Soul Talk

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40 Day Fast

Fasting has never been something I aspired to do. I laughed at the comment by Reggie McNeil, "I fast faster than most people. I fast in between meals."

But this past week I felt God leading me to fast. So for the next 40 days I will. My fast is from television. I'll confess to you that my typical schedule includes 2-3 hours of TV at least 4 days a week.

I'm on my third day but already I have enjoyed more time in reading and praying. I'm beginning to feel like the noise that keeps me from sensing God is dimenishing. I suppose it's too early to say, but I honestly believe God is pleased with my fast, and He is speaking to me in ways I have longed for.

There are challenges. Our family time is often around the TV so I'll have to be creative to plan times together away from television, but I embrace the challenge.

I am not suggesting that God is challenging you to fast, but I can say with conviction He has called me to this time.  My fast will be over at the end of March. Maybe I'll have more to say along the way. I'll invite you to pray for me that I would remain faithful, and open to the voice of God.

My Brothers in Blue

I spent a couple of hours yesterday in a leadership meeting exploring a truly amazing partnership between Westside Family Church and the "Inner-change Freedom Initiative" (IFI) at Lansing State Prison.  IFI is an amazing organization that works with men who are about to be released from prison. In the 2-3 years before their release these men are brought into a community of "brothers in blue" where they learn how to succeed outside the walls. The men receive vocational training and mentoring, and are welcomed into a community that is the closest thing to the Acts 2 church I have seen in my lifetime.  I visited the prison once, for about two hours, and met dozens of men whose lives are being touched by our amazing God! I plan to return in a couple of weeks for more training so that I can be a mentor for some of these men.

Tears come to my eyes as I consider the incredible blessing I have received to know these men and the God they love. Here are a few lessons I am taking with me:

1. True life with God begins at the point of complete surrender to Him.

2. The transformational power of God is not bound by the institutions of men. God's spirit knows no bounds.

3. The pathway to life's greatest joy is knowing and serving God as we know and serve others.

Honoring those who give

I have observed a debate among some friends, and others that I love, on the subject of whether or not the church should honor those who give generously. Most of my friends urged caution, or advised against any such recognition.  But I heard an argument tonight that makes me think it is not only appropriate, but is needed.

Consider this: We recognize those who lead groups of others to reach people, or disciple people, or teach children, or help with administrative gifts. Why, when we recognize, and appreciate all of these gifts, would we fail to extend the same grace to those with the gift of giving?

Those who love to give should not be valued above others because of their giving, but all who exercise their gifts in serving the body should be apreciated. Why are we so afraid to thank those who give?

The Experience Trap

Quoting from my friend, Mark Batterson -

A few years ag I read a book by R. T. Kendall titled The Annointing. I memorized something he said because it's so true. "The greatest opposition to what God is doing today comes from those who were on the cutting edge of what God was doing yesterday."

If don't know Mark, you need to get to know him. His books are awesome.  And this quote is a new favorite of mine. I pray that I will never be so enamored by the past as to forget that God is always doing anew thing.

Another great quote, "When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near."

Ponderings about Africa and slavery

I was watching the movie "Amazing Grace" on TV this afternoon.  It is the story of William Wilberforce and his fight to end the legal slave trade in England. At the beginning of the movie there is a statement that "by this time more than 11 million men women and children had been taken from Africa to be slaves."

My thoughts - this must have been an enormous scar on the continent. I've often thought critically of Africa. I believe it's called "the dark continent" no just because many of the people have dark skin, but because it has been a place of human bondage, brutal government leaders, poverty and disease. I know there is no way to measure the degree of damage slavery caused, but I have to wonder if the wound was so deep and great as to be the cause the suffering of many generations.

EXTRAVAGANT Serving

We had a great day at Westside yesterday. The worship center was absolutely packed for every service but 5:00 pm (KC Chiefs were still playing). Troy did a great job with worship and I'll have to remember to thank him for leading us in one of my favorites, "Jesus Paid It All".  Dan hit it out of the park with the message and made a lasting impression on everyone with his challenge to the 60 minute serve. I had three great SHAPE interviews, and networked with dozens of new/old Westsiders between services. And to top it all off I was able to worship with my family (including our oldest daughter who was home from college, and her boy-friend). These are the kinds of things I love and they made it a great day for me.

Hope for America

The story of a young black girl who said, "Don't you know - black people don't get married." Has haunted me since I heard it. There are all kinds of concerns going through my head around the theme of the problems with the family in America. 

Yesterday, with the election of our new president a hopeful thought popped in my head. Can President Obama and his family be a new model for family in America? Especially for the black community?

This hope is on troubled ground because so many of President-elect Obama's views are inconsistent with my family values, but I pray that he, with his wife and children, can at least hold up a model that is forgotten by many in America today...one man, one woman, committed to raising their children in a loving home.

Counteracting (Hope part 2)

Chris, the director of the Hope Center was talking about the neighborhood around the Hope Center. He called it a "forgotten zone", and relayed some heart breaking news about the environment there. And then he made an amazingly important statement:

"The world that they see out there is so completely different from what w are trying to teach them - you can't counteract that in a couple hours a week."

That statement is so true - not just in the "forgotten zone" of the Hope Center, but in the neighborhoods I live in as well. Affluence doesn't make the need for a counteractive investment any less. Helping each other to know and follow Jesus takes an investment of more than a couple hours a week - in our own lives, in the lives of others, in our time with God alone, and our time with God together.

Lord help me to be the kind of leader who invests deeply in the lives of others and lives so authentically that others may invest in me as well.

An Island of Hope

The Westside leadership team met with the leadership team of the Hope Center in Kansas City, Missouri today. It was a brief visit but left a big impression on me. These leaders are making a real difference to the vulnerable in Kansas City. They have great plans for a community school, safe streets, good housing, and a church plant. In ten years I believe we'll look back on this Hope Center and see amazing changes in the community around Hope.

The leaders told us that the number one cause of death in the neighborhood is homicide. I was stunned when the story of one young black girl was relayed to us. Her volunteer leader was teaching her about the values of saving sex for marriage and her response was, "Black people don't get married." What a horrible tragedy!

On one block only three of the homes were occupied, the rest vacant and in foreclosure. This community has been hit very hard, even more so in recent days.

When faced with such a hopeless situation, the Church is presented with a truly amazing opportunity. We are the only ones who can bring hope to a place like this. We believe in the power of God to transform lives! 

Westside's leaders are exploring how our church can partner with the Hope Center. This is the kind of thing the church of America has to do!