Getting Up In Each Other’s Business!

Christian accountability is a touchy subject these days.  It is an especially touchy subject for me because I spent six and a half years of my life in a Christian Church that was, by all social standards, very unhealthy (bordering on “cultish”, if it wasn’t in fact a full-blown Christian cult).  Accountability in that church looked like life-control more than sin-elimination.

But sin-elimination is the point.  Our motives are extremely important and so are the results.  I think the means take a back-seat to the motives and the results.  Just take a look at Phil Jackson, the coach of the Lakers.  Here is a guy whose methods and means are quite unusual.  He had the Lakers visualizing themselves as frogs on lillypads before game 4 of the NBA Finals!  Those methods are not questioned but imitated, because he has gotten results.  10 NBA championships speak for themself.

Now let’s refocus on the idea of sin-elimination with another metaphor.  A friend of mine does not believe in spanking her child.  I understand that.  No one but a sicko enjoys the actual act of spanking a child.  However, I get pleasure in disciplining my sons for the sake of their character and moral development.  That is the hoped-for result.  The motive is love, plain and simple.  (I am not suggesting my friend does not love her children, don’t get me wrong.  I think we disagree on the eventual character of disciplined children who receive the “rod” and those who do not.)

Now to the main point.  John Wesley was God’s gift to His Church in that he established SMALL GROUP MINISTRY for the sake of developing disciples.  Most large and successful churches around the world employ small groups as a huge part of their church life and practice.  They are used for discipleship, Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and other essentials of Christian growth.  As he and George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards road the wave of the First Great Awakening, he understood that something would have to be done to receive and develop the huge numbers of Christian converts into mature Christian believers.  He established class, band, and society meetings–SMALL GROUPS.

At a class meeting, recent converts would be asked 5 penetrating questions:

1.  What known sins have you committed since our last meeting?

2.  What temptations have you met with?

3.  Were you delivered?

4.  What have you thought, said, or done which you question whether was sin or not?

5.  Have you nothing you desire to keep secret?

WOW!  Can you imagine the fidgeting and nervous laughter taking place at those meetings?  Some people today would call that an abusive invasion of privacy.  Would you?  I believe that Wesley’s motives were to see a HOLY, sinless group of people.  Did he achieve that?  By all accounts, YES!  The Methodist Church exploded in numbers and converts in Great Britain and the US and around the world.  The resulting piety of the British lower classes has been widely understood to have prevented a political revolution similar to the one that bloodied France in the late 1700’s.  Innumerable hospitals, churches, schools, and humanitarian agencies were spawned in the centuries following.  I could go on.

Anyway, could we handle that kind of strict accountability?  Should we call for that again?  Was that methodology for another age and culture?  I am not sure.  Whaddaya think?

What are your big “YESSES”?

Stephen Covey, in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, talks about the need to operate out of a principled center. More important than being centered on good things like spouse, job, friends, pleasures, or any extrinsic factor, or even yourself is to be centered on correct principles. Such a focus on principles keeps us from being reactive to the impulses and circumstances of a given situation. A focus/center on principles helps us navigate between all the choices before us in the day. We always say “yes” and “no” to a thousand things during the day. Will we finish the day having said “Yes” to the correct things? That’s the question.
Covey follows with the emphasis on a personal mission statement. The personal mission statement for our family is this:
Jesus is the center of our lives and his goodness, truth, and love channel through our core values of Discipline (choosing the good over quick, easy, or indulgent), Uniqueness (celebrating each person’s talents and strengths), Communication (respectful, loving, and listening), Togetherness (having fun as a family), and Service (to God, each other, and the world).
I am searching for a cool mag-wheel or rim of some sort with 5 spokes or channels that could be a helpful visual aid to teach and remind us all. I want to illustrate to the boys that when we hold the wheel at its center it spins properly. But if our focus and grip goes someplace other than to the center (which is Jesus), the wheel doesn’t work right.
Anyway, if you see a cool one the next time you are rummaging through a junk yard, let me know.
Love ya!

