A Nonreligious Approach

Ahhh, Summertime...

2009-07-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

Tuesday night we kicked off our summer Bible study series, Soul Food (Tuesday evenings through August 4th, starts at 6pm and includes dinner for $5). We had a dozen small discussion groups in the sanctuary and I gave each group a different chunk of Isaiah to study together. Honestly, I was a bit nervous about whether it would "work" -- whether conversation / discussion would flow. It could have been laborious (getting to know a group of people while chewing through a chapter of Isaiah is a big stretch...), but instead it felt so easy and fun!

That's the flavor everywhere in our church right now. Easy. Fun. Relaxed. The jazz classic "Summertime, and the livings easy..." has been running through my brain. While many of us are facing difficult situations, somehow God's grace is covering us... even if it's a bit bumpy.

Virtually all my favorite memories from childhood are when things went awry as we were on some adventure... which in the moment was stressful, but in the end became the highlight! Like when we went off-roading in the wilderness and got stuck and it took us a couple of days of piling rocks to build a ramp to get us unstuck. Or when we didn't pack enough food and actually HAD to catch fish to survive. Or when my brother forgot to pack a sleeping bag and was forced to share.

So if things get stressful, let's not get overwhelmed! Let's decide instead to enjoy being together and working together... then it will end up being easy, fun, and joy-filled. What made those moments as a kid memorable and fun was the camaraderie that developed as we tackled the challenge. If we had blamed one another for the problems or tried to solve the them by ourselves, it would of been a nightmare.

So let's take full advantage of the grace that God has on our church right now. It's not a time to sit back or be alone. Like being at the top of a water slide, this is a moment to lean in and enjoy the ride!

If you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:10-11

Total Sweetness

2009-07-01T11:34:00.001-07:00

The other day I got a thank you note from one of the moms who sent her daughter to VBS. She included this photo of her daughter who had fallen asleep while reading her Bible (she promises that the pic wasn't posed... *smile*). Our theme this year was, "It's in There!" -- all the answers we need for life are in the Bible. I'm actually quite inspired by this little girl's totally sweet example... and jealous (in a good way) of the peace she feels.

I don't know about you, but my thoughts and feelings are so persuasive. When fear grips me, the verdict of doom is irresistible. I can spiral into a grumpy, depressed place for hours or days. When I think I'm right and others are to blame, my own logic can't teach me grace or patience.

But thankfully God has given a resource that's more powerful than my thoughts or feelings. When I choose to rely on them, His promises and instructions can secure me and guide me no matter how chaotic my thoughts, feelings, or situation. When I'm trusting and obeying His instructions, I get in on His peace, which defies all logic (Phil. 4:7).

I am praying daily that I would have more courage to reject my own thoughts and feelings and choose instead to rely on His promises and instructions. One of the lies that's been beating me up lately is that I'm not good enough, smart enough, holy enough... or *whatever* enough to do what God is asking me to do. I get no peace by trying to tell myself that I really am doing well. That just adds fuel to the fire...

The other day I came across Ezekiel 36:22-38, and I've been hanging onto it since then. In that section, God promises to do some incredible, miraculous stuff... But the part that really has my attention is where God repeats, "It is not for your sake that I am about to act..." (v. 22, 32). In other words, all the awesome stuff God is doing is NOT a reward for my good behavior. That's not a shameful condemnation... it's a hopeful promise! If the good stuff God is doing hasn't been earned, then it also can't be lost. I don't have to be good enough, smart enough, or holy enough... I just have to keep my eyes on Him!

Love is the Greatest Miracle

2009-06-17T06:08:00.001-07:00

I've read stories about amazing miracles. I've seen some pretty amazing stuff that God has done, too (my own son was miraculously healed when he was a couple months old). That stuff is fantastic... We pray for miracles of healing, provision, and breakthrough all the time. However, the greatest miracle of all is love: when God takes a heart that is hardened by selfishness, fear, grief, pride, shame, and hurt and softens and heals it so that it can beat with compassion, absorb affection, and shout out joy.

Like the miracle of a flower blooming, this process often happens in quiet, almost imperceptible ways. A conversation here, a hug there, a decision made in a personal moment to think differently or to try something new. Hands are raised. Hearts are opened. And God in heaven does a little dance as we come to life in love...

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

VBS Monday: Creation Sequence

2009-06-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

This was such a cool moment! I got goosebumps watching it live. The fact that God made the world and each of the kids' lives was totally new for many of them.

I had a conversation with a parent as they were dropping off their child in the morning, and they were telling me how grateful they were for this event. They explained that they had realized that their child had no concept of God or Jesus at all... they didn't plan to not teach their child, but that with all of the stuff going on in their life, they just hadn't gotten around to it.

These are the moments that the Truth that God made them, knows them, and loves them begins to sink into little hearts & minds... I am so grateful for all the hard work and creativity of the hundreds of volunteers who are helping to put this all together! Go God, Go Team!

How Long Will I Hesitate?

