Archive for June, 2008

30
Jun

“Disciples, making disciples to change our world.” pt 1

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Church Plant

One of the most imporant thoughts you will wrestle with when starting a church is why you exist.  It should be as simple and reproducible as possible.  Everyone person should understand what you do, what you ask of them, and what they can exspect from you.

Our goal at Graceland is to be “disciples, making disciples to change our world.”  Very simple, “be – make – go,” and we like it that way.  Although, we are still working with the grammer and sentence structure we are keeping with the base thought.

Over the next three post I breakdown these three actions that make up our foundation of who we are.

We are responsible to be disciples:

To be a disciple of Christ means to live in the “if” of his calling.  As people followed Jesus he began to use the language of “you’re my disciple if…”  And He redefined commitment. “You’re my disciple if you love one another.”  “You’re my disciple if you bear fruit.”  “You’re my disciple if you take up your cross, deny yourself, and follow me.”  Jesus came proclaiming truth, teaching truth, and being truth.  A disciple of Christ is one who believes his truth, rest on his sacrifice, absorbs his presence, and imitates his example. As disciples we strive to proclaim, teach, and live out His truth in authentic relationships with others.  Jesus explained that disciples are supposed to be salt and light in culture.  We are not to cluster in our buildings, defending ourselves from evil.  Instead we are to use our minds to embrace the truth and dialogue with those searching for it.  To do this we strive to have a knowledge and appreciation of the culture’s movies, books, music, etc., in order to understand the culture’s hopes, dreams, stories, and fears.  So, we can show people that only Jesus can fulfill their greatest desires.  We believe discipleship is a journey and the best possible way to live.

I would love some of your thoughts and feedback.

24
Jun

Paper Pusher

By Chris 2 Comments
Categories: Random

I want to write, but can’t find the words.
I want to create, but no color is appealing.
I want to sing, but have no voice.
I want to run, but can’t find my speed.
I want to shout, but no one would hear.

I’m having one of those days when I just want to be active, not busy-.  Apart of planting a church sometimes means working bi-vocationally.  I’ve been living in these two worlds for eight years and days like these are common.  I don’t want to sit in an office; I want to be with people.  I want to study scripture in a coffee shop, surround myself with possibilities, listen to live music, jog with neighbors (or better my wife), and want to feel the joy of helping someone hear God.  I want to be in ministry, not behind a desk pushing paper…too much pushing paper.

23
Jun

Life Group

By Chris 3 Comments
Categories: Church Plant

Graceland will start in a home. If you’ve followed my blog long you probably assumed that much, but I’m just beginning to accept it.  For some reason I assumed the leadership would meet in a home until the church launched (whatever that really means) and a church born.  However, we are submitting to Him and truly believing God is going “old school” with us.  Someday (hopeful April 2009) we will meet in a larger location but for now we will be a home church.  This is nothing new, this is how the early church began (Acts 2:42, 44, 46-47, 5:42; Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:19; Col. 4:15).

The most exciting part of starting in our home is that it will be a Life Group (our form of a small group).  Starting a small group with other Christians is a fairly routine matter, but attempting to begin one with unchristian or de-churched people can seem overwhelming.  But we are not approaching this as people with all the answers – Jesus has those answers.  Augustine once wrote, ‘God is He who gives God,’ and we realize that we cannot give God but we can demonstrate openness and humility, creating a space where God can give God.  So we’re simply created a space where it is safe to ask deep questions and as a group, with the Bible as our source, find some answers.  We will not cheapen million-dollar questions with ten-cent answers.  The views expressed and the beliefs shared will run deep and cannot be altered with easy answers. But if we can be people who are open to God at all times and encourage others in this way of being – we will help to produce a clearing where God is free to give God.

Here is some attributes we hope are found in Life Group:

  • The person of Jesus is intriguing to people.
  • Learn to accept love and show love for others (John 13.35).
  • Jesus found in the gospel and the lives of believers (John 20.31).
  • The Holy Spirit is the pressure, not us (John 10.3).
  • Appreciation for the Bible is increased (Heb 4.12).
  • People feel they belong to something bigger than themselves.
  • Prayer becomes captivating and absorbed.
  • Natural place to invite friends, relatives, and work associates.
  • Future Graceland leadership birthed.

