The Lord’s Prayer

September 6, 2007September 6, 2007 Rob WoodrumLeave a comment

I love Eugene Peterson’s take on Matthew 5:5-13 in The Message. No formulas, no fakery…just love and relationship. “Just be there, as simply and honestly as you can manage.”

Read this…read it again. Read it slowly. Jesus is crashing paradigms and inviting us to grace. Take a deep breath…it’s like the shining after a rain.

5“And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?

6“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

7-13“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

   Our Father in heaven,
   Reveal who you are.
   Set the world right;
   Do what’s best— as above, so below.
   Keep us alive with three square meals.
   Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
   Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
   You’re in charge!
   You can do anything you want!
   You’re ablaze in beauty!
      Yes. Yes. Yes.

Mostly Harmless; 7 Days With Evangelicals

September 5, 2007 Rob Woodrum5 Comments

The CBC News (a Canadian News agency) recently did a story on a reporter who “embedded” himself with the “Christian Army”. Yeeks. The two videos take about 25 minutes to watch in total…but it is well worth it. It’s important for us as the church to listen to and understand the questions posed by those who try to understand us. In fact, the reporters questions form some of the most insightful stuff about the issues at hand.

VIDEO ONE

VIDEO TWO

Go take a look at them, and share what you think in the comments. I think the most damning statement made comes as he summarizes his perplexity that we (Christians) want to change the world “from a compound out in the middle of nowhere”. He concludes he has nothing to fear concerning their influence on the world at large.

It could even be an example of what I said in an earlier post…salt shaking out on salt.

Christians….mostly harmless.

*sigh*

Flexibility (an exerpt from this Sunday’s teaching)

August 31, 2007 Rob WoodrumLeave a comment

“… no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

Jesus said no one puts new cloth which hasn’t been shrunk on an old garment…and they don’t put new wine in old wineskin’s. The idea he’s getting across is one of FLEXIBILITY. In that day, garments weren’t as disposable as they are for us. If a tear was made in an outer coat they would patch it with another piece of material, but they had to have material that wasn’t going to shrink up over time (as cottons and wools are prone to doing). It had to be preshrunk or the patch would just shrink and tear the coat again.

Same with a wineskin. When they would bottle their wine, they would store it in flexible skins because as the new wine is fermenting, its going to expand and contract. If you have this kind of morphing liquid in an old leather skin that’s no longer flexible, that’s become brittle and unchanging… it will tear it.

Jesus is pointing out in this that there will be no cookie cutter religion when it comes to the kingdom of God!

We can end up looking at other fellowships, and how they go about doing their meetings or outreach and start measuring our community by their community…and you know…Jesus used this imagery of flexibility for this very reason because he didn’t want this kind of attitude of comparison to prevail.The kingdom of God at work in the church is going to have a variety of diff expressions! It’s going to change and flex and move in different ways.

Its not a rigid bottle…a rigid structure…it wont always look the same, it will change from age to age, from culture to culture…to meet an infinite variety of needs.

That’s why threre’s no description of what the meeting of the church should look like in the New Testament! There’s no order of service or formula of teaching or anything like that…that way…the church is always fluid. There’s structure of some kind (the wineskin implies that) but its flexible, ready to change, to grow to shrink to take on any shape to accommodate what the Holy Spirit is doing!

I’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way in trying to understand what God is doing here with this community called Eastgate…but one thing I learned very early on is that I can’t look at any other model or see what some other fellowship is doing and presume to think God wants to do that here. I tried that, several times, with very frustrating results.

I’ve learned to be content with flowing and flexing with what God is doing right here, right now, with us…and I’ve learned that it wont always look the same from day to day.

How cool is that?