2009-06-15T02:43:00.000-07:00

Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:21

The thing I love most about VBS is that it's a chance to launch in with my whole heart. There's something about being surrounded by hundreds of screaming, jumping, dancing kids and adults that opens up a fresh possibility for my heart to enter into pure servanthood (working for others rather than myself), pure worship (working for God rather than myself), and pure joy.

Although I believe everything I teach, I still have areas of my heart that are so stubborn, so proud, and so selfish. Those parts of my heart hesitate to launch in to Jesus. Part of me likes to hang back in the shadows, evaluating and critiquing everything that's going on around me, rather than just going for it.

So if you see me this week jumping a bit higher, shouting a bit louder, and getting a bit messier than I have in the past, it's because I'm desperate! I want so badly to have Jesus cleanse my heart of selfishness, pride, and stubbornness. I want to get rid of the arrogance that makes me hesitate and second-guess with God. I want the humility and joy of a child (Matthew 18:3).

VBS Fast Day

2009-06-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

They will be as mighty men,
Treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle;
And they will fight, for the Lord will be with them…
And their heart will be glad as if from wine;
Indeed, their children will see it and be glad,
Their heart will rejoice in the Lord. Zechariah 10:5, 7

Today is our church's VBS Fast Day. We are praying for God to do the impossible. But it's not just up to God... He invites us to fight with Him! So we're rallying together to contend for the breakthroughs God wants to do.

There are hundreds of kids and volunteers registered. Each one needs a touch from God. Families are breaking apart, homes and jobs have been lost... the future seemingly unsure for so many. The desperation in our lives is palpable.

The enemy says that we don't have the time, energy, or money to pull off VBS. He speaks despair to tempt us to isolate in fear. But VBS is an opportunity to reject his lies and step into the battle for these little ones' hearts and lives. As we serve the kids, God will do the miraculous, empowering us to crush the enemy's hopelessness under our sweaty, dusty feet.

In the end, we'll be drunk with joy, and our kids will come to know God. Awwww yeah! That's going to be some serious F-U-N!!!

God Teaches Me to Lead

2009-05-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit,
Who leads you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17

In lots of areas, I'm on a very steep learning curve. This goes without saying, but if I'm learning, that means there's lots of stuff that I don't know yet. Also, it means that I'm making a lot of mistakes.

I like to know everything and be fully qualified before I step into leading others... But that isn't God's pattern. He loves to promote humble people who have lots to learn.

One of the lies that comes at me is that since I'm making lots of mistakes, people would be better off without me... that somehow I'm going to mess things up to the point that I should quit while we're still all ahead. But this verse says that there is "profit," even in the learning curve. Other verses say it even more clearly (2 Cor. 12:9, Judges 6:14-16, Ex. 4:10-12, Phil. 4:13). The enemy is trying to get us to quit by making us feel like we have nothing to offer. While we don't have much to offer, if we offer it in Jesus' name, He can take it and multiply it (Matt. 14:13-21, Acts 3:6). These are verses I'm holding onto for dear life...

On the other hand, the enemy is also happy if we refuse to learn from our mistakes. He says that we are free to take advantage of God's grace and that there won't ever be any consequences if we continue to fail. This is also a lie (Rom. 3:5-8, James 2:26, Heb. 5:11-14, Zech. 7:11-14)! If the disciples made lots of mistakes in their learning process of becoming apostles, I should be willing to do the same. However, they eventually grew in wisdom and authority through the humble learning process. If I'm really changing, the same will be true of me.

While I don't want to write myself off for my mistakes, I also don't want to pretend that they aren't there or that they don't matter. I want to walk right down the middle of the straight, narrow path... Willing to learn and also willing to lead.

A Deceived Heart Can't Deliver Himself

2009-05-07T07:01:00.001-07:00

He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?" Isaiah 44:20

When I've been deceived, I am feeding on ashes. My "deceived heart" believes that these ashes are tasty and satisfying. The lie is that there is power in an idol (read the context of the verse). An idol is the product of my effort and imagination.

When I am eating ashes, I need help to see it. I tell myself that my hard work and creative thinking will solve problems. It's easier for others to see when I'm choking on my efforts than it is for me. I imagine myself to be diligent. Others (especially my wife) can see when I'm fooling myself.

That's why I want to constantly maintain a posture of humility and vulnerability with people who know me and love me. Sounds good, right? It is good, but it's very difficult and painful at times... because it tends to be that the things I'm working hardest on and care the most about can most easily become "ashy." Being open to hearing about that is tough.

Day Off

2009-05-06T09:27:00.001-07:00

It's been a long haul the last couple months for the Millikan fam. Between sickness, Easter, FMA, and lots of other little meetings here and there, it just feels like we haven't had much family time. So we're taking the day off together...

This morning I'll be trimming the tree in the back yard to prep it for swing-installation. Then this afternoon we'll be making our first trip to Pump'd in Watsonville.

I am determined for my kids to grow up feeling happy that daddy is a pastor. I want them to understand that saying yes to Jesus opens up all kinds of incredible possibilities and fun that we could never get on our own!

