Tonight was our annual church business meeting. In the midst of preaching, praying, breaking bread, and returning praise to the King, I clearly heard one word: "HERE." But this little word requires a larger context.
1)Tonight- Grades were due today at work, but thankfully mine have been up to date all semester. My plan was to call the parents of every student earning an "F" and have a meaningful conversation about barriers to student success, strategies and supports available, and develop an action plan to get each kid back on track. I was at work calling families until well after 4 o'clock. Then, instead of spending 45 minutes at the gym, I drove to the park and took a nap in my car. That's where my heart was when I showed up at "State of the Church."
2) Was- This entire story settles into the fresh past tense, newly written.
3) Our- I'm part of the "newlife" tribe in Kitsap county (and now expanding to Pierce and Mason counties...) Tonight's gathering included many local compassion organizations that are living out the Gospel. I reconnected with friends from all walks of life, bringing the Kingdom of Heaven into our own hurting community and the larger global community. Ridiculously beautiful.
4) Annual- Newlife is 10 years old. I've been "on the mission", identifying with this part of God's family for 4 years now. I love how we celebrate what God has done in our community. And thinking about everything God has done in the last year... WOW! God is so good. He is so faithful. He is outrageous.
5) Church- It's not just about newlife, at all. The Church is Christ's Bride. Together, we carry His truth to new places. Together we speak Life and Healing. Newlife itself meets at 4 locations already, with a fifth launching this Easter and other churches in the works. My dear friend who sat next to me tonight worships God weekly at another church. Together, we serve the same Good King. I love how God brings together people from every corner of life. I love church!
6) Business- I usually have strong opinions about business (ie. money). Tonight, though, it was obvious that the business of newlife is the business of the Church. We are all called to become the Church. We've been tasked by the Savior to usher His Kingdom to Earth. We get to be part of His mission. We get to see the world healed. We get to see Kitsap transformed with the Gospel. We get to see nations healed. We get to rejoice in His victory. THAT is the business of the Church. We are called to dark places because we carry the LIGHT.
7) Meeting- The very air is electric when thousands join together in worship. There's a reason that the first disciples devoted themselves to prayer. There's a reason they broke bread together. There's a reason they shared their belongings. There's a reason they worshipped the King in everything. They knew Him. They saw Christ reflected in each other. That's why we still meet. That's how fellowship restores warriors, weary from battle. That's why meeting cannot be neglected.
That is the context of tonight's fresh history.
Towards the end of the meeting, my heart was full with rejoicing. Pastor after pastor shared heart and vision for the Church. Not just newlife, but the Church. Story after story of redemption. Conversations flooded with hope for the redemption of Kitsap, the community rooted as home. Mention after mention of West Africa, where my heart longs for.
So,
I'm standing during a worship song. Praying and singing. My heart is pulled to prepare for my trip to Burkina Faso, trusting that is where God is telling me to go. My heart longs to see work in Kitsap come to completion, for total transformation in my school. My heart is rooted in my misfit neighborhood, tucked away between the freeway and the fear of a serial killer. I cry out to God, "how can you tell me to share the Gospel in so many places?" I know that I can't be everywhere at once,
"Here."
That's where He told me to be.
"And Lo, I'm with you always, even to the end of the age." <-- It's how the Great Commission ends.
He calls me by my nickname. He says that He's there already. Wherever I am, whenever I go, He's there. Called to pray without ceasing. Constant communication with the King. Constant display of His love. Constant proclamation of His truth.
I am called to share the Gospel here.
Today, that meant at Ridgetop. Tomorrow, it may mean my neighbors. Next year, it could mean Burkina Faso. But, I am always equipped with the commission to preach the Gospel here.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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