love.
The mother later published a story of how our relationship developed over the following months. In the story, she recounted how I would go by and sit with her, comfort her, and speak tenderly toward her. At one point, I put on a coon skin cap and a stethoscope and told her I was a country doctor who had come to care for her.
I write this not as a self-aggrandizing statement, but more to show that God has created me to care for people as a pastor and a friend. He has enabled me to, for the time being, do that at Scum of the Earth Church, a gift that I am (mostly) grateful for.
But it is part of who I am, a very large and definitive part.
The problem, though, is that in caring well for others, I oftentimes find myself overwhelmed. It is a necessary part of empathy that enables a pastor to enter into the pain of another person. But it can be crushing at the same time. Not in a co-dependent way wherein an unhealthy attachment is made, but more in a 'Jesus please come back and bring your healing power' sort of way.
As I seek to detach myself from the situation, I understand that there is a necessary part that requires an attachment to be able to pastor a person through the waves of life.
The place of resolution has been the constant reminder that I give myself: It is God who brings about healing, not me. I am not the Savior!
And to see the redemption that God has brought (and is bringing) in my own life gives me hope that this will all come to resolution as we submit ourselves to Him and look toward the Cross. It is this hope that brings about hope and rest in the midst of turmoil.
And it is this hope that sustains us. May we all find the peace of Christ in our lives as we walk through suffering with those whom we love.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Dirty, Homeless, and Ugly
So, I saw a homeless man with a cardboard sign that read, "I'm Dirty, Homeless, and Ugly. Anything helps." It's one of those signs that makes me wince a bit, because it is so untrue to how God sees this man, and because it is the true picture of how the man sees himself. And it is probably how many of the people who drive by him see him as well.
Another reason this sign is so problematic for me is that it seems somewhat reflective of how I have seen myself recently. Not that I am dirty, or homeless (but maybe ugly...your call). But I am in the process of understanding the phrase, "Anything helps."
Recently my support balance dropped significantly, and I have had to ask supporters to increase their giving. It's not the easiest thing in the world, and is quite humbling if the truth be told. But I know that God is working through that process in me to bring me to a place of greater reliance in Him. And by raising support, I know that I am offering my supporters (through prayer and financial giving) to partner with God in the ministry of Scum of the Earth Church.
Additionally, I've had to learn to ask for more help in other areas of my life. As I have been working through some of my own relational stuff, I have begun to realize how hard it is for me in most areas of life to ask for help. I am quick to offer help to someone else, to listen to another person's problems, and to walk in empathy with a friend, but I am somewhat incapable of asking for assistance myself. Because in many ways, I think that by asking for help, receiving a relational hand-out, means that I am Dirty, Homeless, and Ugly.
But in reality, that is not how God sees it. God has placed us all in the community of the Church to allow us to bear one another's burdens. And being in a place of need puts us firmly at the foot of the Cross. And it is there that we, oftentimes through the care of others, encounter the Gospel that is Good News to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight to the blind, and release for the oppressed.
May I trust enough in those who God has provided to care for me that my own independence is lost in the cause of interdepence. Anything helps!
Another reason this sign is so problematic for me is that it seems somewhat reflective of how I have seen myself recently. Not that I am dirty, or homeless (but maybe ugly...your call). But I am in the process of understanding the phrase, "Anything helps."
Recently my support balance dropped significantly, and I have had to ask supporters to increase their giving. It's not the easiest thing in the world, and is quite humbling if the truth be told. But I know that God is working through that process in me to bring me to a place of greater reliance in Him. And by raising support, I know that I am offering my supporters (through prayer and financial giving) to partner with God in the ministry of Scum of the Earth Church.
Additionally, I've had to learn to ask for more help in other areas of my life. As I have been working through some of my own relational stuff, I have begun to realize how hard it is for me in most areas of life to ask for help. I am quick to offer help to someone else, to listen to another person's problems, and to walk in empathy with a friend, but I am somewhat incapable of asking for assistance myself. Because in many ways, I think that by asking for help, receiving a relational hand-out, means that I am Dirty, Homeless, and Ugly.
But in reality, that is not how God sees it. God has placed us all in the community of the Church to allow us to bear one another's burdens. And being in a place of need puts us firmly at the foot of the Cross. And it is there that we, oftentimes through the care of others, encounter the Gospel that is Good News to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight to the blind, and release for the oppressed.