Field Ministry Academy

2009-04-30T14:29:00.001-07:00

Last week was one my favorites! I spent the week with eleven other pastors being coached by Daniel in how to think and live in this wild world of ministry. While I could write pages about what I learned, let me share just a couple of the highlights:

Relationships, relationships, relationships. While structure, strategy, and theology are important, the laughter and joy that come from affectionate connection is vital! The picture that kept coming to me is how a skeleton is ugly and empty. So is structure without love and affection. On the other hand, a body without a skeleton won't make much progress! Both the structure and the heart are vital. My vulnerability is putting too much thought, effort, and trust in the structure.

My hope and prayer is that the friendships that are being forged among us pastors will have a long-lasting impact on our Foursquare movement. Our hope and strength is not in any particular structure or strategy (these tend to come and go on a regular basis), but in vulnerable, affectionate, active, and lasting connection with each other. Friendships like these make Foursquare a movement rather than merely an organization / denomination (bylaws, procedures, theology, etc.).
Preparation and flexibility. One of the things I've always admired about Daniel is how he is so prepared and yet so flexible! When I'm highly prepared, I sometimes get rigid in my plan. Last week, I felt so cared for by the immense amount Daniel had prepared for us to go through... and I felt so cared for in that he was willing to let it go (because he allowed us lots of time to interact with each other and also to answer our questions).
Ministry is about raising people up to do more ministry. As a pastor, it's so easy to lose sight of the goal! Because there's so much work (logistics, administration, etc.) involved in church, it's easy for church to become the end rather than the means. We use church to grow and shape incredible people, and we reject anything that uses people to grow and shape an "incredible" church.

Repentance

2009-04-17T14:58:00.001-07:00

Just this afternoon, a friend of mine emailed me and asked what repentance is... I felt so encouraged as I wrote out some thoughts for him, that I decided I would share them with you. Enjoy!

*************

Contrary to popular thinking, repentance is not an angry or judgmental word (picture the angry dude on the street corner yelling at people to "REPENT!"). It's God's promise that life can be different (and better) than it is right now. To "repent" simply means to have a change of mind, to turn around, to go another direction from where we were headed.

The essence of what repentance is all about is saying to God, "My way hasn't worked, I've tried as hard as I can, and I've come up short, so I'm going to stop what I'm doing and ask for Your help." Even our most noble and honorable efforts fall insanely short of how God thinks and acts (Isaiah 64:6, 55:9), so there is room for repentance all the time. That's why repentance isn't a sporadic event driven by guilt and shame, but an ongoing process of being instructed by God in how to live, think, and feel.

Religion twists repentance into a shameful ritual -- it's the “price” we must pay to earn favor with God. It’s often portrayed as a cowering, squirming admission of how bad we are, as if God would be happy if we would admit what miserable creatures we are. But God doesn’t need anything from us; it's for our sake, not His, that He offers us this incredible invitation into repentance (Psalm 50:9-15). Not because He’s angry, but because He wants to rescue us from where our natural thinking / living leads us, and teach us on a daily (and hourly) basis a better way.

Once we understand the power of His grace, we become hungry to confess and repent all the time! No longer are we driven by guilt and shame to prove our worth and defend ourselves, but we get to let our guard down with God and other people. We get to confess our faults freely because we don't need to fear punishment (1 John 4:18). Where we previously feared that opening up to God and others would cause them to push us away, we find that it actually opens the door for deeper, more intimate relationship than we had ever dreamed possible. In that love and grace we finally find the freedom to become the people God made us to be.

Look Up!

2009-04-16T16:06:00.000-07:00

This weekend a group of our youngsters will be performing a musical during services. The script follows three characters on a journey full of laughter, surprises, and dangers as they search for the lost cookie jar and rescue a damsel in distress in order to save the day at the Giant Cookie Festival.

"Turtle", a shy little girl, "Little Man" a conquering young hero, and their fearful friend "Princess" encounter situations in their adventure that bring up anxiety, confusion, and loneliness. But in all of these situations, they are reminded to "look to the Lord." As they pray for help, the Lord delivers them and shows them a way through their current troubles. And after each difficult situation is overcome the choir sings praise to the Lord for His grace and His deliverance.

My hope is that through this simple, youthful production we'll be reminded that the Lord wants us to call out to Him in our times of trouble. There's something about the purity and innocence of children that can open our grown-up hearts to the truths of the Kingdom.

One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4

This isn't just about older teaching younger. There are times when it goes the other direction, too! It's going to be a fantastic weekend! Come and enjoy it with us.

Easter Reflections

2009-04-16T15:37:00.001-07:00

This pic is from our Easter Prep day that happened a few weeks back. 100+ volunteers came to weed, plant, trim, and mow our grounds to get ready for the Egg Hunt that we all enjoyed last Saturday morning.

It would be hard to underestimate how much work went into that event. Literally thousands of man-hours of planning and prep, not to mention all the work on the day itself.

You would think that such exertion would leave us drained, yes? But quite the opposite is true. When we are doing things with the right heart, the right motives, it's actually energizing.