Please be in prayer for us this week.  Friday, June 27th from 7-8:30pm we will have our first official Life Group.  It’s very exciting and overwhelming – I’m so honored God would use us and our home.

18
Jun

Malachi

By Chris 1 Comment
Categories: Faith and Random

My birthday is coming next week.  Last year when I turned thirty, I made a vow to read through the Bible in a year.  It’s easier said then done, but something I plan to do again this year.  I finished the Old Testament today with Malachi – the last prophet from God before Christ enters the scene.  The way I read through the Bible allowed me to read OT books that shared common people and places.  If you’re familiar with Malachi you know about 500 years before Christ, exiles from Israel returned to finish the temple encouraged by Haggai and Zechariah (both OT prophets you can read).  Around 457 B.C. Ezra the priest arrives with thousand more Jews to assist in the project.  Ezra was commissioned by King Artaxerxes of Persia (remember that name) to make sure the temple worship was developed and the Law of Moses was being obeyed (Ezra 7:17-26).

Just about twelve years after Ezra, King Artaxerxes sent his own cupbearer, Nehemiah back to supervise the building of the wall of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 6:15).  He also implemented social and religious restoration. During Nehemiah’s absence, returning to the Persian King in 433 B.C. the Jews again fell into sin. When he returned he found that the tithe had been broken, the Sabbath profaned, intermarriage promoted and the priesthood corrupted. (Nehemiah 13:7-31) Malachi echo’s these sins in his writing.

Malachi is an eye opener for people.  Here are people who are playing dumb.  God is calling for them to be in or out, blessed or cursed.  Stop acting like you don’t know what you’re doing.  They are giving their leftovers to God and asking for His best. His message is an encouragement to discouraged and disillusioned people to not break with God.  It’s a motivation to faith and obedience.   There is a blessing reserved for those who don’t go through the motions (religion) but begin to do God’s will and love the Lord with all their being (inside and outside).

I liked Malachi over the other prophets because it was more logical than poetic — more like a legal defense than an oracle.

So my mission ends with Malachi and his message of faithfulness which is the basis of the New Testament as well.  It also ends with the promise of Elijah the prophet being sent to return community and judgment.  Elijah’s return is a recurring theme in the New Testament. 

I look forward to starting again in July!

17
Jun

How To Be Saved

By Chris 1 Comment
Categories: Faith

Recently, I’ve been apart of conversations that beg the question if Jesus is the only way to eternal award (heaven, etc). The question is always phrased different but the issue the same.  I’m not going to talk about life after death. I am going to talk about the larger question: Why We Need Christ. 

When someone asks the question if Christ is the only way, they have assumed we need God to free us from something.  But from what – the answer is sin.  So the thought here is “I know I have a problem, and need help, so as long as I’m following God (whoever He is) wouldn’t I get to the same result?” Yes, if that God views sin and redeeming the same.  The problem is that each major religion views sin (the reason we need God) in completely different ways.  And these different views are equally diverse among practicing Christians.  

The most general way to define Sin is an act that violates a moral rule, or the state of having committed such a violation.  Generally, Sin is anything that is considered prohibited or considered wrong.  So any thought, word, or act considered immoral, shameful, harmful, or alienating might be termed “sinful.” 

Here lays the problem – what actions does God (whoever God is) define as sin and how do we obtain salvation, deliverance, rescue, or escape?  Let’s look at how religions view sin and elude of sin. 