May I trust enough in those who God has provided to care for me that my own independence is lost in the cause of interdepence. Anything helps!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Never say good things can't happen
So, I have recently developed a friendship with a Lutheran Vicar, Nadia, who pastors a church called House for all Sinners and Saints. We come from VERY different theological (and therefore) practical perspectives, but through our friendship God has shown Himself bigger than our meager understanding of him.
Nadia is writing a book that everyone should own, entitled Salvation on the Small Screen. In it, she chronicles 24 consecutive hours of Trinity Broadcasting Network, and keeps a running total of how much you would need to spend if you bought all the stuff they pawned off on you each hour.
Over our friendship, we have learned much from each other, and have been mutually encouraged by one another. I was honored that she has chosen to write about me in her last chapter. Here is the excerpt:
Something has happened over the last few months of writing this book that is so beautiful, and nothing I would ever have anticipated: I have a wonderful new friendship with an evangelical pastor. I'm certain this would not have happened even a year ago, but rather than my recent exposure to the "other Christians" serving to further entrench me in my progressive Christian ghetto, it has made me more open to my Christian neighbors so to speak. I'm not sure why this is, perhaps this is due to the fact that I've been forced in the process of criticizing TBN to also look closely at the holes in my own tradition. Anyway, I now have an evangelical friend. He's even the pastor of a church I wrote a heavily mixed review about on my blog, and he still wants to be my friend, which makes me feel even worse in only the way true grace can. He began to show up to the monthly Theology Pub I hostess. Having just graduated from a very conservative seminary, I like to think he comes because he's never actually heard good theology before and he secretly loves it. I'm certain he has an entirely different explanation. The point is that we have become friends. Recently we met to discuss a sermon he was working on the concerned suffering and the cross. I came with a few pages of notes on Luther's Theology of the Cross which he genuinely found intriguing if not helpful. As the discussion continued he mentioned that he was wanting to use a particular passage in Colossians "where Paul was trying to say…" I stopped him. "You know" I offered "that we don't really think Paul wrote Colossians". "Neither do we" he countered "We think God did". We laughed. Hard. And after high-fiveing each other we went on with our conversation. It was so beautiful.
Another time when I was struggling with a particularly unattractive personality defect (let's just call it sin), I didn't think of my Lutheran friends, I thought, I want a good solid evangelical to pray with me, and voila! Josh to the spiritual rescue.
I think in the end Josh and I are able to acknowledge that both of our traditions are inadequate and have found that our friendship helps us both make up for a little part of that inadequacy.
My full immersion into the world of TBN and a Christianity that can seem like it's from another planet entirely, has, rather than strengthening my confidence in the sufficiency of my own Lutheran tradition has actually weakened it. I see the holes.
God is good, isn't He? My friend, Nadia, I am incredibly grateful for you. Keep up His Good Work.
Nadia is writing a book that everyone should own, entitled Salvation on the Small Screen. In it, she chronicles 24 consecutive hours of Trinity Broadcasting Network, and keeps a running total of how much you would need to spend if you bought all the stuff they pawned off on you each hour.
Over our friendship, we have learned much from each other, and have been mutually encouraged by one another. I was honored that she has chosen to write about me in her last chapter. Here is the excerpt:
Something has happened over the last few months of writing this book that is so beautiful, and nothing I would ever have anticipated: I have a wonderful new friendship with an evangelical pastor. I'm certain this would not have happened even a year ago, but rather than my recent exposure to the "other Christians" serving to further entrench me in my progressive Christian ghetto, it has made me more open to my Christian neighbors so to speak. I'm not sure why this is, perhaps this is due to the fact that I've been forced in the process of criticizing TBN to also look closely at the holes in my own tradition. Anyway, I now have an evangelical friend. He's even the pastor of a church I wrote a heavily mixed review about on my blog, and he still wants to be my friend, which makes me feel even worse in only the way true grace can. He began to show up to the monthly Theology Pub I hostess. Having just graduated from a very conservative seminary, I like to think he comes because he's never actually heard good theology before and he secretly loves it. I'm certain he has an entirely different explanation. The point is that we have become friends. Recently we met to discuss a sermon he was working on the concerned suffering and the cross. I came with a few pages of notes on Luther's Theology of the Cross which he genuinely found intriguing if not helpful. As the discussion continued he mentioned that he was wanting to use a particular passage in Colossians "where Paul was trying to say…" I stopped him. "You know" I offered "that we don't really think Paul wrote Colossians". "Neither do we" he countered "We think God did". We laughed. Hard. And after high-fiveing each other we went on with our conversation. It was so beautiful.