“Let Me Tell You Why You Are Here…”

August 30, 2007 Rob WoodrumLeave a comment

From Eugene Peterson’s “The Message”

Matthew 5:13-16

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Salt brings out the natural flavor of a food. It enhances what is already there. Jesus used the idea of salt losing it’s salty-ness…but there’s also an opposite application as I contemplate this. Ever have food with too much salt on it? No good, right? Why? Because the salt overwhelms the natural flavor…all you can taste is salt. The flavor is God…God’s presence and grace evident on this fallen earth. If we put too much of our ministry, too much of our ingenuity in the mix…all the world will taste is the salt. Maybe our culture has been screwing up it’s face at Christianity lately because all they taste is salt…and not the wonderful God flavors we were supposed to be highlighting.

The same can be said for light. I’ve always heard this concept put negatively…that light illuminates what’s hidden in the darkness (which usually meant pointing out sin)…but when I read Peterson’s take on it, it gave me a fresh vision. Light enables us to see things in color…see things for what they really are. But, a light so bright and beaming straight into your eyes will only make you see spots and irritate you. God is the color we are supposed to put on display…but if we put too much emphasis on our clever programs or catchy phrases or slick presentations….maybe all this world gets is a blast in the eyes of our light.

The world will never make a place for Christianity…Jesus pretty much promised that. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t examine our methods to make sure we aren’t putting an artificial barrier between Jesus and those who may seek Him.

Right on?

Attack Dogs of Christondom

August 29, 2007August 29, 2007 Rob Woodrum1 Comment

Here’s an interesting article from the Christianity Today site:

“Attack Dogs of Christdondom”

This is presented as a problem for Christianity…which it most certainly is….but think about this:

Isn’t this almost an “American” thing? Our present 21st Century culture, with it’s prioritization of free speech over civility and intense individualism has sort of created this kind of attitude of hostility in any exchange of ideas.

For example…look at the 24 hour news networks. There are only a few minutes of any real reporting of actual events, the rest of the HOURS are filled with split screens of two people who hold opposing views about who’s to blame for everything who viciously attack each other publicly.

We have sort of become Vick Nation….one giant, ongoing dogfight (except with no apologies or promises of reform).

I’m somewhat convinced its not even just a 21st century American Christian thing as it is an American culture thing that the evangelical church has adopted and perversely sanctified under the banner of “taking a stand”.

Either way…we as the evangelical church have got to repent for being prompted by antichrist methods.

The Church is Just the By-product

August 21, 2007 Rob Woodrum2 Comments

The Kingdom of God is revealed in so many different ways. It’s revealed in a kind touch. It’s revealed in spaghetti noodles, soccer balls and summer camps. We were never called to promote a church. We were called to preach what Jesus preached, that the Kingdom of God is close at hand. Then we were called to stretch out our hands and let the Kingdom of God press through us toward others.

feeding children at Bethel House Collide with love tour

The Kingdom of God is basically God’s rule over the hearts of men. Anywhere there is a person who has submitted his or her life to God through Jesus Christ; the Kingdom of God is there. Anywhere kindness is shown in the name of (for the sake of, in the style of, in harmony with) Christ; that is the Kingdom of God at work on this earth.

“Let Your Kingdom come, let Your will be done on earth, like it’s done in heaven.”

More on being real.

July 26, 2007July 26, 2007 Luke Benson3 Comments

I was planning a part 2 for my last post but this has been on my heart this week so Ill be getting to the other later on.

I am part of a weekly Bible study where we go through the Word discussing and sharing with each other as we go. I just need to say that it has been a tremendous blessing to me and has helped me develop real friendships and grow in my faith.

Lately we have been going through the book of Hebrews and really trying to find out what the author was saying to the Hebrew Christians he addressed the letter to and how we can derive timeless principles that God has placed there for us to make application in our own life.

Last week as we were studying parts of chapter 11 and while discussing the faith of Noah we got on the subject of being a witness to the lost and what it means to maintain a good witness in and out of the Christian community. It has really got me thinking and I have some thoughts I would like to share on that subject.