  • Buddhist believe in karma (good deeds produce good results while bad deeds produce bad results). Salvation is achieved by stopping suffering (yours & others).
  • Judaism holds that sin is what you do; not who you are (sinful). Salvation doesn’t come through animal sacrifice but through repentance and prayer alone (1 Samuel 15.22; Hosea 6.6; Psalm 51.17). 
  • Christians view sin as not following God’s moral guidance, violating the contract between you and God, thus savoring the relationship between people and God.  All Christians agree that sin serves as a barrier to one having a complete relationship with God (John 3.16).  Salvation is viewed in terms of reconciliation and a genuine relationship with Christ (Romans 6.23).
  • Islam (Muslim) views sin as anything that goes against the will of Allah (God).  Islam, like Judaism, teaches that sin is an act and not a state of being.  Sin is atoned by repentance and compensation if possible, feeding the poor, freeing slaves to even stoning to death or cutting hands.  It’s said that for every good deed that is done, ten bad ones (sins) will be taken off (Qur’an 11.114).
  • Bahai consider humans as naturally good, fundamentally spiritual beings.  Their teachings compare the human heart to a mirror if turned away from the light of the sun (i.e. God), is incapable of receiving God’s love.  In this sense, sin is to follow the inclinations of one’s own lower nature, to turn the mirror of one’s heart away from God and toward one’s self (self-serving).
  • Hinduism, sin is often used to describe actions that create negative karma by violating moral and ethical codes this differs from other religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam in the sense that sin is against the will of God.  Sin is an intentional transgression of divine law and is not viewed in Hinduism as a crime against God, but rather as an act against dharma, or moral order and one’s own self.   

Here is the problem with religion – religion equals saving one’s self.  Any of the above religions views “salvation,” or escape from “wrong behavior,” as something you do.  You read that correctly, that includes Christianity, because Jesus didn’t teach this view of sin and salvation.   

Here is what Jesus taught.  He taught if you’ve seen him you’ve seen the Father (God of Abraham). We are not perfect and need a savior (more than a teacher).  We can never do enough to earn salvation, create harmony for ourselves or others, all our sacrifices and repentance will never make us right before a perfect God.  Nothing we do, no matter how many times we give will bring us closer to God.  We are no mirror image of God, nor capable of receiving God’s love on our own.  We are flawed.  We need Jesus completely God and completely man to be our mediator before God. 

I accept Jesus as Lord and Savior!  I don’t do enough to earn salvation or cause good for others. The God of Moses demands perfection and I failure.  How can I throw a stone or remove a limb of a person who is no worse than me?  I am not fundamentally good and often serve myself. 

Last, if salvation can come through being “virtuous,” following the rules, ensue teachers, or being good to myself – than I give.  Life, Faith, Hope most be bigger than any about me.

13
Jun

Amos on Justice

By Chris 1 Comment
Categories: Church Plant, Ethics and Faith

My mind is thinking on “justice” a lot today. In part because a close friend of mine is interviewing for a leadership position with Samaritan’s Purse this afternoon. Scott has influenced my view of God’s ongoing presence in the world. He is passionate about relieving suffering and fighting injustice, joining the God of the oppressed. He has encouraged my view that Graceland should be a compelling force for good in the world, and it will be at its best when it serves, sacrifices, and loves, caring about the things God cares about.

The other reason “justice” has been on my mind is because of the photo connected to a previous post – “Sunday Rest.” If you look close you will see the Bible opened to Amos. If you’ve never read the book of Amos then buy some Charmin tissue, fill your pants for padding, because you’re going to get spanked. I just recently read that whole book and thought “I have missed the point of following God for thirty years!” Even more, I have gone about pastoral leadership wrong. Read the book of Amos and for dramatic effect use The Message version of the Bible. It leaves little room for interpretation of the writer’s intent. For example, take Amos 5:21-24 (Message):

“I can’t stand your religious meetings.
I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.
I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.
I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
I want justice-oceans of it.
I want fairness-rivers of it.
That’s what I want. That’s all I want.

Your “bum” sore? God is very serious about justice and impolite in his passion for the poor! Read Amos and you find yourself asking what are we supposed to do with God’s anger. Because the direct content of Amos does not fit my image of a loving God. And though I’m puzzled, I’m not fool enough to disregard the warning. The Almighty is furious and boiling about how the weak are victimized. While we may not know exactly how to respond, try reading these and other biblical judgments and coming away unconvinced about the need to respond, the need to do something!

Question for you. How do you respond to Amos? Because running to conferences, starting church projects, and raising money for image is not going to cut it with God! What do we do with Amos? I would love to hear some comments.