It's impossible to out-give God. When we give or serve, He gives more (Luke 6:38). What's draining and exhausting is living for myself.

I am so proud of our church family for how we banded together and put together a wonderful weekend of lively fun for our community. While I don't want to shove it down anyone's throat, I hope the truth isn't lost amidst the festivities: this was far more than a fun event. It was a group of people laying down their lives so that others could be blessed.

The enemy lies to us saying that if we go for it with all we've got, that we will lose... our individuality, our time, our energy, our money.... whatever. But God promises that if we choose to lose our lives for His sake, we will find them in the end.

The Trial of Dismas and Gestas

2009-04-16T15:05:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine recently wrote a parable that summarizes the gospel story. Just wanted to share it because I think it's pretty great stuff... The plot and imagery help clarify many important details of what our faith is all about. Enjoy!

Relying on Grace - Part 2

2009-04-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned in several settings recently how stressful it is preparing for Easter. I want to deliver a humdinger of a sermon that will impact lives with hope. It's not a prideful thing, it's just I want to do a good job because I know that if we can grasp the truth, it will change our lives.

Each time I've shared about my stress, my friends have been encouraging me to trust that God will give me the words to speak. It was nice encouragement. But then last evening at our Council meeting, another of my friends spoke more directly to me. In his words, I heard the Lord gently correcting me, "It's so stressful, Todd, because you're trying to come up with a great sermon on your own. Just ask me what I want to say to people..."

Not only do I need God's grace to cover my mistakes, but I also need His grace to accomplish anything truly fruitful. My best efforts, noble intentions, and hard work will only distract people from hearing God if I'm not relying on His grace to speak through me. A few verses came to mind:

All our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment. Isaiah 64:6

Apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Without faith it is impossible to please Him. Hebrews 11:6

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Relying on Grace

2009-03-31T17:18:00.000-07:00

For the last few weeks, I’ve been teaching on deliverance in our weekend services. It’s been exhilarating and nerve-racking at the same time. It’s a subject that goes to the core of who we are, and the lays bare some of the rawest nerve-endings of our souls. I want to be so sensitive with each word that I say, but I also want to speak the truth directly so that it can make a difference. In that tension, there’s lots of room for error... Especially since this is the first time I’ve taught on the subject.

In the 5pm service last weekend, I analogized the pain of spiritual bondage to the pain of a spank that I lovingly give to my kids (i.e. God allows uses the pain to teach us to serve Him wholeheartedly). This was a sad choice on my part. Spanking is such a touchy subject! That subject alone needs lots of explanation so that people can understand the heart behind it. Not very helpful to explain a very touchy subject with an even touchier subject! On top of that, when I made the analogy, I was in full-on teacher-mode… My pastoral mercy/sensitivity radar wasn’t functioning. I was making my point, but it wasn’t really helping anybody.

I’ve lain awake for hours the last few nights agonizing about all this… And today I received prayer. My friends could feel regret and discouragement trying to drag me down. Thank you, Lord, for friends! I could never do this alone.

Now I’m feeling a freedom to rely on His grace. Where the enemy was using my mistakes to condemn me, the Lord is reminding me that He can use them to accomplish even better things than I can imagine (2 Cor. 12:9). This whole learning / growing process can be a bit painful at times, but how exciting, right?! He promises to use our mistakes for good! I am sure giving Him plenty to work with! ;)

A Gift of a Bible

2009-03-27T13:15:00.001-07:00

For those of you who are subscribed to my blog via email, apparently the video I referenced in my last entry didn't come through. If you're interested, you can check it out here.

A Conversation - Pt. 5

2009-03-27T10:22:00.001-07:00

When we open our lives to others, regardless of how much or little they agree with our faith, it's essential that we maintain a posture of humility (not being overconfident in our own perspective) and respect (realizing that they are made in God's image and that He knows how to speak to them far better than I do).

I actually try to ignore whether or not they agree with me, and I try not to think about whether a person is "saved." Focusing on our disagreement or trying to "get someone saved" tends to make conversations awkward and / or confrontational. Notice how Jesus loved to ask questions... He wanted to know them and He wanted to get to the heart of where God was already speaking to them.

I think this is what the apostle Paul is talking about when he writes that he was "not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God" (2 Corinthians 4:2). Pressure-filled, argumentative, manipulative presentations of the gospel are "crafty" and actually end up "adulterating the word of God." But if we trust the Holy Spirit to do most of the work, then we are freed to just share our story, and to "commend ourselves to every man's conscience." In other words, our job is simply to identify with and encourage them in what God is already doing in their hearts.

Yesterday, I came across a video in which a renowned atheist (and comedian) named Penn Jillette talks about how refreshing it was when someone gave him a Bible, and did it with a humble and respectful attitude.

The bottom line is this: we all need to be rescued. If, by sharing my story, I can help someone discover where Jesus has an answer for a hurting place in their life, then they will have found their next step forward in their journey of faith. Rather than an exclusive club reserved for those who have prayed "the prayer," I think of faith as a journey -- a series of steps. Whether they consider themselves a part of our church, or even of "Christianity," I always want to help them take their next step. For some that will be praying. For others that will be understanding something for the first time.

