The other day I was walking around downtown Decatur and saw a street preacher. He was doing what most street preachers (and many regular preachers) do, talking into a megaphone to a disinterested audience. I took the opportunity to ask a college age guy sitting there how long the street preacher had been going and we struck up a good conversation.

So, here is a preacher shouting into a megaphone hoping to connect with the same guy that I just struck up a conversation with. Megaphone-man’s message isn’t being heard, but mine is. Why? Because I approached with conversation.

This makes me think of the church relating to culture. While so many (stagnant) churches are shouting down at people, there are a few (growing) churches actually connecting with culture from within. I want to be a part of a church that connects with culture. What kind of church do you want to be a part of?

Apparently, in Knoxville, TN, a web savvy dad figured out his kid was on drugs from reading his son’s MySpace page (parents are you taking notes?). As a punishment, the father had his son (his son agreed to it) stand in public wearing a large sandwich-board sign that said, “I abused and sold drugs.”

Read the story here.

I think this is a great reminder that the Hand of Justice and the Hand of Mercy must be dealt equally. This dad went heavy on the justice (which is my tendency), but he also showed (some) mercy by stopping the punishment when asked to stop, and by not having his son outright arrested. I don’t think I would use this parenting approach, but I imagine it has been an effect method.

What do you think?

 

This past week my wife and I visited some of our family in Arkansas. My Brother-in-law, Mason Leaf, works with Campus Outreach at Arkansas State University and was busy with ministry all week, which was refueling for me as I tagged along with him. 

Monday night we met with about seven college students in a discipleship group, most of them are new believers since coming to college. The flow and conversation of the meeting was simple yet seemed to make you think these guys really knew what great comission living was all about. Each guy shared about his week in matters of the faith; what they were learning, how they are thinking, who they are sharing the love and message of Jesus with, things they want to see changed etc.

The time was God centered and encouraging as we then moved into discussion over their book study on 2 Timothy using the bible as there study and devotional book. They were very concerned with the manner in which they talked to people about Jesus and in grace. These young men are bold and have focus. It is as if they have just seen Jesus ascend and are about His work, convinced and willing. (matthew 28)

It is finals time so they decided to have a 3 on 3 basketball tournament on campus with some of the guys they had been reaching out to with the gospel. There were no posters, mailouts, or marketing. Just a bunch of guys that know people reach people, inviting their old and new friends out for a stress break and some fun.

75 people showed up. After the first round and an hour into the night one of the ASU baseball players shared with everyone about his relationship with Jesus and how Jesus has changed his life. In light of the VT madness two days prior I believe that many were very attentive. We did not have an alter call or time of decision at this point but the guys knew that follow up would be next, in the dorm, at lunch, in the car and where ever else they hang out. After the testimony, Mason had some of the guys that came compete in a quick slam dunk contest, it was crazy! In the end, a team received bragging rights and three all you can eat pizza gift certificates.

What did I learn? We can have our theories all day and talk about church pragmatics but at the end of the day can I say I have loved someone in deeds and with the words of the Gospel. Am I so focused on doing “church” that I forget to live ministry. Is my goal to be program and method focused or to be a laborer? Who am I sharing the gospel with? I am reminded that people need to hear the gospel, they don’t care if they are postmodern or not, if they are black or white or any other shade of God’s glory in creation. I am reminded that loving others with the love of Jesus takes time and is not numbers driven. I am reminded of how one person can multiply their lives out into many by being willing not only to share the gospel but to train others to do the same. I saw with my own eyes again that people reach people.

And, just when you think you’ve heard everything, in walks Rev. Craig X Rubin, the pot smoking pastor. He’s been arrested because POT IS ILLEGAL, but is claiming that his arrest is breaking his freedom of religion saying, “Our congregation mandates members study the Bible, have faith in God and regularly burn the herb cannabis (The Tree of Life mentioned in the Bible) as sacrament,” (click here for the article).

Some of you might be temped to condemn this guy for using the name of Jesus to serve his own interests and addictions. You would be right in doing that. However let me challenge you here. How often are we guilty of doing this same thing? Not that we do drugs “for Jesus”, but how often do we use the name of Jesus as an excuse to be lazy? Or, as an excuse to be comfortable?

We say things like, “Jesus wouldn’t want me to be seen in the bad area of town”, as an excuse because we are afraid or unwilling to go there. I’ve counseled men that said, “Jesus says my wife should do as I say”, as an excuse to act like a jerk to his family and still have them treat him with respect.

Too often we lie to ourselves and use the name of Jesus to justify our actions, rather than refine our character.

This is using the name of Jesus in vain. It is sin. This should not be.

I encourage you to test your heart, I’m certainly testing mine.

Check out this interesting article on Al Gore and what he is doing to cause global warming. Interesting stuff…

Al Gore’s Inconvenient Electric Bill

At Passion ’07 I learned of a great ministry called OneVerse. Please take a look at this site. I will write more on this and what we are doing at my church to take part in this great ministry. My heart and desire has been captured by the people of the world that do not yet have the gospel in a language they can read. Please, check this ministry out and pray about taking part in the great commission in a different way than you normally think.

For those of you that have been continually convinced that God and government cannot legally co-exist; check out a message from our past…