Annually

My family and I have been back in Wilmington for a year and a-half.  Since the time we have landed on the ground we have lived into a new reality ---- the reality of being on mission.  Our mission has been to embody hope in real and tangible ways.  While doing this we have been stretched in ways we have found exhilarating and scary ----- but during that whole time God has overwhelmed us with grace and love.  We are so thankful for the terrific people that we have had the opportunity to journey beside, for we know that relationships are the key to living out this missionary journey.  We just want to say a sincere thank you to all of you for your generosity and support.  Because of you all we have been able to take steps with assurance ------ knowing that we are there to help carry heavy burdens together ------ while at the same time there to celebrate what the Holy Spirit is accomplishing through our efforts. 

Very few things at The Anchor have happened for a second time annually.  Two of those things we did in the last couple weeks.  We gathered together with candles in hand and worshiped the God who came in the flesh on Christmas-Eve.  And we also went on Christmas day to a nursing home to celebrate Jesus' birth with those who he cares so much for ------ those who are lonely and sick.  As I looked around and saw the faces of people, that were strangers to me a year ago, I saw family.  People that have poured their life into the journey of following after Jesus, and I have had the opportunity to pour my life into the journey as well.  And we have done it together!

We have dedicated our lives to following after the one who is worthy of our time, energy, and attention ---- but we haven't done this as Lone Ranger Christians ------ instead we have done it in community, as family.  We didn't have to have a committee that told us to do this, or an air-conditioned building, or ample parking spots, or fog machines, or a light show, or an advertising budget, or marketing consultants, or fancy torn jeans, or rent a building, or flashy evangelistic gimmicks, or the "We Love Our City" t-shirts, or the "mission-day" push (whatever that means?) ------ instead we have just decided to live out the love of Jesus by embodying hope where God has placed us.

This is humbling, and in many ways it feels like we are approaching the manger scene like the shepherds that first happened upon that poor, ostracized family 2000 years ago.  We are approaching this scene with awe and wonder as we hear Jesus say to us "See, I am making all things new."  

Let's pray: Make us new O God ------ so that we might be servants to all those you love ------ as we are moved with compassion to embody hope in the situations and circumstances you have placed us.  Let us continue to do this in simple and sustainable ways ------ and in that, may we continue to participate with Holy Spirit in your Kingdom coming to earth, as it is in heaven.  AMEN!

"The Barge"

This last Sunday we celebrated our time on "The Barge".  It was so cold ------ which I think was a good reminder of why we need to go inside.  When you don't have walls up at a church ------ both metaphorically & physically ------- there is some extreme discomfort that comes with that.  But, we have also experienced what worship can be like.  It can be in open spaces, it can be in the public square, it can be easy & simple, it doesn't have to cost a lot of money, it can be open to people from all walks of life, and it can be a time to live into God's Kingdom in imaginative and creative ways. 

As I have reflected back on our time of being on "The Barge" I am overwhelmed with the generosity of Carl Marshburn, who owns the Henrietta III and "The Barge".  He has been so kind to us and so generous with his resources.  I can't say thank you enough. 

Also, I am in awe of the many people that have made The Anchor their home through our time on "The Barge".  You all have truly been a blessing to me and words cannot express how grateful I have been to journey with you all through this time.  You all are passionate in your love for the Lord and in your love for one another.  I have beautiful images in my mind of standing and singing ------- and people are walking along the River Walk getting a glimpse at what "church" can be.  I have images of eating donuts and drinking coffee ------ and in that simple moment walls of division come tumbling down through that grace-filled act.  I have images of dogs coming to worship -------- and in that simple act God smiles as all creation tells of God's glory.  I have images of strangers holding hands and praying ------ I have images of people sharing their experiences with tear-filled eyes ------- I have images of reading scripture -------- I have images of black people & white people & asian people singing with one voice ------- I have images of children running -------- and in that moment, I hear Jesus say: "I make all things new". 

Thank you for a great summer of worshiping together with all of you saints of God.  I am humbled by the fact that I can call all of you my friends.  Let's live lives that are radical ------ and let's do it together.  Let's cast aside all the religious baggage, and the dividing walls of hostility.  And instead let us live lives for the common good ------- for in that grace-filled act we are proclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

Hebrews 1:3

Hebrews 1.3: "He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word.  When he had made purification for sins, e sat down at teh right hand of the majesty on high."

