Mark 1: 16-39 A God Story

why they leave

Just learned that 70% of teens leave the Church after highschool. And of that number, 60-70% say that they left because their father said he was a christian – and the way he lived as a “christian” caused them to decide that they wanted nothing to do with Christianity.

far from home

After 13 years in one place and having a reputation of being “for real”, I routinely get to experience people who are “far from home”. All of these people were born there – its the same thing we refer to as being “lost”. So I find myself helping them get home for the first time.

Others are far from home because they left home. Its what we often call being “prodigals”. Throughout the years I have experienced people leave our Church (which is not the same as leaving the Lord, we just happen to be the place where they were attending when they left the Lord, which results in leaving Church as well).  I have watched them leave angry at me at times…not liking what they hear as I try to reason and correct them as they drift. Others leave without a word, avoiding me and anyone who would speak the truth in love.

months or years go by

and then the phone rings “Can we talk?”, or they show up at Church and want to talk. Over and over I have heard the same story. So I thought I would share with you what I hear and what I know. And maybe, just maybe there is someone out there who will come home tonight. Or better yet, maybe someone about to leave will decide its not worth it.

“Will He take me back?” The Father has forgiven you for the death of His Son, He will certainly forgive this. “But does He want me back?” If He didn’t, then He let His Son die in vain.

Sometimes people ask, “How do I get back home?” That is not the most important question. The important question is: “Do you have what it takes to make the journey”? Have you decided to go home, no matter what? If you have, then He will guide you. The Proverb tells us that “a man plans his way, but the Lord guides His steps”. You plan, He will guide.

Repentance begins with you deciding that you were wrong when you left and you are wrong today where you are. You ask His forgiveness and then make the next right decision.

Very often leaving Home spiritually means that we leave our brothers and sisters. When we go home, often we must return to them. At least to acknowledge our sin and reconcile.

When you are far from home and decide to return, you almost never get to take anything with you. You will have to leave it, or them behind. The people you meet far from home are far from God too. He rarely honors those relationships.

This one is personal: If you left the particular Body called Woodland when you left the Lord (home), and you wonder what would happen if you were to return…”How would they treat me? What would they think?” You already know us well enough to know that answer – We…I, would love you, serve you , and help you all we can. Remember, we were all born far from home. So leaving could happen to any of us. Grace is our calling, grace we will give. Come Home.

All the things keeping you from returning home…pride, shame, guilt…only ruin and ruin and ruin…how much more of that can you stand?

When you decide to go home, remember…

                                       …that however far away you have walked…it is that far home. Don’t expect a quick trip. And the consequences may last for a lifetime, even after you get back to the Lord. If you are $50,000 in debt when you come to your senses, you will still be $50,000 in debt when you are back in full fellowship with God.

Finally, it is with a heavy heart that I know that I have not seen the last of the prodigals. So I would venture to beg the children – Don’t go. If you leave you must leave freedom behind and serve sin as a Master. For a while it may be feel fresh even exhilerating. But sin will never bring what you want – peace, lasting happiness, satisfaction. It uses us, drains us, and leaves us wasted. So I am forced with a Shepherd’s heart to wait for the next child of the Father to decide to leave. And as I watch them go I will grieve as I so often do and know…

One day they will call.

Woodland at a Glance

Every Sunday morning at 9:30 the Leaders of Woodland meet for 40 Minutes. Together we have been working on a way to speak TCAW’s distinctives in a few words. Here is what we have so far. These 40 Minute experiences have been some of the most “Together” times I have ever felt with a Body. There is a oneness that is being shared in a powerful way.

So give us your feedback.

Our Worldview: We were designed by our Creator to see Him revealed in this world and enjoy a relationship with Him. But through our own choices we fell and we broke. Now we exist to mend the Broken so they can reach the Broken. And we can only do this with God and together.

 Our Mission is to mend the broken to reach the broken.

Our Vision is to give 50% of our income to missions and the needy.

Our Values spring from our highest value…loving relationships.

Our Foundation is Home Churches, empowered by those Churches gathered.

Our Balance is between mission to the world and ministry to the Body.

 Our Commitment is to follow the spiritual life patterns practiced by Jesus.

“this place feels different”

Eric came to me after our Christmas Drama…

Wait. I have to tell you that a Big Wheel was in our service Sunday. Not the kind that struts before men to be seen – but a genuine Big Wheel – the kind that God actually makes. After the service She told Jayme that our Drama was one of the most creative Christmas events she had ever witnessed. I agree. Thanks to everyone who made it happen. I think God loves it when we dream how to tell His Stories in fresh, accurate ways.

