The Village at Magnolia

The last two Saturdays I have spent some time with a person from the Chamber of Commerce in our neighborhood, asking about the future of the main business district we call The Village.

They are running a campaign to ask people who are interested to be involved with the planning of the future of the Village. The main question they are asking is "What would you like to see?"

Today, I spoke with Greg C. for about 20 minutes. When he asked me what I do he was a little confused at why I would pay so close attention to what the Chamber is proposing. Though I missed the opportunity today, next time I will tell them that one of our values is that we as the Church want to see the flourishing of our city. (see: "peace" or shalom in Jeremiah 29:7... and the context of the verse)

That is where I need help. I would like to see if anyone would be willing to look at what is already written and give feedback. The picture below is of a banner in which people fill out stickers for their vision of the Village and place the stickers on the banner for others to see.

• What do you see about the people who have written their vision?
• What is your first impression about what is written? Why?
• How would you suggest we involve ourselves in helping shape the vision in order to be for the flourishing of the people of Magnolia?

The only real flourishing of a group of people in a city is if they have a flourishing relationship with Jesus. That is the real reason I ask.

I would appreciate any feedback that you might have. Thanks!

The Spirit Goes Before Us

I share this portion of Hudson Taylor's life because when I read this I needed to be reminded that the Spirit is at work in people's lives even if I am not faithful to pray or to seek them out.

He goes before us:

     "Last week I [Hudson Taylor] was at Taiping. My heart was greatly moved by the crowds that literally filled the streets for two or three miles, so that we could hardly walk, for it was market day. We did but little preaching, for we were looking for a place for permanent work, but I was contained to retire to the city wall and cry to God to have mercy on the people, to open their hearts and give us entrance among them. [emphasis mine]
     Without any seeking on our part, we were brought into touch with at least four anxious souls. An old man found us out, I know not how, and followed me to our boat. I asked him in and inquired his name.
     'My name is Dzing,' he replied. 'But the question which distresses me, and to which I can find no answer, is- What am I to do with my sins? Our scholars tell us that there is no future state, but I find it hard to believe them... Oh, sir, I lie on my bed and think. I sit alone in the daytime and think. I think and think and think again, but I cannot tell what is to be done about my sins. I am seventy-two years of age. I cannot expect to finish another decade. "Today knows not tomorrow's lot," as the saying is. Can you tell me what to do with my sins?'
     'I can indeed,' Was my reply. "It is to answer this very question that we have come so many thousands of miles. Listen, and I will explain to you what you want and need to know.'
     When my companions returned, he heard again the wonderful story of the Cross, and left us soothe and comforted... glad to know that we had rented a house and hoped soon to have Christian colporteurs resident in the city."

Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, pgs 194-195

May we be a people who are so surrendered to the Spirit that people are attracted to Jesus in us even if we have not yet said a word!

For Your Name's Sake

Father,

Until now I believe we have asked you only to do those things that we can handle in our own.

I am afraid to be overwhelmed in thinking that I have to carry the burden of all that you might do in your love.

Please give us a vision of what you want to do that is so great that it is too much for us! But also, please give us the grace to be able to trust you with the moment by moment of it. For your name's sake.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV)

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV)

"Why the City?"

Why the city?

Not because it is trendy. I have never been accused of being trendy. I couldn’t be if I tried. Living in the city is a badge of honor for some because they feel like they are on the razor’s edge of changing culture. It is better to be on the rising of the tsunami rather than be one one watching it barreling your direction.

The picture is big to squash the paragraphs. Creates tension. Its "city reading."

Being part of the city can’t be my identity.

It isn’t because it is comfortable. Being in such close proximity to people all of the time is not anything that I thought I would ever choose to do. I like my space. I want people to get out of my way. No, we definitely don’t seek comfort or convenience in the city. Give me wide open spaces where people cannot see how goofy I can be around them. When you are close to others (in every way) its SO much easier to see imperfections. It is much simpler to not have to live with all of the brokenness of people around me as a constant reminder of my own.

A large reason of why we want to live in and love the people of the city is found in what Steven Um and Justin Blizzard write in their book “Why Cities Matter”:

“Cities are built upon the things from which humanity attempts to derive its ultimate significance. Whether centered around a mosque or a financial district, a cathedral or an entertainment sector, all cities are built in honor of and pay homage to some type of a 'god’…Its not if you’re worshipping; its what you’re worshipping. In the same way, it’s not a question of whether cities are centers of worship-cities have always been built around things that their inhabitants see as holding cosmic significance- it’s a question of what a city is worshipping.” (pg 32)

All people are worshippers. When we get together no matter how hard we try to hide it we will worship together. It may be trying to one up each other on an accomplishment at school or a promotion at work. It may be driving slowly down the obnoxious neighbor’s street in order for them to turn green with envy over your bright, new (red) sports car. It may be a humble gathering of those who treasure Jesus. One way or another, we are worshipping right now.

Our city will take on the character of what we worship. If it is the ancient God Mammon, we will erect statutes of the Dollar Almighty. If it is the Eternal God, we won’t waste time with statutes to depict His image, but the character of our lives will overflow his image in ways we don’t even know (and could never fully plan for).

