This Time Tomorrow...

Have you ever sat under the ministry of someone who just kept reminding you of simple things that resonated with you, and where your heart was? Maybe what they had to share just filled in some of the blanks, the missing elements you were searching for. Maybe what they had to say challenged you to see something differently or to see something afresh with new eyes. 

Chick Yuill, 'thank you for "this time tomorrow"!'

OK! Let me expand a little so you too can share in this simple but profound opportunity. At Geelong we have commenced this segment in worship. It has three parts to it. I have someone share a little about themselves and what it is they do, or where they spend most of their time. I want to focus in on their workplace, their place of recreation, the group they might belong too, wherever it is they are engaged with others. 

The next aspect is in relation to their faith, seeing that 'this place' is where they spend most of their time, that they recognise it as their mission field. And with this being the place God has placed or lead them, what are the challenges they face, the obstacles that appear to get in the way, or what barrier needs to be removed that they might truly be light in the darkness and salt that brings flavour?

Finally we pray for this person and the mission they are involved in where 'they are', where they spend their time.

However, it doesn't end there for me now. You see, the Lord opened my eyes to another possibility a few days ago. He said, 'the people are pretty good in gathering for fellowship and a cuppa following worship on Sunday, put it out to them that this becomes their prayer room too, that they conduct their own this time tomorrow with those whom they converse. Learn something more about each other, find out the challenges and commit to praying for them'.

God has something in store for Geelong I reckon. I really just wanna be in touch with His heartbeat and follow His lead - there, that's the prayer you can join me in. Will you do this for me? I hope so, cause I reckon it makes a difference - 'thanks!'

Freedom...

There was something impactful about this picture when I first encountered it the other day. I wonder what runs through your mind? The initial thought for me was, that the mold I desire to break free from is that of the world. You might know the one I am talking about, whereby people, advertising, images that are displayed, suggest, even compel me, to conform to a particular image, standard or code.

Interestingly, following seeing this image I was reminded of this reality by Richard Rohr -  

"We think of freedom as not having to do what we don’t want to do, but divine freedom is the capacity to be fully who we already are, to develop our inherent and true nature, as much as possible—really wanting to do what we know we have to do. Only God can create that freedom inside of us. Love can only proceed from such inner freedom. A mustard seed, yeast, and light—that all develop from within—are some of Jesus’ central metaphors for this freedom-loving Reign of God." (Adapted from Jesus' Plan for a New World: The Sermon on the Mount, p. 14)

True freedom is when we become or find the person that God has initiated, created us to be. When we become unshackled, untangled from what others might expect of us, or even what we have become conditioned to think we ought to be.

This might not always seem easy when we begin to contemplate it, or dream after it, well not initially, for so often we are still thinking  in terms of how am 'I' going to accomplish this, how can 'I' achieve this. It is not until we actually surrender self or even the notion of 'I' have to be in control, and hand the reigns over to God, that I begin to realise, you know what? this is possible. 

How bizarre that we let go and we find what we have been looking, even searching for - freedom. Why are we surprised? After all, it is what God desires for us.

I trust that you will know this truth more and more in these days. 

Bless ya real good!

Engaged in Mission

On this discovery of a new journey, I am reminded of an aspect that seems to escape the practice or culture of many within the Church - that mission is something we are all to be engaged in. It is not the responsibility of a select few, often identified to being those who are employed by the church for specific tasks. 

The reminder is that all persons who are followers of Jesus, His disciples, are to be engaged in the mission of the church, disciple making. Our engagement is wherever we might spend our time.

For too long we have operated on the belief or practice that the ministry or mission is carried out within the confines of the church building. Thus we add programme after programme that might, in some way, attract and engage people. The goal is that from these programmes a person might go on to attend worship, and in hearing the Good News, they may respond to the message.

Rather, the mission field is where we are, within our home, workplace, school or within the groups which we belong - wherever we meet with other people.

