Feeling Old
April 27, 2009
Last week, while speaking at a conference, a young missionary came up to me and said, “My mother told me to tell you hello.” This delightful woman was in her mid-20’s. Her
mother was a member of the youth group in the church where I served as an intern in college. Are you kidding me?
It doesn’t seem possible a teenager from my early ministry could have grown up, gotten married, and given birth to a child who is now old enough to be a missionary living in a high-risk location (and a mother herself, I later learned!). How did I get so old?
It wasn’t very long ago that I was “the young church planter” with all the crazy ideas about creating a “culture current” church in the Pacific Northwest. Looking back, it was men who were about my age now who questioned our methodologies (assumed to be somehow “liberal” since they were new). Now I am one of those old guys! Now I find myself trying to understand the generation after me and the one after them and what they are doing to and with the church. Again, I ask, how did this happen to me? How did 50 get here so quickly?
There is one really good part of being in ministry for 30 years and reaching mid-life. As I once prayed at a reunion with some friends, “Thank you Lord for letting me live long enough to have old friends.” I have friends who have endured as Christians and as Christian leaders for three decades (or more). That is so encouraging! It is good to know some people are as solid now as they were 20 or 30 years ago – solid doctrinally, morally, and ethically. They are friends who have stood with me, even through my growing pains when my behavior was (shall we say) “less than Christian.”
Having old friends who have shared my life and continue to enrich it is the best part of aging. When I wax nostalgic like this, my children say, “Come on dad, you’re not that old!” That brings me to second best part of reaching age 50. I got my AARP card!
Getting my AARP card has been so much fun! I only bring it out when my children are present, flashing it and asking “Do you give AARP discounts?” Almost no one, I am discovering, gives any discounts – but flashing the card makes my children crazy! They roll their eyes and mutter and shake their head. And that is so much fun! Hey – old people have to find fun where they can.
You’re getting older. Enjoy it. Hold tight to longtime friends. And, do a few things to make your kids crazy. On that, I am just getting started…and I hope to have 30 more years to perfect this practice!
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A New Prayer Room
April 20, 2009
One of the best things to happen at the Northern California Campus in some time is the opening of our remodeled prayer room. The old room was nice, but the new room is phenomenal! The remodeling was student-initiated and student-led. It is beautiful, functional, and inspiring. We are using the prayer room intensely this week as part of our student-led Spiritual Renewal Week. We will have formal dedication of this new space next week in chapel.
I’m not sure I understand this entirely, but God seems to have wired us up to respond to “dedicated space.” All around the world, people in all religions set aside holy space for worship, prayer, and gathering. My first experience with a prayer room was in Texas while attending college. Our church established a 7 day per week, 24 hour per day prayer ministry. We had a secure entrance so people could come and go at all hours. My first prayer time was at 2:00 a.m. on Monday morning. My reasoning was simple - a young man like me could handle that time better than some others in the church – so I signed up to pray in the middle of the night.
My prayer partner was Larry Meers. We both agreed we would be more faithful if someone held us accountable. We met each week, got on our knees, and called out to God for our family, friends, and fellow church members. We prayed for lost people to be saved, for missionaries to be sent, and for the gospel to expand its influence. We prayed for healings and the grace to carry on if the answer was “no.”
Those were good times! Larry and I are still friends – although we are now in the crowd that wants the young people to take the “in the middle of the night” prayer time. Now, more than 30 years later, my awareness of the need to pray and to be prayed for is even more keen. My longevity in ministry has revealed my powerlessness and inadequacy – not demonstrated increased ability over the years.
So, we pray. In a prayer room. Individually and collectively. We pray because we need God’s intervention in our lives. We pray to know God better. We pray because it changes us. We pray because our world changes when we do.
May God deliver us from dead orthodoxy – from knowing about God but failing to experience his presence and power in our lives.
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Showing Up
April 13, 2009
Building relationships to share the gospel is often much simpler than we make it. We stress about what to say and how to say it. We memorize gospel presentations and every possible objection a person might make during a conversation about Jesus. We wonder how to start a conversation about the gospel and how to sustain a relationship when a person seems disinterested in the gospel.
A recent experience has reminded me how simple this process can be. It starts with this basic concept – just show up. And, keep showing up until a person has a life need that makes them open to the gospel. Then, speak up!
As part of my outreach to the baseball community, I have developed many relationships with people in and around the game. Some of those relationships seem superficial. Some seem like there isn’t much ministry involved. Some are frustrating since my entire motivation for being there is spiritual – and there doesn’t seem to be much spiritual interest. But again, a recent experience has sharpened my understanding of what is happening in these relationships.
After befriending him for two years, a man approached me and asked if we could meet to talk about “some things going on in my life.” We did. He told me his story. I shared the gospel with him. We agreed to meet again soon and continue to talk about the gospel. Subsequently, he sent me a message telling me he continues to consider the gospel and reflect on our conversation.
It all started with being there…and being available! The first step to sharing the gospel with people is showing up, becoming part of their lives, making friends, building trust, gaining confidence, and establishing yourself as a spiritual resource. Sometimes this happens quickly. But I have observed, particularly with men, it usually takes a while to become a “good guy” other men will trust with their deepest issues. But, you will never get to this significant phase in any relationship unless you first,
show up, and initiate those relationships.
It all starts with showing up. So here is my simple question? Who are the unbelievers you are spending lots of time with? No names on your list? It’s time for a lifestyle adjustment!
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Favorite Holidays
April 6, 2009
One of the most interesting facets of family-life is celebrating holidays together. My wife is a real “celebrator” who makes each holiday unique and special. She even does birthdays well! In our family, we have favorite holiday traditions. For example, we make a big family breakfast on Christmas Day. My wife makes a “flag cake” on July 4th. You probably have some similar traditions.
Another interesting aspect of holiday celebrations for us is each person in our family has a favorite holiday. Mine is Thanksgiving – family, food, football, and usually a two or three day holiday – without the pressure of gift giving! My wife’s favorite holiday, hands down, is Easter.
Why does Ann love Easter? She told me simply and directly, “new life.” Easter is about Jesus’ resurrection – but since it happens in the spring it is often accompanied by sunny weather, blooming flowers, puppies, and occasionally a well-timed baby or two. She enjoys the spiritual focus since Easter is always such a big day at church. She also enjoys the focus on children – Easter baskets, Easter dresses, and other Easter treats.
This Easter will be a tough one at our house because of the missing children! Caleb is away at college, Melody is in Iraq, and Casey is in Afghanistan. We will miss them, but each in their own unique way is part of bringing “new life” where they are. We raised our children to leave us, to each make their own life, and to make a difference in the lives of others. Now that they are doing it, we are happy – and sad – all at the same time.
So, celebrate Easter this Sunday. Go to church. Hunt some eggs. Take pictures of little girls in frilly dresses and boys in too-long neckties. Hear the sermon on the resurrection like you’ve never heard it before. Eat some ham. Linger at the table telling family stories. Laugh a lot. Take a minute and thank God for the difference Jesus makes in your life. And, call your mother.
And if my children are reading this,
please call your mother! It will make Easter her favorite holiday again this year.
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