Below I continue my conversation with my friend. His questions are indented.

Are there very few people who have really accepted the antibodies?

Fewer people have accepted them than think they have (Matt. 7:21-23). Lots and lots of people are trying ignore the virus in their system. They would rather act healthy and healed than admit that they are sick. When we have invested a lot of our life in putting up a facade of perfection, it is very, very difficult to allow it to come down. The only way we can receive the antibodies is when we admit our sickness. They can only be given, not earned.

I'm not sure what your impression of was me from high school, but I can definitely say that a lot of my relationship with God was defined by what I did for Him. I was performance oriented. I definitely had the mutated virus of religiousness in my system. Toward the end of high school, through college, and for a few years after college, I had a huge crises of faith. I wasn't the person I presented to everybody. I had huge amounts of hidden sin, I had a lot of judgment against people, and I was generally not a very happy person (the older brother in Jesus' parable). In college I tried putting morality aside and just having fun (the younger brother, the prodigal). Both were equally hopeless.

In the last few years, I've learned more and more about how to rely on Jesus' daily forgiveness and God's constant provision in my life. I've written a bit more about how that began here.

Am I asking too many questions? I had a parent-teacher conference once because I wouldn't stop asking questions.

Very funny... But as I said before, this conversation is a lot of fun for me. Really [friend], you were one of the best friends I had through those many years. It's amazing to have this opportunity to reconnect at a level that is so deep and so personal for both of us. It's truly an honor... In fact, I've been having so much fun that I've had a very difficult time doing much of anything else! :)

A Conversation - Pt. 4

2009-03-20T16:00:00.000-07:00

My friend continues his questions (his questions are all indented below)... As you're reading, what we're talking about is not as important as picking up on the tone of the conversation. Although we come from different faith traditions, I'm respectful and engaging, trying to give thoughtful, applicable answers to the best of my ability. I'm no theologian, but I still want to do the best with what I've learned so far.

You wrote, “Any attempt to become healthy / righteous without resting in the grace of His gift will ultimately backfire (i.e. get me sicker).” I can understand this is terms of the Pharisees (i.e. the parable of the Samaritan) following the letter of the law and missing the spirit of the law doesn’t do much good. Following the law to be “seen of men” doesn’t do much good either. But isn’t there salvation in following the law AND appealing to Christ’s atonement? It seems logical to me that we need to do both. I can’t imagine God gave/gives laws and commandments and doesn’t expect us to live them. After all, sin is NOT keeping His commandments on some level. This is an area I’ve always wondered about. Thoughts?

Hmmm.... this is an area that many have wrestled with. What's the relationship between faith and works? Couple verses:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. James 2:26

On the one hand, it's not our obedience that saves us (the first verse). But on the other, if there's no obedience, then it's not really faith (the second verse).

The way I see it is that when we've accepted the free gift of God's grace, our heart is changed (Ezek. 36:26). Instead of wanting to do bad stuff, we begin to want to do good stuff. This change isn't completely instantaneous, but it's a growth process. Obedience is an act of worship and gratefulness, not something that earns me salvation.

Back to the virus analogy, obedience is like healthy living. It's better than eating junk food and sitting on the couch. But it's only the antibodies in Jesus' blood that give me any hope of spiritual life. If I've been brought back to life by His blood, then obedience (healthy living) will be the natural result. If I'm spiritually dead, then I have no motive for healthy living. Healthy living doesn't mean much to (or have much impact on) a corpse.

A seeming dichotomy really isn’t then? No matter how hard we try, we can’t get there without Christ. However, we can’t really have faith in Christ if we’re not trying. In terms of the couch potato – we’re not really accepting the antibodies if we’re just sitting on the couch, we can’t be saved if we’re living healthy but don’t accept the antibodies, so we need to live healthy AND accept the antibodies? Am I close?

Well, in my mind, you're close but no cigar. Antibodies lead to life. Period. Living healthy increases the quality of life, but are not a requirement or a prerequisite for receiving antibodies. If you say you've been inoculated, but you're not living healthily, you should double-check to make sure you really got the antibodies in the first place. However, any attempt to live healthy without relying fully on the antibodies will mutate the evil-virus into religiousness / legalism / Pharisaism (even deadlier and harder to identify).

If receiving the antibodies is a one-time event, how do you know you've received them?