I need to admit first of all that as a follower of Christ I have in the past placed some unrealistic self imposed rules and regulations on myself about how I am going to act around people in order to “protect” my witness instead of being myself. A mask if you will. Sooner or later I end up not living up to those self-imposed regulations and as a result confuse people about what following Christ is about. I send a message that following Christ is following rules and make myself out to be a hypocrite when I don’t live up to them. I’m not being real. I am placing a false burden on myself to reach people and not allowing Christ to reach people through me.

The last thing people in the world need or want is something that isn’t real. The lost grope their way through life living to find some fulfillment in things that will never fill. Disappointment after disappointment trusting and placing hope in the things of world that promise real life but never deliver. It leaves most people skeptical about the next thing while they search desperately for someone or something that is real.

Jesus told us that we are the salt and light of the Earth and to me that has nothing to do with being rule followers. It means Jesus followers. To me it has little to do with “protecting” our witness outside of being real with those around us and letting them see the reality of Christ in our lives.

There is a real peace in the life of a believer even during a crisis that speaks of a God who saves.

When people become aware of our real desire to forgive when the world tells us we should get even or bitter, we are salt.

When people become aware that we sometimes make bad choices but we trust in God to forgive us and restore us and then put us back on the right track, we are light.

When we recklessly love all people without concern for any compensation, we are salt.

When we let go of the guilt and shame from our past knowing we are forgiven and cleansed by Jesus, we are light.

When others see us living out a faith in knowing who we are and where we are going, we are salt.

When we display the true freedom that Christ has given us in Him, we are being “good” (and I use that term very lightly) witnesses by allowing Him to be seen in us and through us, we are light.

Being real is much better than trying to live up to a bunch of self-imposed rules huh?

What do I do now?

July 7, 2007July 13, 2007 Luke BensonLeave a comment

Lately I have been thinking more and more about my dependence on God. I know that as Christians we find our purpose and meaning in serving and living for God and others. Knowing this is my purpose I have made an effort to live that out in my daily life and have been blessed in ways I have never experienced before. Lately something much deeper is occurring in my heart. I find myself becoming more and more dependent upon God for everything. I know that mankind was created to be wholly dependent on God for everything, but recently meditating on that reality is more and more illuminating to my heart. Let me explain.

Although Adam was created in the image of God he was not perfect like God. He didn’t know everything; he was dependent on God to teach Him. Like Adam mankind is not autonomous, we need someone to teach us everything. We rely on some type of guidance for everything whether we realize it or not. Every decision and every choice we make is a direct result of some type of counsel from outside of ourselves. Now as we read something like this it may seem like no big deal but consider the implications of that statement. Things are the way they are in the world and in our own lives because we have followed someone outside of ourselves advice.

Knowing this I need to consider whose advice I am taking to make decisions. There are TV commercials that advise me that I’ll be much happier with whiter teeth or a new car. I have often made decisions based on fear or guilt that have been learned out of past decisions gone wrong. I have often taken the advice of a friend who I thought had it all together and must have the answers to my problem. What about all those self help books on the bestseller list? All those people certainly can’t be wrong. Knowing that I am reliant on some type of counsel for every decision I make, I need to know how many different types of counsel there are and which are the right ones.

Back in the garden we see that Adam needed Gods counsel to live out his life. God needed to warn Adam that there was something dangerous in the garden that could hurt him and to stay clear of it. We don’t how long it took, but before long someone else’s advice entered the picture, someone who didn’t have Adams best interest in mind. Although Adam didn’t take Satan’s counsel directly he did take it from Eve indirectly. He had learned that he had a choice whether to listen to God or not and he also learned the results of taking advice from a source other than God. Since then there have been only two types of advice that guide our lives. Godly and ungodly. It was a little tough for me to fully comprehend at first but as followers of Christ we need to know that,

Every choice or decision we will ever make will be based on some type of guidance from outside of our selves.
There are only two different places that all guidance and counsel originate. One is from God and the other Satan and the root of all rebellion and sin is taking advice from Satan.
Our lives and those of our families are directly formed and shaped by the choices and decisions we make.
Even though our lives may reflect a series of bad choices its never too late to change direction and align ourselves with Gods counsel and guidance.