Prayer Stations

This week we are beginning Prayer Stations at LLG’s Prayer Night (Thursday nights) (see www.lightandlifegoleta.org for more details).

Here’s the format for this week:

We are going to have four stations available for prayer.  The four stations will be Global Concerns, Local Churches, LLG Concerns, Personal Concerns (including all manner of healing).  At the altar, the Lord’s Table will be prepared for those who wish to partake.  I will be there to facilitate the giving of that sacrament.  One or two elders will be available at the Personal Concerns area to pray and anoint with oil whosoever might request that.

There will be no facilitator when you come in (althought I will be giving directions for the first few weeks, presumably, until we get the hang of it).  At each prayer station, however, there will be an altar of sorts, where prayer station sponsors will decorate and prepare the areas with appropriate icons, candles, photos, maps, that will assist prayers.  Also, each table will have a small piece of paper with specific prayer concerns and appropriate Scripture passages.  The pews will be arranged in a semi-circle around each prayer station.  People are encouraged to pray in any appropriate Biblical posture they choose (kneeling, prostrate, standing, arms raised, seated, etc.).  There will be soft, worshipful music playing throughout the time.

Tracey and I (and many others) are really looking forward to this chapter in our church’s life.  Prayer has been stirring in our church for several months now and this is a very appropriate next step as we see it.  I am particularly grateful to Deb H. who saw such a clear vision for the prayer stations and really helped it come to pass with her encouragement.  Hope to see you there!

No more ostrich necks in the sand!

I read something recently that I really like.  The writer says the following: “Salvation comes to those who recognize their unworthiness.  Unless you are unworthy, you cannot be saved.  Rewards come to those who are recognized for their worthiness.  Unless you are worthy, you will not be rewarded….If there really is a payoff in heaven that holds implications for Eternity, how important is it to prepare for the computation?”

Here’s how I processed this: I think that good works must flow out of a “baseline” sense of self-worth and self-confidence.  If we don’t think that we have something to contribute, then we shouldn’t waste anyone else’s time.

So much of my life has been about stirring up good works (giving, serving, feeding, helping, preaching, etc.)  for the sake of a pat on the back from God or those around me whose approval I seek.  It rarely came from that “PURE PLACE” of doing it because I wanted to.  As I have realized more of my self-worth over the years I have come to enjoy and appreciate me not as I please people, but as I just am.

Now here comes the theological part.  If God has rewards with Him that He plans to bestow on his servants, isn’t it a good thing to confidently and robustly pursue those things?    I ran a marathon in 2006 and I would have never finished the race if I didn’t experience joy and confidence before and even during the endeavor.  I ran hoping to finish well.  And I did!

We can’t have a dark cloud overhanging our works of service and giving as unto God.  We must do it with joy and zeal and confidence.  God wouldn’t accept anything less!  No more ostrich necks in the sand!

WOW… Psalm 121

1 I look up to the hills. Where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord. He is the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He won’t let your foot slip. He who watches over you won’t get tired.

4 In fact, he who watches over Israel won’t get tired or go to sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you. The Lord is like a shade tree at your right hand.

6 The sun won’t harm you during the day. The moon won’t harm you during the night.

7 The Lord will keep you from every kind of harm. He will watch over your life.

8 The Lord will watch over your life no matter where you go, both now and forever.

My greatest day of surfing

OK, OK.  I don’t think that anything about my surfing can be described as “great”, but I had a GREAT day of surfing yesterday at Refugio Beach.  Refugio is a great place for a beginner like myself to learn.  It is a gentle beach with mostly sand and the surfers there are easy-going and very accepting of a novice like mwa.  I usually strike up a conversation with someone in the water and ask them for tips on catching a wave, such as where to place myself on the board and where a good place is to position myself in the water as the waves come in.  I have received a lot of good advice and every single bit of it helps!