In Jesus we truly see who God is ----- and in Jesus we see the imprint of the divine that has come in the flesh.  He has impacted us with the good news of God's grace.  That impact truly changes us and has caused humanity and the very cosmos to change. 

Christ's word has power ----- the power to sustain all things.  That sustaining word holds together the very fabric of the universe.  And the telos is found in Christ becoming the all in all.  For this great God YHWH has made a purification for sins.  Before, this bend that humanity caused in the creation had great influence upon the very cosmos.  But now, Christ has made a purification which affected that bend and is making straight the path before us. 

This imprint that God has placed upon the universe is found in a person.  In the person of Jesus we see the powerful word revealed.  In the person of Jesus we see humanity being created again.  In the person of Jesus we see God's glory.  In the person of Jesus we see YHWH ----- the great I AM. 

This changes everything.  For Christ sat down ----- so that we can know how to stand.  Christ died ----- so that we can know how to live.  Christ was born ----- so that we might know how to die.  Christ spoke ----- so that we might know how to listen.  Christ healed ----- so that we might know how to trust.  Christ fed ----- so that we might know how to eat.  Christ purified ----- so that we might know how to be.  Christ rose from the dead ----- so that we might speak from the ashes. 

A long time ago I wrote in a poem: "I am heaven and you are my answer."  There is a question ----- I am not sure what it is ----- and I am not sure where it comes from ----- but, I do know the answer to it.  It is us. 

The question is found in the homeless guy on the platform in the NYC Subway saying: "The angels have dirty faces."  The question is found in the loneliness and isolation of the man who sits at home by himself listening to televangelists and memorizing his Bible ----- but can't bring himself to be in fellowship with other believers.  The question is found in the business owner asking: "What's in it for me?" ----- knowing the whole time that wasn't the real question.  The question is found in the jailer who falls as Paul & Silas's feet saying "What must I do to be saved?"  The question is a heart beat, a smile, a step, a drop of water, a blade of grass ----- and the answer is us! 

Acts 17.1-9

This coming Sunday we will be focusing on Acts 17.1-9.  In this passage Paul & Silas go to Thessalonica.  While in Thessalonica they go to the Synagogue and argue for 3 days about how the Messiah was to suffer and rise from the dead.  Many people believed what they were saying ----- and not just the Jews ----- but also the Greeks.  Because of this many of the Jews became jealous (v5), and formed a mob and set the city in an uproar.  They went to the city government officials and said: "These people have been turning the world upside down" (v6).

Imagine just for a moment being the people that are accused of turning the world upside down?  What a great compliment that would be in today's day and age.  The church would be living into its peculiar and radical nature of proclaiming that there is another King ------ and it is not Caesar, or President Obama, or Shimon Peres, or Senator Kay Hagan, or Senator Richard Burr.  Instead our allegiance is to the God who overcame death, hell, and the grave.  Imagine the powerful establishment throughout our cities forming mobs to thwart this proclamation.  What a compliment that would be!

So my question is ------- why does this not happen? 

One Year

I have been contemplating a lot lately what a year can do.  We moved to Wilmington, NC on June 18th, 2013.  As a family we have thoroughly enjoyed the friends we have made, and the many doors of opportunity that have opened for us to be actively involved in the life of our community.  I feel like starting in a new place as a family has granted us a time to grow closer with each other. 

As a pastor I feel like this has been a year to grow in faith.  To peal away the many layers of what it means to be the church ------- and attempt to get down to the core -------- it is an intriguing and exhausting process.  Continuously I have people ask me how it is going?  I have learned that I don't even have the language to answer that.  For my vocabulary has changed ------ and that is mostly due to the fact that I can't use words like buildings, land, and money.  When you stop talking about buildings, land, and money ------- what are you left with? 