…Back to Eric. Someone came to him after the service and said,

“This place feels different. I don’t mean the building. I haven’t been here for an extended period of time and being here now you can just see how tight and deep the relationships are forming.”

Eric said, “Its happening”.

What’s happening?

Its the last word in our Worldview…

We were designed by our Creator to see Him revealed in His world and enjoy a relationship with Him. But through our own choices we fell and we broke. Now we exist to mend the broken to reach the broken. And we can only do this with God and Together.

You are right Eric. There will be more and more people who want to be a part of something deeper, together.

i’m gonna cry…

I like gifts…at least the good ones. Like you I have recieved more than my share of “What-do-I-do-with-this?” Gifts. Mike and Linda Stephens gave me a Christmas gift. He made two mistakes: He told me what it was before I opened it…Mike, Mike, Mike. Then he apologized for “giving the pastor a Bible”…Mike,Mike,Mike,Mike. Linda, do something with him will ya?

So they gave me a Bible – The American Patriots Bible. And I have been reading it. Throughout the Text, there are American History stories inspired by Scriptures. So I have read of Appollo 8, Great Presidents, Noah Webster and more…

…and i cry.

Oh how far we have drifted…

…from the astronauts who closed the first television broadcast while orbiting the moon by reading Genesis 1 to all those watching on earth.

…from Presidents with the moral and just character of George Washington.

…from Educators who say only men who “fear God” should be selected for office. 

Scripture would say it this way, “Oh how far you have fallen”.

I read as the news played in the background. The Senate Democrats have chosen their health care bill. It was hard, but they got it after they finally began to pay out 100’s and 100’s of millions in Pork to win their own demoncrat votes. (Was that a typo?) The Republicans are beside themselves with indignation. But not so fast, these are the Republicans who took Pork barrell spending to its greatest heights in history in the last Administration.

We are on the way down children. And these immoral, unethical, Nonpatriot fools are leading the charge to the BOTTOM.

So I cry…but I am so thankful for this gift reminding me of what once was.

Needs and News

Hey Church,

There is a lot happening right now as we begin to move into the Christmas season and our Next Steps as a Church. So I’ll be as brief as possible, but please read and respond with all you got.

 Thank you guys for your patience. I know we are all really ready to get back to things like Home Groups, KidJourney, Adult discipleship, etc. Now that the building is not in our way, we are working constantly to reestablish these great ministries.

1. Don’t forget to set your clocks back this Saturday night.
2. We really, really need people to clean before Sunday – Sweep, mop, and clean bathrooms, Access, and kitchen. Jayme and I will do all vacuuming and stage cleaning.
3. We need someone to mow and weedeat. Outside looks rough.
4. This years Christmas Drama Event – Did That Really Happen?  will be presented December 27^th during our morning service. We need all teenagers and kids who wish to participate to let Jayme know ASAP. We will soon begin practicing and choosing people for roles. There will be plenty of speaking and nonspeaking roles. We also need others including adults to help with sets, costumes, etc. As usual this is a production written and produced by The Creative Arts Team, so you know it will be good. Don’t miss out.
5. Home Groups will begin building during November. If you are a Home Group Leader please attend the 40 Minutes meeting every Sunday morning from 9:30-10:10 am. If you would like to explore being a Home Group Leader please see Brad, we need you.
6. Tomorrow, check back here to see KidJourney news. Its coming back!! Yea!
7. January 1^st – Why not go with Brad and Jayme to see the Avett brothers at the Fox at 8pm? Tickets are $25. We will order tickets on Nov. 4^th if you would like to be seated with us. Haven’t heard of them – YouTube em now.

Please be faithful in your giving. We took up less than our needs in October. We know times are tough. Remember, God allows tough times to see how tough the faith of His children. Help us accomplish our goals of more and more mission giving.

You are a beautiful people and it take all of us serving and moving in the Body to get where we are going. I’m glad you are going with us.

brad

 

the older I get

The older I become I find what truly matters…and what I really want for my birthday.

If you watch people you can see what they value. For many you would have to conclude that there is a constant need for the new, better, and more…things. The insatiable desire to prove oneself through accumulation. Success is making sure my mountain of stuff is the biggest, or at least as big as the Jones’. “If my house doesn’t get bigger, what will people think”? “If I can’t have a new car, what does that say about my success.”?