So yesterday I have been out there struggling around and missing out on lots of waves because I can’t catch them or I am out of position or something…and then in rolls a nice 3 foot wave.  I am, by sheer luck, in the perfect position to catch the wave and I catch it.  I am moving along with the current of the wave and I focus on my balance as I make the preliminary moves to stand up.  I stand up and surf this puppy for about 150 yards (There is a nice long break at Refugio)…all the way into the shore!

One thing I noticed when riding the wave was a completely new sound I had never heard before.  It was the sound of a board cutting through water!  All my short surfing life I have heard the sound of a washing-machine-like gurgle of waves crashing around my ears.  That is a constant sound, but yesterday I actually heard a swoosh-type sound–the likes of which I have only heard sailing.

So, understandably, when I hop off the board I do a Tigeresque fist pump and look to see if Tracey saw it (I think she’s napping in the van).  BUT NO MATTER!

I have been breaking into smiles or outright laughter every time I think about it.  I have not been this athletically delighted in decades!  I caught a serious wave!!  Alright, that’s the end of my story.  If you haven’t guessed by now, I am HOOKED, baby!

The Church as “salt shaker”

I wanted to put some more salt on the lima beans.  They really needed it.  (Whenever I cook, people seem to need a lot of seasonings…I don’t get it!).  Anyway, I realized something about salt.  It will quickly go bad if you pour the whole thing out over food.  You must keep it dry and separate (in a salt shaker) if you want it to retain its quality and be effective.

The church is like that.  It is meant to be separate from society and culture, and stand in witness to it.  Losing our distinctiveness and separateness (think “holy”) would be to lose our ultimate effectiveness and purpose.  We must be the church as holy and separate and in witness to culture SO THAT we will retain our effectiveness as salt and light when poured out and sprinkled in and among the prevailing culture.

Some go too far in their retreat from society, and in their justification to be “holy”.  For them, holiness means separateness to the point of withdrawal from society.  That loses “mission”.  What good is the salt shaker if it remains in the cupboard forever?  It, too, will go bad eventually and never accomplish the purpose of its design.

Let’s stay in balance with a proper theology of the church as “salt-shaker”.

The 5-Fold Ministry

The 5-Fold Ministry in Today’s Church

I think the Free Methodists in Southern California are functioning in 5-fold ministry better than we realize. The church (universally) has been reticent to title ministers as “apostles” and “prophets” and “evangelists”, but so was Paul (1 Cor. 15:9). These offices are especially honorable. We should recognize that with respect and humility. The essential aspect of 5-fold ministry is not, however, who gets called what. It is that the work of God is being done as he designed it. Are churches being planted and overseen with God-given authority? Are prophetic voices given a voice to speak and be heard? Are pastors (like Timothy—2 Tim.4:5) and leaders free to do the work of an evangelist and so fulfill their ministry?

We must keep in mind that we are living in the age of the missional church. We are not only a holy community—that is seemingly what the Jews were called to—exclusively so. When that is our exclusive goal we can quickly become a religious enclave and eventually die. God at first called out a nation—Israel—to be holy and separate unto him. They were called to be a unique witness to his ways/nature in being the recipients of His acts of deliverance and in their holy conduct (Ex 19:4-6, Num 14:13-14). Now, through Christ, God has created a church and given her a mission. The church is different from the holy nation, and for its mission the Lord has distributed ministerial offices. Clearly the New Testament gives evidence that apostles (men and women, not limited to the 12) and prophets and evangelists are ministry offices given to the church as gifts to edify and build the church (Eph.4:11-13). A metaphor…

Imagine a tall, sailing ship. You have never seen one before but are told to board it and begin your mission. You have no idea what to do! The mission-giver (God) realizes this and so he commissions a captain (apostle), a first mate (prophet), a quartermaster (pastor), a boatswain (teacher), and perhaps a lookout up in the crow’s nest with an eye fixed outward and around the ship (evangelist). These officers help train the crew, maintain the health of the ship, and set the course. The ship may then effectively engage in her mission. No one would deny that these are vital positions. Now to the extent that the crew becomes familiar with sailing they will eventually be able to sail the ship by themselves…but only to a point! While the crew, the ship, and even the fish in the sea are important, the mission has priority. Without these five offices functioning properly and maintaining the mission with serious commitment, one could imagine disaster is imminent.