Another time when I was struggling with a particularly unattractive personality defect (let's just call it sin), I didn't think of my Lutheran friends, I thought, I want a good solid evangelical to pray with me, and voila! Josh to the spiritual rescue.
I think in the end Josh and I are able to acknowledge that both of our traditions are inadequate and have found that our friendship helps us both make up for a little part of that inadequacy.
My full immersion into the world of TBN and a Christianity that can seem like it's from another planet entirely, has, rather than strengthening my confidence in the sufficiency of my own Lutheran tradition has actually weakened it. I see the holes.
God is good, isn't He? My friend, Nadia, I am incredibly grateful for you. Keep up His Good Work.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Presence
So, one of the things that I long for in my work is the ministry of presence: the ability to be fully where I am at all times.
I know this is a difficult task for me, as I find that the more busy I am, and the more things I have on my mind, the less likely I am to be able to be where I am at that moment. It is a reality that my mind tends to wander to any number of other things that I know must get done, and this is not alright.
In his book, The Rest of God, Mark Buchannan notes that taking a sabbath is ultimately choosing to realize for one day that we are not God. The entire world around us does not depend on our ability to hold it in place. Rather, we are merely a player in a cosmic masterpiece. We are not the authors or composers or directors.
Christ, when he walked the earth, had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He was in the process of reconciling the creation to the Creator. In His work rests the entirety of redemption and salvation. He is God.
Yet we see Him rest. And we see Him recline at tables with sinners and tax collectors. And we see Him present with others, as those who were directly in front of Him were the most pressing need He needed to address. His presence was redemption.
May this be a day of presence for us as we realize that Christ invites us to rest in His redemption as we partner in His work.
I know this is a difficult task for me, as I find that the more busy I am, and the more things I have on my mind, the less likely I am to be able to be where I am at that moment. It is a reality that my mind tends to wander to any number of other things that I know must get done, and this is not alright.
In his book, The Rest of God, Mark Buchannan notes that taking a sabbath is ultimately choosing to realize for one day that we are not God. The entire world around us does not depend on our ability to hold it in place. Rather, we are merely a player in a cosmic masterpiece. We are not the authors or composers or directors.
Christ, when he walked the earth, had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He was in the process of reconciling the creation to the Creator. In His work rests the entirety of redemption and salvation. He is God.
Yet we see Him rest. And we see Him recline at tables with sinners and tax collectors. And we see Him present with others, as those who were directly in front of Him were the most pressing need He needed to address. His presence was redemption.
May this be a day of presence for us as we realize that Christ invites us to rest in His redemption as we partner in His work.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Prayers
So,
I don't know how many people are actually reading this thing, but I have a favor to ask of you...
One of the guys that I have been mentoring since December is looking at 20-120 years in prison. It's probably best not to say why, but I know he could use your prayers right now.
There is a possibility that his case will be thrown out of court for some things the D.A. did, and he is going to court on May 2nd for a hearing to have his charges dismissed. He is fully aware that he has made many mistakes and done many horrible things, but he has made a 180 turn in his life.
Last Friday he was told that he needed $7-10K to be prepared for his trial this week. He doesn't have that much money, and had resigned himself to going to prison.
Just before he was told this by his lawyer, he went and spoke to a private school for at risk and homeless kids about how Jesus was/is working in his life. The kids stayed and talked to him for 2.5 hours, and he was really convicted that he needed to continue conversations with them.
This morning he received a phone call from a family friend that they were going to give him $8K for lawyer fees. Praise God!
The prayer request, then, is that God would continue to work in him. He wants to stay out of prison so that he might impact people before they get there and help them turn their lives around. We have both submitted my friend's future to God, who is all-knowing and sovereign. Pray that God would continue to sustain my friend in this process as God reveals to him what is in store for the future.
Blessings.
j
I don't know how many people are actually reading this thing, but I have a favor to ask of you...
One of the guys that I have been mentoring since December is looking at 20-120 years in prison. It's probably best not to say why, but I know he could use your prayers right now.
There is a possibility that his case will be thrown out of court for some things the D.A. did, and he is going to court on May 2nd for a hearing to have his charges dismissed. He is fully aware that he has made many mistakes and done many horrible things, but he has made a 180 turn in his life.
Last Friday he was told that he needed $7-10K to be prepared for his trial this week. He doesn't have that much money, and had resigned himself to going to prison.