The important task for the church is that we are preparing disciples to make a difference in the lives of others. Assisting them in their growth and development for the sake of the Kingdom of God. However, those of us in leadership, responsible for those who are followers of Jesus, assist this further by changing the existing culture of the church to understand the importance of mission in the everyday of life, placing emphasis on the mission we all have, talking it up, seeking understanding of the challenges people face and supporting them in prayer. 

Yes, within The Salvation Army we need more people to take up the calling of Officership. But, we also need to assist people to see they might be called to being an office worker, mechanic, medical assistant, social worker, doctor, etc. God needs people in all facets of life to be impacting others with His love and compassion - this is our mission, we need to be obedient to the call He places upon us.

Lord, let us hear your voice and be willing to respond, wherever, whenever, and however You desire.

New Journey

It has been some time since last I blogged. The reading has continued (both of the Word and books to do with church culture, etc.), life has continued (with all that might mean, including the struggle to keep physically healthy as well as the other dimensions of social, mental and spiritual). 

To be honest, there has been somewhat a struggle taking place for me as I have sought to determine, or discern the heartbeat of God for me and the Geelong Corps. "What is it You require of me (us) here Lord? What is Your plan and purpose for this Corps (both corporately and in reaching into this community)?" What has made this such a struggle for me? There seems 'so much' that needs attention and I sense a lack of direction or real purpose currently, both for me personally and the Corps collectively. However, questioning is not wrong. Searching is important, especially when aligned to praying and seeking the heart of God, but so is surrounding yourself with the right people who might remind you of the things that are important and the lessons God might be teaching me (us) through these days.

So, a new journey begins. Where will it end up? What will it involve? What will be required of me (us)? Much of the answers are yet to be discovered, yet there are some glimpses of what this might look like and what it might entail. I think it starts with a healthy dissatisfaction in the status-quo, we cannot remain as we are. It means returning to some basics - understanding the importance of the Scriptures, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the fact that God builds His church and we are to make Disciples (this latter part being the crux of the learning to date). There is always a sense that this will require a good deal of energy, some heartache and pain, a strategy, and could be costly. However, to focus solely on these elements is to miss the excitement and joy of serving God faithfully, to see the Kingdom of God further established, growing and developing as people encounter Jesus and their lives are changed. Remembering that it is 'not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.' This is not reliant on me, rather I am needing to be reliant and ever in touch with the heartbeat of God. He has a plan, He has determined a purpose, it is mine to get on board and be a servant.

 I hope you might join with me in this journey, pray that I might truly be in touch with the heartbeat of God for this place, this community, His people. That I will be obedient and faithful to His call upon my life, to make disciples. Pray for my whole being, body, mind and spirit, will be protected, developed and grow healthier each day for that which is and will yet be required of me. And may you too be blessed and be a blessing as you seek to BE who God has called you to BE.

Connecting with each other

By now you will be aware that I am sold out on the mandate of CONNECTING. A little while ago I introduced this idea of :-

CONNECTING with God
CONNECTING with each other
CONNECTING with our community

There are two passages of Scripture which bring focus for me in this aspect of connecting with each other:-

 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31 this passage reminds us of the infinite value that every single person has to making up the whole, and this whole to which I refer is the Body - the church. I become very aware that none is exempt and we need to be doing all that we can (those of us who are a part of the church) to ensure that we are inclusive of those who come amongst us. There are people for whom the feeling of being insignificant and insufficient is a very real experience, and this is not confined to an out-of-church experience (sadly). Yet this Scripture reminds us that ALL are necessary to make for the body to be functional and healthy. Without each person finding their place and operating to capacity, as they are designed, the body is placed under immense and unnecessary pressure. We need to learn better that none are more important that others, only different. Our Lego block becomes a good representation of this for us, they are different in shape, size, colour, etc.