Here's how to tell whether you have the antibodies in you:

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 1 John 2:3

Some people read this verse (and others like it) and get nervous because they know they aren't perfect. But "keep" doesn't mean "perfectly obey." Try reading "keep" as "treasure." Before I knew God, I didn't love and appreciate and value His words. Now I do. I can't wait to hear what He wants to say to me because I know that it will bring me life and hope and joy. Conversely, people who don't know Him are afraid to hear from Him (and so they reject Him). People who have the mutated virus of religiousness are also afraid to hear from God because deep down they know their efforts aren't enough to really make God happy. But nevertheless they try to "hide" from Him by using all their efforts and achievements as a smokescreen.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 1 John 3:14

I know that I have God in my life if I find it easier and easier to love people and have grace for their mistakes. Again, people who have the mutated virus of religiousness tend to get more and more nitpicky and proud. They become less tolerant and more judgmental as they continue down their twisted path.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:15-16 -- see also 1 John 4:13

The virus of evil can either manifest in worldliness or religiousness. Either one is a way of trying to secure ourselves without having to rely on God as our Father. The best picture of this in scripture (in my mind) is found in Jesus' parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). The son who left home is a picture of worldliness. The older brother who stayed home is a picture of religiousness. Both totally missed the point of relying on God as a perfectly loving, merciful Father. However, the fact that the older brother couldn't ultimately find it in his heart to join the party shows that religiousness is a trickier, deadlier form of the virus.

A Conversation - Pt. 3

2009-03-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

In case you're entering the conversation mid-stream, I've been posting excerpts from an email interaction I've been enjoying with one of my childhood friends. We haven't seen each other in 15 years and we come from different faith backgrounds... and yet we've both been encouraged by sharing. The enemy of our souls tries to intimidate us so that we won't ask (or answer) important questions. But it's so fun when we finally just go for it!

My friend asked me to expand with thoughts about the virus analogy from the last email:

I am curious to hear your thoughts and understanding of Gethsemane and Golgotha – what, why, how, etc. Maybe even linking it all to your virus theme, if the simile lends itself to that much latitude.

Yes, I think the virus analogy works great. I first came across this analogy in a teaching that I heard here at the Coastlands a few years ago. If you're interested, you can download it here.

Some additional thoughts / parallels with the evil / sin as a "virus" analogy:

I think we could say that Jesus' blood is the only source of immunity. When God allowed Jesus to be infected with a lethal dose of the virus, He didn't stay dead. Since His resurrection, His blood carries the antibodies we so desperately need. Like infants born with HIV, we've all been infected, and are "dead in our transgressions" (Eph. 2:5). Receiving Him means receiving the gift of immunity / antibodies we didn't previously have in our system.
Many people try through their own efforts to fight the dread disease. They do good stuff, go to church, give money, blah, blah, blah... But the Bible teaches that forgiveness / immunity is a free gift (and so it can't be earned). The sin / virus hijacks the host's natural systems. Our willpower and efforts are part of that system. Any attempt to become healthy / righteous without resting in the grace of His gift will actually backfire (i.e. get me sicker).
What is tricky about treating viruses is that they can mutate into deadlier, harder-to-treat versions of themselves. Ironically, the mutation often occurs as a result of the attempted treatment! That's what religion is. A mutated form of the virus. It's man's attempt to approach God. I think religiousness / legalism is a deadlier, mutated virus that's tougher to identify and eliminate than regular, obvious sin. That's why we're encouraged to be "diligent to enter that rest..." (Heb. 4:11).

Tune in later for more of the conversation...

Different Gifts

2009-03-13T13:49:00.001-07:00

I received an email today with some thoughts / questions about what they've read so far in these "Conversation" posts. Here are that person's thoughts (as always, I've asked permission):

On one hand I'm really enjoying your emails [with your friend]...on the other hand, the more you share, the more I feel like I'm standing at the bottom of a very big mountain with a very looong climb to the top. I see that some people have an understanding that doesn't just come from reading and studying their Bibles. You are one of them and you can take a simple question and turn it into a sermon if you wanted to. Not everyone has that gift though. I for one definitely desire it but could not respond to questions like these with answers like yours. I can share my life and my experiences about my walk with the Lord, but don't think I could open myself up for a Q and A session and respond with the wisdom and knowledge that you have.

This is such an honest realization... It's the reality of how ALL of us feel! It feels SO intimidating to share! Here are a couple thoughts:

As this person mentions, different people have different gifts. None are more important, more valid, more profound, or more helpful than others. Each is vital. The person emailing me is clearly more of a mercy shower or exhorter than a teacher. Each gift has strengths and vulnerabilities! Never underestimate the power of your gift! God has put you in the right place at the right time to share what He's put inside you.
God uses people who go for it! In other words, part of the effectiveness you observe in others is NOT the result of their giftedness. It's the fact that God is empowering their gifts for supernatural work. If we're only observing others pouring out rather than allowing ourselves to be inspired to similarly go for it, then we'll always feel intimidated. It's not that there's anything wrong with us or with our gifts, it's just that God can't do anything miraculous with a person who is unwilling.
Let's just go for it... Share what's inside you with the people who are around you! You'll be amazed with what God does as a result.

The Continued Conversation

2009-03-12T12:43:00.000-07:00

Here's another installment of the conversation I've been enjoying with my friend. Remember, God will always use us when we simply open up and share about what He's done in our lives. The enemy tells us that it's not that significant or that we'll probably just mess up if we try. But if we remove the pressure of feeling like there's a "right" way to share, it's amazing what will happen if we just open our mouths and hearts...