Just before he was told this by his lawyer, he went and spoke to a private school for at risk and homeless kids about how Jesus was/is working in his life. The kids stayed and talked to him for 2.5 hours, and he was really convicted that he needed to continue conversations with them.
This morning he received a phone call from a family friend that they were going to give him $8K for lawyer fees. Praise God!
The prayer request, then, is that God would continue to work in him. He wants to stay out of prison so that he might impact people before they get there and help them turn their lives around. We have both submitted my friend's future to God, who is all-knowing and sovereign. Pray that God would continue to sustain my friend in this process as God reveals to him what is in store for the future.
Blessings.
j
Friday, April 25, 2008
Compassion
"Jesus in his solidarity with the marginalized ones is moved to compassion. Compassion constitutes a radical form of criticism, for it announces that the hurt is to be taken seriously, that the hurt is not to be accepted as normal and natural but is an abnormal and unacceptable condition for humanness."
--Walter Brueggerman
Oh, that we could live in a world defined by compassion. The beauty that comes when we seek the well-being of others before ourselves. Paul reminds us in Philippians that we are to consider others more than we consider ourselves. And as we do so, we look more like Christ.
May this day be one where we long for the redemption of our neighbors AND our enemies. May we commune with Christ in His compassion for them and for us.
--Walter Brueggerman
Oh, that we could live in a world defined by compassion. The beauty that comes when we seek the well-being of others before ourselves. Paul reminds us in Philippians that we are to consider others more than we consider ourselves. And as we do so, we look more like Christ.
May this day be one where we long for the redemption of our neighbors AND our enemies. May we commune with Christ in His compassion for them and for us.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
the breakup
So, as you may have heard, Rachel and I broke up.
I don't know. It was hard/is hard. Sometimes the best things in life are also difficult (not always, but it seems to be a running gag in my life anyway).
Just so you know, the official reason is poor communication. We just seemed to keep missing each other when we talked. And we seemed to communicate things with our actions that didn't line up with our words. And we heard things that were not the intention of the other.
The truth is this: I always wanted the best for Rachel. Throughout our time together, several people told me that I needed to stick it out, and that of course touched on my own fears of lack of commitment, but I trust that this really was in her best interest. I desire for her to be more like Christ, and feel that the best place to do that might not be in this relationship.
Sunday night I preached on suffering. It's never a fun topic, but seems to be one that I preach regularly. In the midst of it, I began to see how sometimes the most loving thing to do in the midst of suffering, the most redemptive and compassionate thing, is to leave a situation. The key to that is, it cannot be about us when we do. We cannot demand our rights, pound our fists, and throw a temper tantrum. I pray that my intentions were pure in this. Who knows besides Jesus.
And I see how many times in my life, Jesus has allowed me to wander so that I might be closer to Him. He has taken a step back and allowed me to enter into the painful places of my own demise so that I might be redeemed. He has been gracious enough to allow me to learn.
And I hope that for Rachel and myself...that through this pain, we might learn.
I don't know. It was hard/is hard. Sometimes the best things in life are also difficult (not always, but it seems to be a running gag in my life anyway).
Just so you know, the official reason is poor communication. We just seemed to keep missing each other when we talked. And we seemed to communicate things with our actions that didn't line up with our words. And we heard things that were not the intention of the other.
The truth is this: I always wanted the best for Rachel. Throughout our time together, several people told me that I needed to stick it out, and that of course touched on my own fears of lack of commitment, but I trust that this really was in her best interest. I desire for her to be more like Christ, and feel that the best place to do that might not be in this relationship.
Sunday night I preached on suffering. It's never a fun topic, but seems to be one that I preach regularly. In the midst of it, I began to see how sometimes the most loving thing to do in the midst of suffering, the most redemptive and compassionate thing, is to leave a situation. The key to that is, it cannot be about us when we do. We cannot demand our rights, pound our fists, and throw a temper tantrum. I pray that my intentions were pure in this. Who knows besides Jesus.
And I see how many times in my life, Jesus has allowed me to wander so that I might be closer to Him. He has taken a step back and allowed me to enter into the painful places of my own demise so that I might be redeemed. He has been gracious enough to allow me to learn.
