Yesterday, as we were passing through on our way to Atlanta, Robin and I got to spend the day in Memphis. You know, Graceland, Sun Studio where Elvis, B.B King, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and many more got their start; as well as those who have recently recorded there like U2, Maroon 5, Bonnie Raitt, and others. And don't forget the best Blues and BBQ down on Beale Street you can find. We did the whole tourist thing - ALL OF IT - food to music to tours. Even the pan-handler who wanted to be the first to welcome us to Memphis...Too fun! It was just what we needed to relax and laugh and eat after last weeks intensive 12-16 hour a day training!
We were reminded as we toured Graceland and the VERY small Sun Studio building that life is a series of choices and investments. Not necessarily in the physical things, but in the eternal things that we eventually get measured by...what we become remembered for, what mattered to us, and that it is not about how or where you get started, but how you finish that matters the most.
Branches Church has the vision of being real people, with real lives and real Jesus; and living this out by accepting people where they are on their spiritual journey and walking that journey with them into a growing relationship with Jesus. (that doesn't mean they will believe like me or you on this or that...that is not the measure of spiritual growth - more on that later)
In order to accomplish that we cannot expect the beginning of our journey to look like the end of it. We cannot start with everything God has for us...it's too much. It's a journey for the church, it's a journey for you and me, and it's a journey for the guest and for the seeker of truth that uses Branches Church to journey together toward what Jesus has for their life. The start is not the end. It's a series of choices and investments in time, prayer, people, each other, our families, our community, and our relationship with Christ as we start looking more and more like what He is doing in the world today as His body. How we finish as Branches Church and the impact we have on people because we are following hard after what God is doing in our communities is what matters the most. Let's never forget that!
Mike
Showing posts with label Vision. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vision. Show all posts
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Growing up Healthy
I was remembering that Jesus taught that unless we become like little children we will not see the kingdom of God. The Apostle Paul said, "When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child; now that I am an adult, I have no more use for childish ways." So I began pondering the difference between child-like and childish.
To me, child-like holds a connotation to pure, simple, trusting, healthy, whole, safe, ever wondering, ever learning, in awe, protected, inquisitive, relational, and growing. But, childish conjures images of temper tantrums, selfishness, anger, envy, it's all about me, immature, inappropriate, and unhealthy.
I see there are two ways in which we can live for and represent Jesus to those around us - childish or child-like. And everyday each one of us determines which way that flows. We have that same choice to make everyday over and over, every conversation, every disappointment, every phone call, every time we're faced with uncertainty, every time we're cut off on the freeway, every time we're feeling overwhelmed, every time we get it right and every time we get it wrong. I believe the key is to realize we have no more use for childish ways as we intentionally set our life toward growth and maturity in relationship to Christ Himself and His purposes for our lives. But growth and maturity doesn't come easy. There are a lot of life's lessons to be learned out there.
I don't believe we can grow our spiritual lives in a healthy, child-like manner if we are banking on the 'things we do' to get us closer to God. Things like going to church, doing good deeds, holding on to traditions, or our family's heritage. Healthy growth, whether you're a child in a family or a follower of Jesus, comes from whose we are and how we are provided for and the opportunities that are set before us to stimulate and challenge us mentally, physically, and spiritually.
So at Branches Church, we will intentionally set our activities and relationships toward healthy growth. Not from the things we do or how nice we can be, but in realizing who we belong to and that He is for us..." I am sure that God, who began this work in you, will carry it on until it is finished..." - Philippians 1:6. That sounds like maturity to me; where God does the growing in me. I know I can't get over the 'childishness' sometimes and need His guidance and reassurance that I'm on track. His grace and love are sufficient!
Mike
To me, child-like holds a connotation to pure, simple, trusting, healthy, whole, safe, ever wondering, ever learning, in awe, protected, inquisitive, relational, and growing. But, childish conjures images of temper tantrums, selfishness, anger, envy, it's all about me, immature, inappropriate, and unhealthy.
I see there are two ways in which we can live for and represent Jesus to those around us - childish or child-like. And everyday each one of us determines which way that flows. We have that same choice to make everyday over and over, every conversation, every disappointment, every phone call, every time we're faced with uncertainty, every time we're cut off on the freeway, every time we're feeling overwhelmed, every time we get it right and every time we get it wrong. I believe the key is to realize we have no more use for childish ways as we intentionally set our life toward growth and maturity in relationship to Christ Himself and His purposes for our lives. But growth and maturity doesn't come easy. There are a lot of life's lessons to be learned out there.
I don't believe we can grow our spiritual lives in a healthy, child-like manner if we are banking on the 'things we do' to get us closer to God. Things like going to church, doing good deeds, holding on to traditions, or our family's heritage. Healthy growth, whether you're a child in a family or a follower of Jesus, comes from whose we are and how we are provided for and the opportunities that are set before us to stimulate and challenge us mentally, physically, and spiritually.
So at Branches Church, we will intentionally set our activities and relationships toward healthy growth. Not from the things we do or how nice we can be, but in realizing who we belong to and that He is for us..." I am sure that God, who began this work in you, will carry it on until it is finished..." - Philippians 1:6. That sounds like maturity to me; where God does the growing in me. I know I can't get over the 'childishness' sometimes and need His guidance and reassurance that I'm on track. His grace and love are sufficient!
Mike
Friday, September 11, 2009
On your mark, get set...
This being the first of many blogs for Branches Church, I have to remember that although we are excited about the vision and plans for the future of our church, we are still lining up to the starting mark. We have much work to do in the next three months. We are praying, talking together, recruiting workers, asking a lot of questions, looking for space to meet and how to use it to our best advantage. We've been working with people who have done this kind of thing before and getting their advice as well as rounding up resources. God bless us, everyone!
The most important thing we can do right now is to immerse ourselves into community with each other and continually reinforce the "come as you are" culture we want to create. As we've discovered, people are keeping church, religion, and ultimately Jesus at arms length, so we want to be prepared to meet them as they are, which can be hard for many of us. We're used to people trying to clean up their act before they come to church. We're used to putting on a "happy face" before we "do" Sunday morning with others. We cannot be offended or afraid of holding each other to the task of being accepting, loving, and nurturing. Jesus spent most of his time with people on the streets (in real life) and He championed them and their desire to be redeemed, made whole, fed, and have their questions answered. We will hold to this same mind that was in Christ.
We've been asking, "Why can't church be different?" It can if we do it like Jesus did. We must be willing to defend the vision for Branches "come as you are" culture with everything we've got. Not just "doing church", but "being the church" is the ultimate expression of Christ in the real world today.
Let's go!
Mike
The most important thing we can do right now is to immerse ourselves into community with each other and continually reinforce the "come as you are" culture we want to create. As we've discovered, people are keeping church, religion, and ultimately Jesus at arms length, so we want to be prepared to meet them as they are, which can be hard for many of us. We're used to people trying to clean up their act before they come to church. We're used to putting on a "happy face" before we "do" Sunday morning with others. We cannot be offended or afraid of holding each other to the task of being accepting, loving, and nurturing. Jesus spent most of his time with people on the streets (in real life) and He championed them and their desire to be redeemed, made whole, fed, and have their questions answered. We will hold to this same mind that was in Christ.
We've been asking, "Why can't church be different?" It can if we do it like Jesus did. We must be willing to defend the vision for Branches "come as you are" culture with everything we've got. Not just "doing church", but "being the church" is the ultimate expression of Christ in the real world today.
Let's go!
Mike
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