So you might be saying wow I never thought of it this way, so how do I make sure I’m following Gods council? Glad you asked. In 2 Timothy it says that scripture, the Word of God is sufficient for everything we need making us complete to carry on a life equipped for following Jesus and all good works. We all desire to find some thing that will make us complete and the full counsel of God is our only hope. Turning to anyone but Jesus for answers and guidance will leave us confused and miserable, lost and hopeless and in the same boat as Adam.

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm1)

Intentional Humility

May 15, 2007May 15, 2007 Rob Woodrum2 Comments

As best as I can tell, God started something in our community last Sunday. Philippians 2:1-11 seemed to resonate in our hearts. I have no capacity to articulate what I was experiencing that morning…in both services, but especially in the first, where I was so caught off guard by what was happening. It seems so cliched to say “God showed up”…but I’m failing to find any other words to paint with. In my mind, we stumbled into a room where God had been waiting all along. In there, we touched His heart and it changed us. Well….it changed me anyway….I’m hoping it’s us.

It’s with this experience that I’m inviting all my friends and family to join me in an experiment in “intentional humility”. It will be a fast…a solidarity fast. What’s that? I’ll give more information as we go. Just start praying about joining me…its less than a month away.

June 11th-13th, 2007…I will weep with the weeping.

Been a Bit Neglectful

May 13, 2007 Rob Woodrum1 Comment

Hey all. Sorry for the delay in posts. I’ve decided that Justin’s Apology is going to be a project I’ll work on as I have time, but not something I’ll clog up this website with. I’m afraid its put off my fellow bloggers from posting…and I hate to see that happen.

I want to leave off Justin’s Apology with just one more chapter….the most compelling chapter of all to me. It was the piece of Justin’s apology that I read in a library 15 years ago, which changed my view of church forever. It is Justin’s description of a typical gathering of the church…its the oldest snapshot we have of how the early church carried out it’s meetings….and I LOVE it. I relish this chapter…chapter 67….it woke me up, gave me hope and is literally the basis for Eastgate, the church I’m now a part of. Read what he says the meeting of the church was like, 1900 some years ago…and revel in the simplicity and kindness of that original “wonderwhat”.

I give you chapter 67 of Justin’s first apology:

Chapter LXVII.-Weekly Worship of the Christians.

It’s our habit to regularly remind each other of the things we believe. Those who have the means to do it take care of the needs of those who are poor among us. We stick with each other through thick and thin, and we thank God for supplying for all our needs. He made everything and gives us everything we need in His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Spirit.

On the day called Sunday, whether we live in the city or live in the country, we all meet together in one place, and we read the stories of the apostles or the writings of the prophets for a set amount of time. Then, when the person reading has stopped, the leader of our group will teach us how we can live these writings out in real life.

After that, we pray. We stand together praying, and when we’re done we bring out the bread and wine we mentioned before (chapter 66) and the leader prays over them, thanking God for these things to the best of his ability and we all agree with him by saying “amen”. We make sure everyone gets some of the bread and wine and we all eat and drink the things we are so thankful for. We also make sure those who can’t join us are sent a portion, we send a designated waiter on a house call to serve the absentees.

Those who have the means and are willing to do so give to a common fund whatever they see fit to give. That sum is given to the leadership who then takes care of orphans and widows, those who are sick and unable to work, those who have been put in prison and their families, and any stranger who comes our way. In a word, he is the protector of all who are in need.

We meet together on Sunday because that was the first day of creation, the day God separated light from darkness and made the world we live on. Jesus Christ our Hero rose from the dead on Sunday as well. He was crucified on the day before Saturn’s day (Saturday), and on the day after Saturn’s day, the day of the sun, He rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples and the apostles.

He is the One who taught them the things that we have been taught to believe, and we have now offered them to you, for your consideration.

WONDERWHAT

Category: Faith