What you are left with is discipleship, but it is not a discipleship that is programatic or didactic or top-down management.  Instead it is a discipleship that is relational, compassionate, restorative, and eclectic.  It is a discipleship that has to do with following Jesus ------- because followers of Jesus actually follow Jesus.  Therefore, we do not follow buildings, land, money, programing, smoke machines, laser shows ------- which in many ways are just an expensive ad for something cheap.  Instead we follow a revolutionary Messiah who calls us to lay down our own lives for the benefit of others ------ for the common good. 

As I reflect upon this last year I have hope.  Hope for what the church universal can be.  For we are called to a life that is radical ------- but at the same time so simple.  We are called to a life that looks like Jesus ------- not to a life that is a never-ending committee meeting.  The Holy Spirit fills us with the power to embody hope to the world.  And in that calling to lay down our lives, we will find who we are truly to be.  This is the place where we have peeled back all of the distractions of what people have made the "church" ------- and instead we can go and be the church by being a sent people ------- for God so loves the world that he has sent us. 

Restoration

I have been focusing much of my time looking at what it means to live out the value of restoration.  This is through the restoration of our relationship with God, community, ourselves, and creation.  So often we neglect to live out the wholeness that the Lord has called us to, for we focus so much time and energy into our personal relationship with the Lord -- but then forget about that relationship being intricately woven together with community and creation.

In the book of Jeremiah 30.17 it says: "For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, says the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: 'It is Zion; no one cares for her!'"  Here the Lord is saying that he will restore the Israelites health, heal their wounds, and restore their status.  God's restoration is holistic ----- it is a restoration of our relationship with creation, with community, and with ourselves.

Lesslie Newbigin writes: "To man thus in bondage and in self-contradiction, the message of salvation is sent.  Salvation means that man is released from this bondage, and that the contradictions of which we have spoken are overcome ..... It means the healing of that which is wounded, the mending of that which is broken, the setting free of that which is bound."

We believe that we are called to live lives of restoration ------ where we live as God's ambassadors in the world ------- offering healing, health, and the restoration of the status of people as children of God.  The Lord has called us to live lives of embodying hope ------ therefore the miracle of restoration can be seen through our actions and words.

An important part of our restoration with creation is our willingness to live simplified lives.  Therefore, we are called to re-use, recycle, and re-purpose.  Because God's restoration is holistic we also know that it is of vital importance that we live out our calling of restoration through simple actions that benefit all of the world. 

Hebrews 6.13-20

I have been spending a lot of time with Hebrews 6.13-20 lately. The more I learn about the book of Hebrews the more I am intrigued by it. The writer crafts the words on the page in an intriguing and provocative way. A way that calls for us to respond in a tangible way ------- the way of hope.
In v15 we see that Abraham responds with patient endurance based on God's promise and oath to him. In the midst of that patient endurance he obtains the promise ----- the promise that was embodied in a son. The two unchangeable things are God's promise and God's oath. In v18 we can then find our refuge in those two unchangeable things. For in refuge we can seize the hope ------ the hope that is based on God's promise and God's oath to us. A promise that the Lord will bless us ------ so that we then can live lives that are a blessing to the world. A blessing that embodies hope in real and tangible ways.
In referring to those who have taken refuge, the commentator John Calvin writes: "By these words he intimates that we do not truly trust in God except when we forsake every other protection and flee for refuge to his sure promise, and feel assured that it is our only safe asylum." In this refuge we then find hope from the cares of this world. But it is not just a hope that is future oriented, but instead it is a hope that is found in the now. For this hope denotes a firmness, something that we can hold in our hands.
Continuing to v19 we find the image of the anchor. In this verse we see that the anchor is useful. Sometimes it is useful as a tool, and sometimes it is useful because it gives us hope
just by being on the boat. The anchor gives us hope because we know if the seas get rough, we can drop the anchor to give us firmness in the midst of the storm. John Calvin continues to comment on this group of verses by saying: "As long as we sojourn in this world, we stand not on firm ground, but are tossed here and there as it were in the midst of the sea, and that indeed very turbulent; for Satan is incessantly stirring up innumerable storms, which would immediately upset and sink our vessel, were we not to cast our anchor fast in the deep. For nowhere a haven appears to our eyes, but wherever we look water alone is in view; yea, waves also arise and threaten us; but as the anchor is cast through the waters into a dark and unseen place, and while it lies hid there, keeps the vessel beaten by the waves from being overwhelmed; so must our hope be fixed on the invisible God."
The anchor is sure and steadfast, safe and firm. From the anchor is a cable or chain that comes and links the boat to the anchor. That chain is to be God's people ------ that have committed to be linked together by the very blood of the lamb. For the chain links to the anchor ------ which is Christ. And Jesus has entered into the heavenlies, the inner shrine, as our great high priest ------- and now his followers are linked to him while also linked to the world. In this cable we then embody hope ------ for we are to no longer live for our own best interest ------ but instead live our lives for the common good. This is a life of self-emptying and self-abandonment ------ and in that we embody hope.
We have been impacted by this Jesus and now we are to be trained to be ambassadors of this good news. Ambassadors that proclaim a hope that is bigger than our circumstances and situations. For in that embodied hope we then can find who we are to be ----- one who imitates the ways of Christ in this world.