We live in the city and love the city because people are in the city. Myraids of worshippers who ascribe meaning to myraids of lesser treasures. We live in the city so that our little image will reflect Jesus’ greater image in order that people will treasure that Image.

I just wish we still had a big backyard.

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. (Acts 17:16-17 ESV)

L and A

The last few days have been weighing on me. Between culture shock and trying to live up to some expectations (without success), I have been discouraged. Though we have only been here 4 weeks, I feel like I should be "producing." There have been many times when Adrienne and I (mostly me) had to confess that our identity is not in how we perform, but who we are in Christ. We want to be faithful, even if faithful is not successful in everyone's eyes.

This morning, waking up feeling anxious and trapped, I turned to Psalm 145 and read this:

One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. (Psalm 145:4-7 ESV)

My discouragement came from the fact that I felt pressure to meet people and share the gospel... pressure to perform and create meetings and not simply trust the Spirit to "put people in our path." I wanted more than just sharing facts about the cross and resurrection of Jesus, but to really connect with people and get to share the heart of the cross and resurrection. 

Adrienne challenged me to praise the Lord. Simply declare his greatness and his awesome deeds. So, today, I put that in to practice.

We also spent time this morning asking the Spirit to put people in our path that we could share his greatness with. I was a little afraid to do it because I didn't think I would have any words...at least words that meant anything. This is how he answered [names are changed to protect them from being associated with us :)]

L-

I was late to a meeting with a new friend and trying to rush out when our next door neighbor  greeted me with arms full of groceries. That's a big deal since she has been standoffish since the first day we met and told her what we are doing here. Hey, she asked so we told her. Her response was, "That's interesting."  Not the "I want to know more" kind of interesting, but the "you are starting a cult" type of interesting. 

Not only did she greet me but she began to ask questions. She asked "when do you start services here" (pointing to our side of the duplex). I got to clearly tell her that we aren't going to have shipments of Kool-Aid delivered and the women won't all start wearing denim skirts. I got to tell her that what is important is that people get to see and trust Jesus. That is what we want. That is why we are here. 

After the obligatory "what do you think about gay people" talk, we go to get to the heart of it: sin, grace, the cross. She kept standing outside with me, groceries in hand, asking questions and discussing the gospel with me. I wanted to do a backflip. I can't, but I wanted to.

I got to experience the grace of God in speaking the truth in love to my neighbor. She got to hear that sin is a big deal, but the grace of God is a bigger deal. It was beautiful.

A-

We just got home from the playground close to our house. My little girl is getting a bath and I am trying to remember what happened 20 minutes ago. Adrienne told me to write this down so that I would remember when discouragement knock at the door of my heart again.

We try to go to the playground every evening. It is almost too close not to go and, also, we always meet someone to talk to. We just don't see the same people twice.

Tonight we started a conversation with a New York transplant who has been here a year. She told us she was here to be with her grandson, A___. After we told here we have been here 4 and a half, no, FIVE weeks now, she asked why we were here. So we told her. She didn't run away. Actually, she started to ask us questions.

Long story short, we got to share with her the greatness of God and his works. We think she is a believer...she knows the right terminology and some of the stories. It was a sweet time of just being able to say- out loud - that Jesus Christ is Lord. (That feels so defiant here sometimes).

Then, she told us more about her grandson and why she is here for him. His dad (her son) abandoned him. The grandson lives with his mom, but his dad took off. "A" is brokenhearted about it. With tears in her eyes she told us the entire story and we grieved with her. She painted a picture of her desire for her grandson to know God and all that she does in order to picture Jesus for him. 

So, we prayed with her. On the playground. We cried out to the Lord together that He would bring her son to his senses and that He would be perfect Father to this 3 year old. We believed together that the Father is still in the business of working miracles. We all had an underlying joy in our little bit of faith that the Father's love and power is greater than our faith.

She has our contact information and she says she wanted to meet with us when we start meeting together as the church during the summer. One way or another, the Spirit met with us by the swings tonight.

Tomorrow is another day, but today we are overwhelmed in knowing that the Lord still wants to show his greatness. he wants to show himself so that we will meditate on him and overflow with praise to people whose hearts long for it. All of us long to know him that way. Most of the world turns their backs, but they still long to know an unimaginable greatness that swallows up our weak desires and gives us bigger hearts.

I am so grateful that today we got to express his greatness. I long for more.

Prayer for Tears

Father, I simply ask that you will give us your heart for the lost.

Please give us your tears. Please give us your feelings over sin.

Please display your unquenchable grace. Please write your word on the hearts of those who reject you.

Please give us heaven's joy over the returning of one lost son. 

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
(Psalm 126:5-6 ESV)

Walking while Waiting

Hudson Taylor from "Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret" (pg. 187)

"It is no small comfort to me to know that God has called me to my work, putting me where I am and as I am. I have not sought the position and I dare not leave it. He knows why he places me here- whether to do, or learn, or suffer. 'He that believeth shall not make haste.' That is no easy lesson for you or me; but I honestly think that ten years would be well spent, and we should have our full value for them, if we thoroughly learned it in them...Moses seems to have been taken aside for forty years to learn it.... Meanwhile, let us beware alike of the hate of the impatient, impetuous flesh, and of disappointment and weariness."

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
(Psalm 27:13-14 ESV)