The irrelevance of relevance

A while ago I got to hear Erwin McMannus speak in Atlanta and something he said has stuck with me these past couple years and probably will be with me the rest of my life. I think it was so thought-provoking for me because I didn't expect to hear it from someone who is part of a church that is as "cutting-edge" as Mosiac is, but after he said it, I understood why they are like they are. He said he doesn't care about being relevant because if you are trying to be relevant to someone or something else in culture you are basically saying that someone else has already been there or done that and you just want to be like them.

We're basically copying someone else's creativity, which in turn, puts a paralysis on our own creative ability. Don't misunderstand me, I don't mean that we cannot be inspired by something that someone has done, all we have to do is read a beautiful poem or a great book, look at a masterfully done painting or watch a beautiful sunset to be inspired. But if we are simply inspired to copy that which has impacted us then we have not only incapacitated what we are capable of, we have cheapened said thing that has caused the reaction in the first place. I'm not trying to present a formula, for in esence, that is the very thing I am revolting against...but what we should allow to happen in our lives is a genuine inspiration of something touching the deepest parts of our own souls to ignite the creativity that we are all born with. Sometimes the best way to do that is to look at or experience a representation of that very thing from someone else's "depths of the soul".

Instead of trying to be relevant to what someone else says why not be relevant to who we really are deep down inside. Simply put, the most relevant way we can ever live our lives is to simply live them as genuinely and passionately as possible. Our imagination and creativity is not something that we should supress as followers of Jesus Christ, it is something that He calls us to dive into and use in our everyday lives. Do not be afraid to think, to dream, to imagine and to create. We are made in our Father's image and He is a creator...we should follow suit.

peace,
glo

More than a good idea...

I was recently "lurking" around some online religion forums and came accross a thread about some small groups that a church was going to start. They seem like they are going in the right direction with the motivation and topic of the small groups, but I read a post on this thread that broke my heart...

Well I think the unvarnished groups is a good idea on paper....but won't be participating.

This breaks my heart because it's an attitude that is far too prevalant in today's Christians. And it is one of the most deadly attitudes we can have. I use such strong language because I've seen this as the main attitude of more Christians than I want to admit. Christianity is NOT about debating ideas and philosophies (even though it is the basis for all logical philosophy that is not self-refuting...but that's a whole 'nother post). It's about life, it's about living the lives that God created us to live. It isn't about sitting back and reading all the "pretty scriptures" and saying that's a great idea, or moral position and then not participating in it by refusing to live it out in our lives!!!

I've been listening to Switchfoot's new CD "Oh, Gravity!" (which is very good) and one of the songs has a line that says something to the effect of "what if we saw love as a verb again". I've started a four week series on the "verbs" of Christianity, first and foremost of which is love.

When I read that post I immediately got challenged to examine my life and make sure I'm not just sitting back and watching in any areas of my walk with Jesus. I would strongly encourage you to do the same...you'll never regret it.

Christianity is so much more than "a good idea on paper."

peace,
glo

First Sunday morning!

Alright, so it's finally here. Sunday, January 28th I will preach my first sermon as pastor of KC Life Church!!!

I am so excited, I don't even know what to type. God has really been speaking to my heart about rebuilding the community of Westport and helping the "down and out" in the area. So many people just need to know that they are loved...

peace,
glo

Walkin up the hill

I had one of those "moments" last Friday, unexpected...as usual. I was walking up the hill behind Dean and DeLuca (my former employer) and I had a thought...but before I get to that thought I suppose I should lay down the backstory of what got me to that hill in the first place.

A little over four years ago I heard God speak to me in prayer telling me that He was calling me to ministry. It was confirmed just five days later in a miraculous way...(that's a whole 'nother deal). So I began volunteering and serving in just about any ministry that would have me. Fast forward a few years.

About 19 months ago I was sitting in my mentors office and a mutual friend came by and asked me to lead worship for the youth group the following night becuase he was going out of town. I said ok (believe me this is all going somewhere). We led worship, Pastor Linda Saunders preached and all was well. The next week I got a phone call from her son, who had planted a church in Westport and wanted to talk to me about being the worship leader. Long story short, my wife and I moved down there to help start this church. The church was small at first...like 6 people on Sunday morning small...but we've grown. Pastor Linda came down in January to take over as Pastor and we've being growing ever since. I've been working at Dean and DeLuca for the last year and a half, while serving at the church to the best of my ability.

So that catches you up to my last trip up the hill...

You see, I would walk down this hill every morning and up it every afternoon after work, I did this for a year and half. Friday was my last day at Dean and DeLuca because I am taking over the pastoral position at the church (Pastor Linda is moving to California with her hubby, and man is she excited!!!). So I was thinking about how this has been a four year journey in my life and how Friday afternoon as the last time I would walk up that hill...and it struck me. It was no different that any other time I walked up that hill after working all day, it was just a normal hill, with a normal guy taking a normal walk. ( I just read a qoute in a book that said "great people are simply average people that refuse to give up.) There were not beams of radient light shining from heaven, there was no choir of angels singing...there was nothing. Other than the grace of God to allow me to see that this is how He works in our life more often than not. In the everyday, humdrum, monotonous things we do. The problem isn't that God isn't active in our lives, the problem is that we don't take the time to see how active He really is. We don't notice it because he rarely operates in our lives in the way we expect it. But He is always there, always acting and working on our behalf. What an amazing God we serve!