Hebrews 10: 19-25  this passage reminds us of the importance of meeting together regularly, and compels us that we don't stop doing this. Some of the important reasons for this are highlighted in the following for us and come from various translations:- 

• the need to be motivating one another on to acts of love and good works
• we should encourage one another
• consider and give attentive, continuous care 
• study to show how we might stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities
• be inventive in encouraging and helping out

Another aspect that is important to consider is what our strong connection to one another reveals to the world around us. It reveals our relationship to Jesus and the difference He makes in our lives and relationships, believe it, people do notice. Sometimes the greater reality is that people question why we are not different at times, why the unforgiveness, bitterness, conflict is so rife within the church, because they expect a difference in people who profess to be the church. 

So here is the deal for us. We are a people created to be in relationship with God, in touch with the Creator. Learning, developing, growing and bearing fruit from this relationship. However, the relationship circle widens to encompass one another, whereby we look out for the interests of each other. Encouraging, spurring on into greater things. Identifying that EVERY person has a place and is vital to the whole, that makes up the body. In each person finding their place, this body becomes fully functioning and grows and produces good fruit from it's labours.

You have a functioning part to play in the body that is the church. Are you finding that place? 

Choices

Of recent times I have commenced reading another book (surprise, surprise), Simple Life - (Time, Relationships, Money, God) by Thom S, Rainer & Art Rainer. I sought out this book after reading Simple Church which had a profound impact on me. Some reading this Blog may recall earlier contributions referring back to this, the content was profound, though nothing new, and as the title suggested, it was getting back to being 'Simple' (focused, intentional, minimalistic in the approach).

I have been thinking over the past couple of days of something stated within this new  book, again, nothing I haven't heard before, but it is hitting me between the eyes. It starts with my understanding of what I want most from my life? What might I desire to accomplish? What do I count to be most important? What might my mission (life) statement include? And how important is this to me? What am I willing to do to see this through?

The co-writers highlight the struggles and excuses that go with attempting to accomplish what we might really want. You may identify with some of these, 'I am just too busy. We really need the additional income. Maybe sometime later when we have established ourselves.' And the excuses go on. However, if we really examine it honestly, we will find we will always be busy, we will seldom have the financial security we want, and later may be too late and the opportunity lost forever.

Here was the crux of it - I have a choice. I can lean toward any of the excuses and hardly anyone will challenge them (where maybe we ought to be holding one another more accountable - but that is for another blog) or I can exercise my choice to go for what is most important to me. 

I am challenged to make some decisions and exercise some choices about what is really important to me in my life, to bring some discipline to my living and daily practices, to let go of excuses and to be more intentional. Maybe you are stirred to do the same.

Lord, I believe you desire purpose, fulfillment and accomplishment for my life, help me to be faithful in living this life the way you intend for me to live it, in all it's fulness.

Connecting...

Well this is a theme I have been convinced about for a long time now. Despite what mission imperatives we might have, such as we do here at Geelong - "changing lives, strengthening families & impacting society", I believe these must have a 'connection' base.

CONNECTING with God
CONNECTING with each other
CONNECTING with our community

Fundamentally, the first is what we were created for, relationship with God. However, it extends to being in a place whereby we follow the plan He has for us, at the same time tapping into a source of strength and power to accomplish what He sets us to do. It is the source of our BEing.

The second is a reminder of the importance and ultimately the need of doing this together, we are to be the 'body' of Christ. We are not a dislocated conglomerate of body parts, we were purposed to be joined together, complimenting each other, working together effectively for the Creator.

Finally, we are to have an external focus (our community) - to be looking and working outside the church - 'others'. Recall the command, 'GO' and make disciples...

The image and analogy that best works for me is the Lego block. None of the above will just happen, like a Lego block with multiple connectors, they have to be pressed together to form a connection. There is something intentional about the act of connecting. We need to be purposeful in our acts. Think about it a moment - the Lego blocks are not dissimilar to us in that they come in all sorts of colours, shapes and sizes, yet the purpose is for them to connect with another part. We too are made for this purpose, so lets ensure we are doing all in our power to ensure this happens with the strongest effect possible.

More on this is to come ...