I’ve lived long enough today (oh yeah its my 44th birthday) to begin to see how empty this is…maybe not today, maybe not for a long time. But one day when I get “old” my values will surely change. That new car that I can’t drive will mean so little. That 4000sq ft house where I can’t climb the stairs just won’t matter. And if I have spent my life amassing the more, I will sit in a cold room full of what I treasured and find emptiness all around.

Too many people forget to buy stock in life’s most precious commodity – people…relationships. Instead we trade people in like we trade in cars, about every two years we are on to the next person. Leaving behind us a wake of unforgiveness and broken relationships. “Well you don’t know what they did to me. I can’t forgive that”. But one day you will wish you had.

Beyonce is right, “I can have another you in a minute”. The difference is that I want to keep them all. So I will choose to love and rejoice, and in the end maybe an “enemy” will come to say, “Thanks for loving me, even when I didn’t love you”. 

I want to be that guy who won’t leave you. And even if you leave me, I want you to know that I’ll always be waiting.

So as I sit here at 44 I am evaluating life and success by a different standard – How many people?

How many lives have I purchased with the currency of love?

How many debts have I written off in forgiveness?

How many service calls will be available because way back when I was there?

How many customers will be in my shop when it is time to close this store?

How many hands will hold my hand when I’m letting go?

This is where my treasure is…Happy Birthday to Me.

A Man had a fig tree…

Here’s a Summary of the past month’s teaching which sprang from Luke 13:6f:

• God does not love us based on our performance. If He did, He would hate us all.
• God’s love is based on His choice. In spite of our depravity, God chooses to love us. Ez. 16, John 3:16
• God’s standard is perfection without compromise. Therefore, He never let’s sin slide. The wages of sin are always death.
• Salvation is therefore necessarily a gift of grace through the gift of faith (Eph 2:8f). Works could never accomplish being good enough because the definition of good enough to God = perfect.
• Jesus came to be good enough (perfect) to pay our wages. His death was an acceptable (perfect) sacrifice for our sin. romans 5
• Having done all of this God has EXPECTATIONS of us. This is the major message in Luke 13:6 with the fig tree. He Expects Fruit.
• The natural question to ask is “What fruit?” Since our destiny is Christlikeness (Rom. 8:28f; 1 Jn. 3:2), then we conclude that God expects the same fruit on your tree as He has on His tree. This feeds our practical understanding of the megathemes of “InChrist” and “Christ in Me”.
• So “What fruit”? After all is said and done; if you took the law to the kitchen and put it in a pot and boiled it down, what would be left as God’s great expectation of us?
• The answer dominates Scripture: Love. Thus Mt. 22:18f; 1Jn 3-4; 1 Cor 13 and on and on.
• But we must remember:

1. Nothing is more unnatural to the spirit than hate.
2. Nothing is more unnatural to the flesh than love.
3. Nothing is more natural to the spirit than love.
4. Nothing is more natural to the flesh than hate.

• Here’s One Big Problem: We make too too many decisions based on how we FEEL. This is what I was going to do with Genesis 4 and Cain but never got to. God didn’t accept his offering and Cain “became angry”. Now feeling anger, he acted, and the result was murder. While we may not actually kill, Jesus said that hate was the same thing. Its always been heart stuff to Him.
• My own personal experience tells me that too too often when I act on how I feel – I sin. I don’t love, I hate. Notice the talk 1 John gives from vs. 4-10. Its all about “sin” and “righteousness” to big general concepts. But when John gets more specific in vs 11 he reveals that sin and righteousness all have to do with “love”.
• Most of our decisions can be made by asking the question: What would love (as defined as God kind of love) do?
• This is why we have these large meetings of believers on Sunday: Hebrews 10:28f to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds”.
• Go do what love would do next, and next, and next, and next…

worship 10/11/09

Sometimes it is evident when HE comes to Church. Yesterday it was evident. We loved God hard together.

Some things to remember:

• we are nearing the shore on Leona’s home, so contact Eric to find out how you can help – Love would probably do that.
• Our giving must be strong this month so please consider how you can help give.
• Eric and Hannah Craton are about to go to India on mission. Pray and encourage them.
• I hope you met all of the guests who worshipped with us. Always make it your mission on Sundays to find the new people and do more than say “hello”.
• I will be writing to you this week about Home Churches, KidJourney, Nursery, Wednesday Nights, Youth and more so check your email daily.
• We will have our first ever Masquerade Ball – that will be one fun night.
• I still love you guys