The Gathering

Intimacy in Life (part 1)

2009-07-02T22:37:00.002-07:00

Intimacy in Life (part 2)

2009-07-02T22:37:00.001-07:00

Intimacy in Life (part 3)

2009-07-02T22:36:00.001-07:00

Opening Thoughts

2009-06-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

Ora et Labora (part 1)

2009-06-18T21:28:00.000-07:00

Ora et Labora (part 2)

2009-06-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

New Place

2009-02-25T20:19:00.000-08:00

For those of you who do not know, the Gathering is moving off the Crystal Cathedral campus to plant as a new independent church in the city of Orange in Old Town. If you haven't heard yet, we will be meeting at the American Legion building on Lemon Street just behind the Starbucks that used to be the Diedrichs. I'm looking forward to our new home!

Vow of Poverty

2008-11-30T22:59:00.000-08:00

They call last Friday "Black Friday" because it's the day all those retail businesses make a profit (they get to use black ink instead of red ink). But last Friday might be called "Black Friday" for a different reason. A thirty-four year old employee at a Wal-Mart in Long Island was trampled to death after people rushed into the store to start their Christmas shopping. You can see the article here Consumerism Kills.

It's been said over and over how much American people need to shop and buy things to feel better. We so easily define ourselves by what we own. I'm reminded of the story of Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler. The young man tells Jesus that he's followed all the commandments but still doesn't have eternal life. Jesus then says that he must sell all that he owns, give the money to the poor, and follow Jesus. Then the infamous words, "...and he went away sad, for he had much." I think it's the only time I've seen a line like this in literature, where someone leaves sad because of their great wealth. Then Jesus says the famous line, "it is easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." I've heard all the explanations about the eye and the gate thing but lets not fool ourselves; Jesus was trying to make an important point about the stranglehold of wealth. And of course the most important question is "what is wealth?"

This is of course what the disciples ask and this is what I think the answer is. My opinion: Anything...Everything is wealth. We as Christians are called to make a vow of poverty, that we go from owners to managers. We are managing the stuff that God has entrusted us with and are willing to leave it behind for him at any moment. You may have lots of stuff or not a lot of stuff but if you can't use it to bless people, or for the greater good, or if you would be lost if you stuff would be lost, then you are missing out on the eternal life Jesus offers here and now. That is to say, it's not how much stuff you own, it's how much your stuff owns you.

Love Language

2008-11-26T20:39:00.000-08:00

Love is a word that is easily and often used, but rarely practiced or understood. In our world we throw the word "love" around quite a bit. One can say, "I love my cat" or "I love my new car," "I love you Lord" or "I love this movie." It's no wonder that people are so confused about such a simple and yet powerful concept. Though songs are written about it, people dream to have it and own it, love is more often thought of in terms of what I feel rather than what I choose to do. Many people who used to be in love just aren't feeling the chemistry anymore; so love becomes an "emotion in my heart" or a feeling. Love to many people is sex, or feeling high on having someone in your life. But how can any of these definitions of love be real if we are to love our enemy or the person who is socially awkward or the one we just shouldn't be seen around. Love is a choice. It means choosing to bless someone, to actually want the best for their lives, to give gifts, spend time, say nice things, and put your arm around that person you normally wouldn't. Love means choosing to do these things even if it doesn't feel good. Love is the only thing you get more of if you give it away.

Bruce Lee Plays Ping Pong...With Nunchucks

2008-11-22T20:59:00.001-08:00

I'm sorry this has no religious significance at all. I just needed to share it with the world.

Blogger Kills Himself on Web/ Why Don't People Care?

2008-11-21T22:20:00.000-08:00

It came out a few hours ago that a nineteen year old kid in Florida sent out a mass message to everyone that he was going to kill himself on a web cam and a bunch of people logged on to watch. When he got ready to do it people egged him on to take the plunge. After taking a bunch of pills people watched for twelve hours before alerting the authorities. Here's the story from AP TeenSuicideOnWeb .

This story made me terribly sad because it is a perfect case of the terrible state of love in our world. Jesus talks a great deal about loving our enemy and, though we have many enemies today, I think the more appropriate way is saying "love people you don't really care about." Today it's not that most people really have many enemies but rather that people just don't care. Are we so numb that we would wait twelve hours to help someone? Most people just don't want to be involved and that's the real problem. What say you?

Want more love?

2008-11-18T20:12:00.000-08:00

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What happened to the video guys?