So on Monday I begin a new chapter of my life. I must say that I am so excited about this I can hardly control myself. It's funny how it's been a four year journey to this...which is truly just the beginning. Ha! It took me four years to get to the starting line, now the race will really begin...

peace,
rev

So, I'm still walking around the magical land of Narnia in my studies for my Sunday night sermons and I was just profoundly hit with a very simply, yet powerful, thought.

The world identifies by what we have...God identifies by what we give.

It won't go away...so maybe I should "Selah"...maybe you shoud too.

peace,
glo

"I was the Lion"

Those were the words that Aslan spoke to Shasta in the dark (A Horse and His Boy). In describing all the events of Shasta's life that had led him to that point, Aslan simply said...I was the Lion. Our God is so awesome, even when we don't realize that He is there (He is the Lion), He is always with us through good and bad. It is so easy though, in this life, to lose heart, to begin to doubt if there is really any good out there, especially when we go through hard times. In my studies I've found three misunderstandings (so far) about the nature of God that prevent us from trusting Him when we are going through something difficult. We misunderstant God's...
Position - as our loving Father
Punishment - for our sin, that was actually poured out on Christ while He died on the cross. (there is no condemnation for those who have Christ Jesus)
Providence - the amazing blessings of our lives that we take for granted everyday (especially here in America)

What we must understand is that God is the "Lion" in our lives, through good times and bad, even when we don't understand why we are going through what is happening to us...He is there. Hopefully, in this holiday season we will all take time to sit back and reflect on all the good things that we have in life...and remember that it's not about the gifts we give, but the love we share.

peace,
reverend glo

It has been said that when God looks at His children He sees them in a red "tint" because of the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from our sins. On November 19th we are going to "gather the red" together for a night of intimate worship at kc life. Our gathering will begin at 6pm and all who desire a genuine intimate experience in worship that incorporates all forms of artistic expression are welcome. We will be gathered together to express our love to God through music. We will be gathered together to express our love to God through the performing arts. We will be gathered together to express our love to God in each of our unique ways. You are more than welcome to gather together with us.

peace,
the rev

four weddings and a funeral (sorta...ok, not really)

Hey all,

It's been a while since I've "blogged" and there is so much to mention. Things are going great at KC Life Church, we've been growing like crazy, made some great contacts that are really helping and educating us on outreaching to the homeless and most important of all we're making disciples of Jesus Christ!

A few weeks ago we had a great wedding at our church. There is a homeless couple, Frog and Michelle, that had been coming for quite a while and after church they asked me if I would marry them. So we set the date, they invited all their friends and we had an amazing wedding. The theater (where we meet for church) was packed out! 70% of the people who came were Frog and Michelle's friends who were also homeless, the other 30% was the rest of our church that came to support Frog and Michelle. The wedding was beautiful, a group of ladies who provide meals in the park came and brought wedding cake and finger foods for the reception afterwards. We had three wedding photographers and a business man that had met the happy couple a few weeks before rented them a limo and a honeymoon suite on the plaza. Since that time Frog and Michelle have started a homeless ministry themselves. Imagine that, homeless feeding the homeless.

So I thought it would be nice to share a couple pictures from the wedding with you all. We only have a few picture right now, as more are developed I'll post them on this blog for you.



















peace,
rev glo

Love is the foundation

A couple months ago I began a series of teachings on the three foundational qualities of the Christian life; faith, hope and love. The Bible is very clear that Love is the overarching theme of everything God has done for us and created us for. It is very plain in this in multiple passages, but I think the most obvious case is 1 Corinthians 13:13 - And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I have pondered this verse for quite a while in my walk with Christ, read many commentaries and writings on it and have come to a conclusion about why it is the greatest of the three. It is the foundation upon which the other two are built. Just as Jesus is the foundation for our "faith", love is the foundation for our faith. The reason this must be so is that if it is not the foundation then our faith and hope quickly become nothing less than extremely selfish tools that we use in our prayer life for ourselves. Jesus is very clear that genuine love (Christ-centetered love) always puts others first, even going as far as to die for the love of someone else. I'm afraid it seems as though the majority of the time faith is simply taught as a key that we can use to unlock the door of "whatever we want", which most of time is something that has a materialistic value to it. I would challenge to you think that this type of selfish faith is not the faith that Jesus spoke of and taught about in the majority of His ministry. Please don't misunderstand, I am not saying that God does not give us the desires of our hearts, He does and it is His great pleasure to do so, but I think we need to re-balance ourselves and our "faith praying"; to not only include standing in faith for others that we love as brothers and sisters in Christ, but to make that the majority of our faith praying.

How much more wonderful would it be to live in a Christ-cenetered community that teaches this type of selfless faith. Instead of praying and standing in faith for yourself all the time, you could stand in faith for other brothers and sisters in Christ that you are sharing you life with and know that they are stading in faith for you. It is clearly laid out in scripture that the power of two, three or more praying is exponentially greater than the power of just one. Over the last year I have begun to see this work in a practical way in our church community and it is an amazing thing. My prayer for you is that after reading this you would be challenged to stand in faith for your brothers and sisters more than you do for yourself and have confidence that as they learn what love-founded-faith is that they are standing in faith for you as well.

As a challenge why not try to pray for nothing in regards to your own needs, but only pray for the needs of those around you in your community of friends that you have. See what happens, you never know, you might actually see a miracle or two...

peace,
the rev