And I hope that for Rachel and myself...that through this pain, we might learn.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Evangelism [cont]
So, again from my readings today...found it HIGHLY encouraging
In any case, when I think of the act by which I should enter the Church as something concrete, which might happen quite soon, nothing gives me more pain than the idea of separating myself from the immense and unfortunate multitude of unbelievers. I have the essential need, and I think I can say vocation, to move among men of every class and complexion, mixing with them and sharing their life and outlook, so far that is to say as conscience allows, merging into the crowd and disappearing among them, so that they show themselves as they are, putting off all disguises with me. It is because I long to know them so as to love them just as they are. For if I do not love them as they are, it will not be they whom I love, and my love will be unreal. I do not speak of helping them, because as far as that goes I am unfortunately quite incapable of doing anything as yet.
How much truth is there in the statement, "For if I do not love them as they are..." The beauty of the love of Christ should overflow from me, and people should be seen as they are, made in the image of God.
We must learn to acknowledge the faith that IS present, as opposed to challenging any absence of faith. God is present in everyone, and is present everywhere. It is our job, then, as partners WITH Him to reveal His presence in the places where He already resides. And this is done only through genuine love for another.
go forth into the activity of this day as companion of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen
In any case, when I think of the act by which I should enter the Church as something concrete, which might happen quite soon, nothing gives me more pain than the idea of separating myself from the immense and unfortunate multitude of unbelievers. I have the essential need, and I think I can say vocation, to move among men of every class and complexion, mixing with them and sharing their life and outlook, so far that is to say as conscience allows, merging into the crowd and disappearing among them, so that they show themselves as they are, putting off all disguises with me. It is because I long to know them so as to love them just as they are. For if I do not love them as they are, it will not be they whom I love, and my love will be unreal. I do not speak of helping them, because as far as that goes I am unfortunately quite incapable of doing anything as yet.
How much truth is there in the statement, "For if I do not love them as they are..." The beauty of the love of Christ should overflow from me, and people should be seen as they are, made in the image of God.
We must learn to acknowledge the faith that IS present, as opposed to challenging any absence of faith. God is present in everyone, and is present everywhere. It is our job, then, as partners WITH Him to reveal His presence in the places where He already resides. And this is done only through genuine love for another.
go forth into the activity of this day as companion of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen
Monday, April 21, 2008
Evangelism
So I preached last night. You can download it here
In the midst of the sermon, I realized that I have done a disservice to people around me who don't know Jesus, and that sucks. I have presented a truth claim to them without presenting Jesus; a way of thought without Jesus. It has been about being right, and not about the way of reconciliation.
In that process, I have begun to realize this morning that what has been missing is love. Do I truly care about those around me who are hurting and desperately need Jesus, or am I more concerned about adherence to a thought system?
It is my hope to show people the love that Christ has for me. And to be filled with compassion.
So, here is my aim: to live in such a way that my encounter with the love of Jesus is evident to all. I must sacrifice my ideology for love. And I must sacrifice my feelings of comfort for the reconciliation of others.
I must publicly live out the love of Christ for me.
"Another picture that our Lord loves to use is that of the shepherd who goes out to look for the sheep that is lost (Mt. 18:12). So long as we imagine that it is we who have to look for God, then we must often lose heart. But it is the other way about: he is looking for us. And so we can afford to recognise that very often we are not looking for God; far from it, we are in full flight from him, in high rebellion against him. And he knows that and ahs taken it into account. He has followed us into our own darkness; there where we thought finally to escape him, we run straight into his arms."
In the midst of the sermon, I realized that I have done a disservice to people around me who don't know Jesus, and that sucks. I have presented a truth claim to them without presenting Jesus; a way of thought without Jesus. It has been about being right, and not about the way of reconciliation.
In that process, I have begun to realize this morning that what has been missing is love. Do I truly care about those around me who are hurting and desperately need Jesus, or am I more concerned about adherence to a thought system?
It is my hope to show people the love that Christ has for me. And to be filled with compassion.
So, here is my aim: to live in such a way that my encounter with the love of Jesus is evident to all. I must sacrifice my ideology for love. And I must sacrifice my feelings of comfort for the reconciliation of others.
I must publicly live out the love of Christ for me.
"Another picture that our Lord loves to use is that of the shepherd who goes out to look for the sheep that is lost (Mt. 18:12). So long as we imagine that it is we who have to look for God, then we must often lose heart. But it is the other way about: he is looking for us. And so we can afford to recognise that very often we are not looking for God; far from it, we are in full flight from him, in high rebellion against him. And he knows that and ahs taken it into account. He has followed us into our own darkness; there where we thought finally to escape him, we run straight into his arms."
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