2008-11-11T20:52:00.000-08:00

A lot of people have been asking about where the video guys are that are normally taping during the church service. Unfortunately, they were a part of a larger project with the Cathedral in which multiple media sources, like our service, which were going to be given away in downloadable files for your computer, ipods, and cell phones. This project has been canceled and probably won't continued on in the same way since the cost wasn't coming out of our budget. I'm trying to track down the twenty-some services we do have so we can use them- but I think they're in a vault somewhere (hopefully not the Disney vault or we'll only get one episode every two years).

"No Such Thing as a Free Lunch?"

2008-11-07T22:37:00.001-08:00

The most marvelous thing happened to me today. I was waiting in the drive-thru line at Chik-fil-a to get my seven dollar number 1 value size meal talking to someone on my cell phone. When I reached the window, the lady had a big mirthy smile on her face and said, "the man in the van up there (the one in front of me) paid for your meal and wanted me to give you this." In her hand, along with a greasy reciept and bag of food, was a this little business card with no name or contact on it. All it said was this: "Please enjoy your meal and this short message from the Bible, 'Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.'- Acts 3:19." Then on the right it said "You are experiencing a random act of kindness :)" (yes it had a typed smiley face). I looked up at the lady and said, "what the heck?" Over her shoulders a skinny Mexican kid, presumably the fry boy, bellowed, "he does it all the time- haha!" I little puzzled, but strangely moved, I pulled my car forward and continued on.

I then began to think. This man is quite clearly a Christian and he just blessed me in a real way- he bought my lunch. This man understands Christian love! This man understands the priesthood of every believer! He's found a ministry through chicken sandwichs and french fries! I never saw his face, and I'll probably never see him to return the favor, but he brought honor to Jesus and does it every day with seven dollars.

Christian love means blessing people, not just our friends because "even the pagans do that" but our enemies and even those we don't normally pay any attention to. I hope you're asking the same question I am: "How do I do what 'free lunch guy' is doing in my own ten feet of space?"

Gridd-Iron Pizza Party

2008-11-06T21:54:00.000-08:00

Here's some of the pictures from the Pizza party the other day. The funniest thing about the event is that, I think, Daniel and I are the only ones that like football. But we still had an awesome turnout. It's funny but events like this can be the lifeblood to a community simply for the sake of getting to know other people. A church should be a group of people who don't just worship together, but people who genuinely love one another and like hanging out with each other. I saw it with you guys. There were enough of you to eat twenty Papa John's pizzas. What a great time!

Belief, Dogma, and Falling In Love

2008-11-04T11:57:00.000-08:00

What does it mean to belief in something? In the Christian faith, belief is central to how we live as Christians, that faith- or essentially believing, is what our very salvation is dependent upon. But too often belief is portrayed as knowing a list of facts. Is this what is meant by "believe with your heart" in Romans, that to have your heart changed is dependent upon some type of education? If I open a book and learn a certain list of facts and hold them cognitively as true, then I will be transformed? Can our salvation or inner growth be dependent on a dissertation?

Believing in God, like knowing God, has much more to do with the shape of our hearts than what doctrinal facts we ascribe to. Believing in God is much more like falling in love than an education. Love is one of those things that is infinitely difficult to describe, but it is equally infinitely powerful. It will cause you to do crazy things you wouldn't normally do, make you feel more alive than you ever thought possible, and make you abandon all the things you used to think were important. This is the same with the power of belief or faith. Though sometimes you can't explain it, you know it is real and transformative. It gives you a vision and clarity that makes you powerful in your convictions and purpose. This gift, given by the Holy Spirit, is incredible, wondrous, and life-giving. Though dogma has its place and value, don't get overly caught up in the lifeless intellectual debates that have ripped apart the Christian Church for centuries. Believe in God intimately, find comfort in his mystery, and be shaped by the power of His Spirit.

A Life Changing Prayer (Ephesians)

2008-11-02T18:14:00.000-08:00

Of all the "homework asignements" I've given, this is the one that I've gotten the most positive feed back on. It's simply the prayer that Paul prayed for the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:17-23 and 3:14-21). All I did was change the "you" to "me." Try praying this for a couple of weeks every day and see what happens. Post a comment if you've already done this or after you do it!