My friend's questions (indented) and my answers below:

Can you expand on your comments about the force of sin pulling people toward physical and spiritual death. What is the source of that influence/pull?

Hmm... Good question. There's lots of levels at which I could answer. But probably the most fundamental, root source is the fact that God made the universe in such a way that our choices have huge significance. By giving our choices immense significance / impact, He allows US to have significance. If our choices don't matter, then we don't matter. He allows both good and bad choices to have a readout that's far bigger than we can imagine. In His mercy, good choices have a longer-lasting readout (thousands of generations) than bad ones (see Ex. 20:5-6).

Is it the carnal nature of our physical bodies?

Yes

Is it the external influences of our cultures?

Yes

Is it merely the presence of sin to begin with that perpetuates additional sin (like the person that smokes a little is MUCH more likely to smoke more and more)?

Yes, yes, yes! I love the smoking picture... That's exactly how it works. Or like a virus that usurps and utilizes a cell's original design, hijacking it's reproductive system to produce more copies of the viral DNA. A virus doesn't have any life on it's own (it's just a strand of DNA), it only functions when it finds a host to take over and reproduce itself. The whole universe has been tainted with this virus. Everything that was originally designed to bring life now brings death.

Just to recap, I think there are three basic sources of death / evil:

The world (the created cosmos) - Storms, diseases, etc. The whole world is titled toward death (Gen. 3:17, Is. 24:20). Everyone and everything that isn't listening to God's voice will ultimately slide off the edge.
Our flesh ("original sin") - This is our physical body, as well as our "natural" thinking (Gal. 5:19-21). Our flesh is what makes it more fun to do bad stuff than good stuff. If the speed limit is 55, I want to go 75. That's flesh.
The devil & his demons - There are spiritual forces who lie to us about God and about ourselves (Eph. 6:12). They speak with repetitive, destructive whispers. They plant thoughts that seem like our own, except that they are unkind / hopeless litanies about God, His plans, and His children. They aren't the spooky stuff that Hollywood makes them out to be. Like cancer, their goal and their methods are sinister.

Tune in later if you would like to "hear" more of our conversation...

A Renewed Conversation

2009-03-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

I've had SO much fun over the last week emailing back and forth with one of my best childhood friends. It's been at least 15 years since we've seen each other, but we've nevertheless picked up quite a wonderful, personal conversation. He comes from a different faith tradition from mine and yet we've been able to share deeply about our experiences with God. With his permission, I'm posting some excerpts from our email interaction.

My hope is that as he and I share our conversation with you, you will be inspired to have conversations at a deeper level with your friends. It can feel intimidating to try to formulate candid, personal answers to people's honest questions. Something makes us feel as if we will certainly say something wrong and mess it up. But if we will have the courage to open our mouths and our hearts, God's promise is to use us (Mark 13:11).

My friend's questions are indented and my answers follow below:

Talk to me about God’s judgments on His people. The Old Testament is filled with stories of keeping the commandments and enjoying positive consequences (both individually and as a society) and NOT keeping the commandments and suffering negative consequences. First, I wonder where we are today as a society and whether or not the difficulties the world is experiencing will bring us closer to God or not.

Hmmm... I think that what God did in the Old Testament with the nation of Israel (as His chosen people) is completely different than what we see happening today. What God did to instruct and correct that entire nation that was called corporately to be a blessing / witness to the nations around them (Gen. 12:3, 22:18) is similar to how God instructs and corrects individual people under the new covenant who are called to similarly be a blessing / witness to the individuals around them (Acts 1:8). All of that to say, I don't think God is interested in choosing and using societies. That is / was a one-time deal with Israel.

Second, I wonder how instrumental God is in “directing” calamities and trials for the world OR how passive He becomes in “allowing” us to get into trouble and suffer our own consequences OR a combination of both. ??? What is your sense and perspective, especially in the context of today’s heightened feeling of war, natural disasters, economic peril, and crime?

I don't think God is directing any of that stuff. I do be believe that He is ultimately in control, but I don't think He is sending disasters as judgment / consequences for sin, etc. Jesus said "If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world" (John 12:47). Jesus just isn't in the business of judging anybody right now. There will come a judgment day, but that's not until the end. Right now, He's just trying to rescue everybody He can before we get to that day.

Isaiah 24:20 describes how the foundations of the world have been broken under the weight of sin. Storms, disaster, etc. are just the spillover of a world that has gone completely off-course... If I accidentally swerve my car when going 70mph, the results could be catastrophic... much bigger than the "sin" of the swerve. That's what I think pain and suffering is all about. It's not God's judgment... it's the readout of our sin that is way, way bigger than we can imagine. The way the world is supposed to work has been forever lost. It's been shattered and broken, and it won't be recovered until God remakes the world after this one has come to an end. Now instead of being a world full of life and blessing, this world tends to produce pain and suffering. The force of sin (which is way bigger than any individual person's bad choices), like gravity, is sucking everybody and everything toward death (not just physical). All of God's instructions and counsel are about rescuing people from that gravitational-pull.