What does this look like in the church context today? It looks like new works of God, like church plants, missions, and creative ministries to needy people. Prophetic voices are those that are unafraid and courageous, speaking words of challenge, edification, comfort, correction. Evangelists are those effectively engaged in fresh and relevant ways of reaching the lost.

Finally, pastoral leadership in all churches must be accountable to apostolic and prophetic leadership, who keep us on our mission. These offices form the foundation of all churches. The apostles and prophets are God’s first “balance of powers”.

A truly SUPER Sunday

Here is why I love sports…(and it’s not because the Super Bowl was a great game either).  Yesterday after church we went over to Stow Grove park for a goodbye party for Nathan K.  Nathan is heading to Germany and we’ll miss him.  Anyway, after some food it was suggested that we play some touch football.  We had a great game!

Here are my MVP’s

Defensive MVP (Dick Butkus award)…Becky Hunter

Prolific Passer …Sam Hahka

Barry Sanders award for toughest little guy to tackle…Ben Hoffmann

The Jerry Rice clutch hands award…Katie Hahka and Elijah Walton

Longest run of the day (mostly in her own backfield, but still great)…Anna Hoffmann

Here’s how it came down to the wire.  The game is tied 35-35.  We agree that the next score wins the game.  The game really goes up a notch in competitiveness.  We turn it over on downs.  They turn it over on downs.  We get the ball back and have 4th down with half the field to go.  Elijah sneaks behind big Pete Hoffmann and catches the game winning TD.  YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HIS FACE.  This young man of 8 years old could not suppress that grin for anything.  Clearly the highlight of the day.  You should have seen it.

A Quick Testimony

Tracey and I are driving to Las Vegas on Monday, January 26th, where I am going to address the boys volleyball team at Desert Pines High School near downtown at 2:00.  I am really looking forward to addressing these guys with my story and encouraging them with some of the lessons both practical and spiritual that helped me transform as an athlete and a person…and a tire blows out.

Fortunately, we made it off the freeway just fine.  (Thank you, Lord)  But, of course, we were three hours late getting to LV and had to cancel the speaking engagement.  One of my first thoughts was, “Why did you let this happen, God?  You know what a great thing it would have been for me to speak to these guys!”  And just as soon as the thought was finished, I (or the Lord) reminded me of yesterday’s message and asking the wrong questions.  The “Why did you let this happen, God?” question is no longer relevant when we consider his WILL in light of his NATURE.

God’s nature is Triune.  He gives himself in agape love to Jesus and the Holy Spirit and that is reciprocated/initiated throughout eternity.  That is the first assumption.  No longer is my mental starting point GOD’S OMNIPOTENT POWER AND WILL OVER THE UNIVERSE!  I certainly believe that He is omnipotent and that he is the sovereign power over all others, BUT that power is conditioned by self-giving love in relationship with the Trinity.  The amazing thing is that God has invited you and me into this relationship of self-giving love and that is the starting point…our first assumption.

So, when my tire blew out, the first question I should have asked was, “How would you lovingly relate in this situation, Jesus?  That would have brought me peace and not stress and a search for opportunities to serve up a plate of God’s true love to whomever might come along (the AAA guy, the tire guy, etc.?).  People could leave their encounter with me thinking, “Wow, he wasn’t stressed/pissed/angry at all.  In fact, he was just the opposite”.  To tell you the truth, that kind of happened.  Let’s continue to encourage one another in this new way of thinking, which I believe is closer to God’s heart and nature than ways most of us are accustomed.