Prayer of Ephesians

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope of which he has called me, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen me with power through his Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. And I pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how high and deep is the love of Christ, and know that this love that surpasses knowledge- that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Mormons and O'douls

2008-10-30T22:18:00.000-07:00

A while ago, I used to have these two Mormon guys who would come to my house about once a week to talk religion. It started when these two kids with bike helmets and short sleave button up shirts, ironically called elders, came and wanted to tell me about the "new gospel of Jesus." I told them I was a seminary student and a pastor but they just came anyway. Every week it seamed like they would come back and we would sort of just hang out. At the beginning we really went at it, debating this and that. They would criticize the trinity, and I would criticize that they believe in a bunch of gods who live on the planet Kolab (not sure on spelling). In the end though, we all actually ended up being pretty good friends. In fact, we decided to celebrate the end of their two year mission and their heroic return home by drinking O'douls (non-alcoholic beer) and watching old seventies movies at my place. Those guys were really cool.

Every religion has a stereotype and the stereotype for Mormons is that they're super nice. Everybody seams to think so and I guess what I'm really asking is why Christians don't have that. For the sake of being a team player I won't get into the stereotypes about Christians. Of course stereotypes are unfair broad strokes but man...

What' s the reason? I don't know why Mormons are known for being so nice but I think I know why Christians typically aren't. We focus too much on arguing about doctrine and getting ready for heaven- rather than becoming disciples or apprentices of Jesus. If we described Christians as living the way Jesus taught rather than people who prayed a prayer the right way, we might be known for things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Jesus came, not only to die for our sins, but give us resurrection life, here and now, by living his way and being shaped by the Holy Spirit.

Picnic Theology

2008-10-29T21:53:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd attach some photos from our last picnic church in May. A lot of people are like, "wow, you guys had a picnic after church or something?" And I say, "no, it was church." For those of you who have never been to picnic church, we actually all pitch in and bring different food items from home and share with each other. We eat the food, laugh together and have a good time while we study scripture, pray for one another, and worship God. In many ways, the early Christian church did this often around the communion table and we find that it can be more meaningful than a lot of worship services where you go, sit in a chair, listen to a band and a sermon, and leave never meeting anyone.

Picnic church has a theology behind it, that in an incarnational way, we can experience the love of God through Christian community. Our church is that way. No matter where you're from, what you believe, or how you look, the Gathering is a community that calls you to the journey Godward, to abide in the love of our community, and to be students of Jesus. In many ways, a picnic is more biblical than a performance. Any "amens" to that?

Father, Son, and Holy Terror

2008-10-28T22:05:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago George Napper, a wonderful old black mama who worked in the church office, gave me this picture. She had a friend who found it in one of my Grandpa’s old bibles in a use book store, bought the bible, and found this picture in the back. She gave it to George who gave it to me with a big loving smile. It’s the three Robert Schullers, taken by my uncle Jim a couple of months after I was born. They look happy and I look asleep, but in the old black and white photo stand three boys in the embrace of deep family love. After I got it, I put this picture in the glass part of the dash, right in front of the RPM meter of my Camry and it’s been there ever since. The other day I picked up my Dad to go pray about this whole situation and I pointed to the picture and said, “remember that?” With sad eyes he said slowly, “that was another time” and looked down. He didn’t have to explain the infinite importance of his remark. George Napper tragically died a year ago as did the hope of the nostalgic picture she gave me.

Some Good Books

2008-09-05T15:38:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

Here's some of the books I mentioned last week in my sermon for those of you that were interested in the titles and authors. You can order them right off of amazon or something.

1) A great introduction to a Christian spiritual life and my favorite book: The Holy Longing by Ronald Rolheiser

2) An easy to read book on the history of the Christian Church: Desire of the Everlasting Hills by Thomas Cahill

3) Book on Prayer and looking inward: Way of the Heart by Henry Nouwen

4)Great book on ethics based on what Jesus taught: Kingdom Ethics by Glenn Stassen

5) Great book for someone brand new to the Christian faith: Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

If you have read any of these books or have some others you'd like to add to the list, post them on the comments. Check these out and let me know what you all think!

What is the Gathering?

2008-08-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

When people ask me, what is the vision of the Gathering, I like to point them to our prayer which has taken almost three years of changing vision, experience, and ministry to finally be written out and take roots. In this prayer you can see a broad vision of everything we are about. Please read this once and then pray it once:

"God our Father, we pray, in the name of Christ Jesus our savior, that our community would be built on lifelong friendships, as we journey toward you. Jesus is the vine, God is the vinedresser, the Holy Spirit is the sap, and we are the branches. Help us to abide in you, bearing in fecundity the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We pray that your kingdom would come to our world, that you would remove the curse of evil, and that we could be a part of your rescue mission to a lost and dying world. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

To frame this prayer a little better, I would like to use the metaphor of a ship at sea.