If you're interested to read along, I'll post more of our conversation in the coming days...

Watchmen

2009-03-07T06:34:00.000-08:00

Pretty funny stuff... I thought I was going to see the latest installment of the X-Men movies. This movie is full of very graphic violence, nudity, etc. If I had known what it was, I'm not sure if I would have gone. While I think it's important to be conversant in what's going on in our culture, my priority is to "be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil" (Romans 16:19).

But since I did see it... I'll share a couple of reflections. Like many other movies, it was a brilliant and compelling parable. But this was not a story of faith, but rather an argument for atheism.

Along the lines of arguments made by atheistic authors Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris (and others, of course), the storyline presents faith as a delusion that keeps humans from their true potential. The rationale basically goes like this:

Faith keeps people waiting for miracles to happen that they should take the initiative to make happen for themselves.
Superheroes are people who are willing to put the delusion behind them and take matters into their own hands.
Faith creates a morality that keeps humans from seeing the answers to the worlds greatest problems. Only when you get outside that morality can you find the solutions.
The only "miracle" that we should acknowledge and appreciate is our own existence. Awe at the sheer improbability of our own existence can produce enough respect for ourselves to keep us from our own worst tendencies. There's no need to fear God.
Heroes (i.e. atheists) must ultimately will be willing to look like the bad guys (and be willing to do things that morality would claim are "bad") in order to liberate the world from the ravages of faith and usher in an era of peace that will unleash humankind's potential.

I will not even attempt in this brief note to answer these attacks on faith. I don't have the brain-space or time to do it justice. But just briefly, I'll say... While faith is ultimately a "leap," that doesn't mean there isn't a rational basis for that leap that can be found in every area of human thinking. The philosophical, historical, scientific, sociological, and psychological arguments against faith (and specifically against Christianity) are unfounded (and most are based on misrepresentations and lies). I believe that faith, and especially Christian faith, is the best answer and greatest hope for our race.

Congregation Report - ICU's, Ministry Reports, and Council

2009-02-28T16:21:00.001-08:00

In our church, we call our home groups ICU's (Intra-Congregational Units). Church isn't a place to attend... it's a network of relationships. It's a chance to be known, loved, cheered, taught, challenged, and launched. That stuff doesn't happen in our weekend services. It happens in face-to-face interactions. That's why this chart holds some of the most important numbers for our church, in my mind.

The green line represents the percentage of our ICU vs. weekend service attendance (actual attendance figures). I look forward to the day that we have more people in cell groups than our weekend services, but for now, I celebrate that we're averaging about 60%. As great as my sermons are (*smile*), I'm not fooling myself. Nothing can compare the the power of getting involved in each others' lives on a practical and personal level.

On a fun note, you'll notice that in December that we actually achieved that 100%+ vision for the first time! Instead of having a big Christmas outreach program, I encouraged all of our ICU's to host a "Christmas Something." A party, a movie-night, serving with a community-organization... whatever. Each of our 25+ groups did something different. The stories that came out were so amazing and fun!

My hypothesis (I don't have years of experience to prove it yet) is that ICU's are a more comfortable environment to invite friends to join than the church service. That's my own story. I never would have come to the Coastlands. I was sleeping on my brother's couch when all these guys showed up for a small-group meeting. I was so annoyed... But obviously the story is progressing nicely. :)

Below are some stats from several different ministry-areas in our church:

"The Nation," as we affectionately call it, is our youth group. Included is Foundation 45 (for 4th & 5th graders), Jr. & Sr. High, and College (I'm not sure if they have a name for their group yet).

One of the great honors that we enjoy as a church family is having friends and "extended family" around the world. Our goal for these trips is not so much to do projects or events, but to grow friendships that will be mutually encouraging. Some thoughts (and pics) from a trip I got to be a part of last fall here, here, and here.

If you're a ministry leader, I highly encourage you to check out ctw.coastlands.org. You will be so encouraged, so helped, and so supported (if you decide to develop a relationship with Daniel and his team).

One of our missions-strategies is to host rising young leaders at our church for a one-year training program. We invest in them by allowing them to shadow our staff members in their assignments. Not only do they learn some ministry skills, but perhaps most importantly, they learn ministry-heart. Through the 20+ years we've been at this, we've seen hundreds of church leaders developed and released.

It was an honor to get to partner with a couple different churches over this previous year. These churches are both pastored by young guys that I've met through a Field Ministry Academy that Daniel has been hosting. As the Lord has continued to miraculously provide a home for our church family, it's felt especially near to my heart to help take care of other churchs' needs.

The Clowsers, Schaffers and Peixotos will continue serving on our Council. They each have one year left of a two year term of service.

And I asked the church to ratify Susan Valli and Don & Yolanda Miller as their representatives on the Council. I love our Council... It's really one of my favorite nights of the month (except date night). I feel believed in, supported, covered, and, yes, counciled (pun intended).

Hope you enjoyed this year's report. I so look forward to the future that we'll share...