Sin & Salvation

I was looking over Lesslie Newbigin's book Sin and Salvation and found this great section on salvation. I had to share this challenging question that he lays out for us.
"But when all this has been said, there are still two serious difficulties which have to be considered. The first is this: love must be shown not only in deeds, but in deeds which are actually directed to the need of the other person. If I am drowning in a well and another man jumps into the well and rescues me, while he himself is drowned in the effort, then there can be no doubt about that man's love. He has given his life for me. But if I am attacked by a tiger I need a different kind of help. My friend may jump into the well and drown himself, but that will not rescue me from the tiger. In that case, even though my friend may jump into the well and drown himself, but that will not rescue me from the tiger. In that case, even though my friend gave up his life, I cannot say that he loved me or saved me. Christ gave up His life on the cross, but how does that save me? How does it rescue me from my sin? Unless we can show that there is some connection between Christ's death and my sin I cannot believe that Christ's death is a proof of love for me, or that it has saved me from sin. Clearly it is not enough simply to say that the cross is a revelation of God's love, unless we can answer these questions."

WikiWorship Question #3

The question we will be covering on Sunday, March 23rd at 9.45am is this: "Why are people born in poverty where they have been sexually, physically, and emotionally abused; while others are born into 3 bedroom homes with some hope; while others are born in Landfall?" This will be at Hell's Kitchen (118 Princess Street - Wilmington).

End Time Headlines - WikiWorship

I never would have thought that WikiWorship would have made it to a website like End Time Headlines ------ so I had to comment on that. They do not write any commentary on the website ------ so I don't know if there using WikiWorship as a sign of the end times or they are using it as a compliment that we are working diligently to reach into the darkness during the end times. Which ever way we take that ------ I have to say that is truly a resume builder if you get an article written on the End Time Headlines page ;-) http://endtimeheadlines.org/uncategorized/wikiworship-lets-church-members-edit-pastors-sunday-sermon/

First Question

Following Jesus

Acts 2.42: "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."

Like many of you know ------ I have been commissioned to start a new faith community (we are calling it The Anchor) in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina.  Many times I find myself in the midst of a conversation that starts with a question like: "How are things going with the new church?"  While I am in the midst of that conversation I often times find myself having to create a new paradigm of church for the person that I am talking to.  The reason for that is due to the fact that The Anchor just doesn't make sense to the large majority of Christians ------ and that is because we do not have any land, any building, any money, and we do not have a worship service.  Because of this lack of churchy type of stuff (we do not have committees either) ------ I have to explain this new paradigm of making disciples.  Recently I had a revelation in the midst of one of those explanations, and I wanted to share it with you all.

Before moving to Wilmington, I served for seven years at a local church here in North Carolina.  This is an awesome church where the people truly desire to be followers of Jesus.  While serving as the pastor, I oftentimes found myself pleading ------ even begging ------- for people to participate in some sort of Bible study.  We did really well and had about 50% of the congregation willing to participate in some sort of Bible study.  I also found myself pleading ------- even begging ------- for people to participate in some sort of mission.  That could be locally, nationally, or internationally.  We did really well and had about 30% of the congregation willing to participate in some sort of mission.  Lastly, I found myself pleading ------ even begging ------- for people to be in fellowship with one another.  To have a meal together (even with people that we do not know), spend time with one another (not just because we are family), and have fun together.  We did really well with that, and I would say around 75% participated in some sort of fellowship event.