12
Jun

Jesus Probably Rode Dinosaurs

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Random

09
Jun

Beginnings

By Chris 1 Comment
Categories: Family

We had a great evening Friday night!  Some of you may not know but Summer and I have been talking with a lot of people since March about starting a new Christian community in South Austin that will evolve into Graceland.  It’s been exciting hearing from people who don’t presently have a place of worship but have faith or desire Christian faith and a community to worship with.

So we decided to gather these people together and start the conversation.  Friday night was our first time to gather six adults to simply be friends.  We ate hamburgers, talked about life, play games, and ended the night asking everyone to join us in a Life Group (our small group).  The cool part, due to schedules, we will officially start our group on June 27th – my birthday.  I couldn’t think of a better gift then to see the birth of a community, fellowship, and church on my 31st birthday.

Here is what I imagine we become.  A people who desire to retell the story of Christ through our lives. Who seek to adjust our lives around the life, mission, and teachings of Jesus Christ in the hopes that our experience will bring into clear focus this real and living Person to anyone watching. Not a place to go, but a people to belong to–a people who have been called to live out the Good News of God’s Kingdom in every niche of culture. Ultimately, create a unique sort of church where none existed before.

We’ve decide to start a church (i.e. Graceland) and approach it simple – by living out the gospel in our marketplace community and begin to draw a group of people from our local coffee shop, music venues, and markets to discuss what Jesus meant by the kingdom of God. As time passes this group will grow and become much more. This will not be where we go to church. It will be our life, our friends, and the people we are on mission with.

If you’re reading this and live in Austin or feel God leading you to Austin we hope you join us!

08
Jun

Sunday Rest

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Faith, Family, Music and Politics

Sundays growing up meant work, not rest. Every Sunday morning without fail we got up earlier, normally ate cinnamon rolls or cinnamon toast, and made it to church for Sunday school. I hated Sundays as a child because not only did I get up early but I had to wear “Sunday clothes.” Now this was before children’s church so I sat through Sunday school and then the morning message. Okay, so I didn’t sit, I normally slept lying on the pew – but those stained glass windows will forever be engraved in my mind. We normally went to lunch at service with my grandparents and then home for a short nap, because the Sunday night service started at six o’clock sharp. I liked the evening service better because I could wear jeans and play outside unless it was a revival and my mom felt I needed reviving.

I say all this because it wasn’t rest, it was busy. Today my family went to a casual service, afterward Tatum took at nap, and we played in the backyard. I made a homemade Slip n’ Slide in the backyard. And as I lied on my stomach on the wet plastic playing with my daughter I thought – This Is Rest! This is what Sundays were made for and I think I saw Jesus smiling when my daughter giggled.

Summer called it Slip n’ Slide Sunday – I liked to think of it as REST.

05
Jun

I Stole This!

By Chris 0 Comments
Categories: Faith

When I say I stole, I actually mean I borrowed this from someone elses blog. Thanks Chris, and you can pass that on to Trey, who can pass it on to Tony.

I do have to ask this question of all my readers out there, “Where are the Artists!!”

7 Reasons Why the Church Needs Artists

1//Only through art can we know God more fully. A person encounters God as an artist before he encounters him as a theologian. We have reduced God’s primary interests to truth and goodness. We must remember that beauty is a primary of interest of his.

2//We must see God’s world more truthfully. Only seeing one theme is insufficient. Artists must help people see both the brokenness and the promise of renewal.

3//We must embrace God’s salvation more completely. Art as morality dictates that we should create more than just “religious” art. Everything is to be redeemed. Everything is worthy of artistic representation.

4//We must worship God more humanly. Because of the image of God, humans make art. Humans create. No other organism on earth does.

5//We must believe God’s promises more confidently. We are blinded to the glory that is here now. With art, you encourage and enlarge hearts to believe the impossible.

6//We must proclaim God’s kingdom more powerfully. Truth has bigger muscles in art.

7//We need to meet God. The primary place where we experience God is in our imagination–the intersection of our mind, emotions and will.

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