1) The Ship: The beginning of the prayer is about the ship itself, an emphasis of a community built on lifelong friendships and the integrity of the Trinity. Every person of the Gathering is an important part of the ship and only respect, love, and an egalitarian attitude (based on dependence on the Father and modeled after Christ) will keep us together and afloat. When people support and love each other, in the way that Christ supports and loves us, our ship's integrity is strengthened and remains unsinkable. Every person has a ministry, a calling, a part, and a role to play.

2) The Wind: The next part is about abiding in Jesus and bearing the fruit of the Spirit. This ship is a sailing vessel and will not move without wind. The Holy Spirit is the wind of our community. The people of our community depend on prayer, knowing God personally, and having our hearts transformed by his power, to be the people he's called us to be. The Holy Spirit, and a passion for his presence, is the only thing that can make our community move.

3) The Destination: The prayer ends with "the kingdom," "removing the curse of evil," and "a rescue mission." One author put it this way; spiritual formation (that is having our hearts transformed by God) is being changed into living like Jesus "for the benefit of others." A ship may be strong, and you may have wind, but it's meant to go somewhere. In the Gathering, we believe that the world has serious problems that can be changed, transformed, and renewed by living the commands that Jesus gave us- commands like caring for the poor, protecting the vulnerable, loving our enemies, forgiving those who have hurt us, living truthful lives, and blessing people that we come in contact with. That is to say, we hope that the ultimate aim is to have our offices, schools, parties, bars, churches, governments, institutions, and next door neighbors touched by the love and awesome blessing of Jesus. That is, we want our local cities to be actually changed by the work of the Gathering, for the better, forever.

Is this something you want to be a part of? Come to the Gathering, get involved, and take initiative. Spread this vision to others and see what God can do in Orange County.

Georgia and Russia

2008-08-14T11:52:00.000-07:00

Georgia is one of those countries that most people have never heard of. I actually met a guy from Georgia and before that I'd never even heard of the place. Georgia is a country (not a state) that broke free from the Soviet Union after its collapse. The sad thing is that there are provinces in Georgia that are filled with Russian people and to simply give back these regions would dice up the country. This still doesn't change the fact that Russia's invasion of Georgia is an unethical act of injustice and warmongering. This echoes many of the events that started World War I when the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (yes that was his real name) led to the outbreak of the deadly and pointless Great war.

As Christians we are to continually pray for peace and justice. Russia's unethical annexing of Georgia could lead to a greater global conflict, not to mention shifts in the election of America's next president, and the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pray, pray, pray. This is much bigger than most are willing to admit.

Looking for Adventure

2008-08-12T08:36:00.001-07:00

I just finished doing what Mark calls the "Coastal Challenge." Mark, Kris, Scott, Steve, Ander, (and Ricky almost), and myself went right after church on Sunday. We crawled from Dana Point all along the Beach to Laguna climbing up and down rocks and cliffs, navigating through rocks while swimming through tumultuous waters. When we hit sand we jogged. We all have cuts and bumps and bruises but it was awesome.

Eldridge made the point that men need an outlet for adventure, and though his analogies can be cheesy at times, he really has a point. We had such an awesome time even though it was decently dangerous and exhausting. Eight miles of that stuff isn't easy. So gentlemen, stop playing video games and watching TV and go do something awesome this week.

Nepal Photos

2008-07-24T09:38:00.000-07:00

We just returned from Nepal and we had an awesome time! The very first thing I want to do is say thank you to all the missionaries who put their heart and soul into this trip. So many of you did what it took to, not only raise the $3,600 to go, but worked incredible hours in incredible conditions to make sure the Nepali people heard the gospel and got their medicine. You truly are being used to bring the Kingdom of Christ here and now.

For all of you who didn’t get to go, we have some amazing stories to tell. Nepal is on the other side of the world and is the home of the infamous Himalayan Mountains, which includes Everest. Until a few weeks ago, it used to be illegal to talk about your faith and if you’re caught you could spend as much as three months in prison. The communist underground kicked the King out of office and allowed all religious tolerance. Tolerant Communists? Who knew?

Anyway, we handed out four-hundred pairs of glasses, tons of antibiotics, found a number of people with heart disease and diabetes, and led hundreds of people to the Christian faith. We were chased down by mobs of brick throwers for breaking the travel strike, drove over landslides, hiked to villages, worshiped in strange places all hours of the night, and probably encountered more germs then the sum of our lives before this trip. All in all, it was wonderful. Thanks everybody for a great adventure and I can’t wait till we go again. Below is a slideshow of pictures from Hannah and me, and here's a link to them. Some of Nathan's are also online. If you other missionaries are reading this and want to add some, send them to Josh at Josh@ocgathering.com