Interestingly, as the new faith community called The Anchor ------ we have 100% participation in these three areas.  We have begun with Missional Communities and all of us study scripture together, participate in mission together, and fellowship together.  This is a radical departure from the paradigm of church that holds as the standard land, buildings, money, and committee meetings.  In many ways it reminds me of Acts 2.42.

What if the paradigm for the church was the standard of mission, study, and fellowship?  I believe we then would not have to spend as much time convincing folks to come into our air-conditioned buildings ------- because it will be natural to come together and celebrate the living God who has called us out of darkness and into his wonderful light.

To the Angel of the church in Willmington

Our first video at The Anchor.

A Community on Mission

The nature and mission of a missional community is to get messy for Jesus Christ. We are to be recklessly excellent in living out our cruciform life in love with God and loving our neighbors.

During the summer of 2008 my wife and I visited London. If anyone visits London, they will notice that they end up visiting many churches. The thing is, when you visit these churches, you are not going to worship—instead, these churches are becoming more and more like museums—ornaments of the past. Just a small handful of people attend worship on Sundays—but they pay their staff and their bills because they are treated as a museum. They charge strangers [they like to call them tourists] money to go into their doors—and people want to go there to see where so and so murdered such and such at a certain place in the 11th century. The Churches in Europe are dwindling to such an extent that they are nothing but places that tell of what they used to do in ministry. They have become museums that used to be about the work of God—but now they are just playing Church. This is a terrible tragedy—houses of worship that used to do awesome things for God are now more concerned with making sure the cobwebs stay off their pews. From this dilapidated position, I want to ask what is the nature and mission of a missional community?

When we turn to scripture we find a particular God—the God of Israel. This God creates in God's self one new humanity and reconciles both groups in one body through the cross (Ephesians 2.15-16). When we turn to scripture we see that the God we serve is a God who sends, the God who acts, and the action is missional because it is the action of salvation for the world. As a result of this revelation we now know that the God we serve is a missionary God and that we are to be missionary people.

As the church we have forgotten who we are—much like the tiger who has been brought up around goats and thinks that he is a goat. In many ways we have turned our buildings into museums and funded our salaries by charging strangers [tourists] to come see the remains of our institution. The church is to be about mission—because the God that we serve is a missionary God. It would help a great deal if we were to stop calling our local churches, “churches”, and instead call them mission-outposts. Mission-outposts that look at themselves as constantly reaching out to the people that surround them—and transforming the world around them. The church is to be missional—and the church is to affect the cosmos by transforming the world for Jesus Christ.

The mission and nature of the missional community is to get messy for Jesus. We get messy by being disciples that make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The church is missional and that is going to be messy—and from this dilapidated vantage point it is almost as if God is looking at the mess and calling it good.

Man of Steel

Last night I went and saw the Man of Steel movie.  I really enjoyed it and there was one quote that stuck out to me that I still am ruminating about.  Clark went into the local church in his hometown and the priest asked him what was on his mind.  As he started sharing the complexity of his problems and his befuddlement about what he was to do ------ you could tell the priest didn't know what to say.  So Clark just got up from the pew and was beginning to leave.  The priest then said: "Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith first.  The trust part comes later."

Isn't that so true with relationships in general.  As Christians we have to be the initiators of relationship ------ we have to take that leap of faith.  For we find ourselves in a world that is oftentimes skeptical of anyone that is gracious and merciful.  But when we are the initiators and allow ourselves to be vulnerable to the world ------- oftentimes the trust will come. 

But that notion of vulnerability is a tough word for us.  For we oftentimes want to build walls ------- so that we have proper "boundaries".  When we use that word "boundaries" ------- we mostly say things like that so that we will not be hurt any longer.  Thank goodness that Jesus did not focus on proper boundaries.  Instead, he offered himself to the world ------ by laying down his life for others. 

Now may we go and do likewise -------- as we lay down our lives for the benefit of the world.