come to me like little children

• Author: Brad
• Filed under: Christianity, Communion, Gospel, New Testament, authenticity, evangelism, family, fatherhood, missional living, parenting, prayer, sacraments, the art of...
• Date: May 19,2009

Parents often forget that their most important mission field is the home. Living missionally as parents means that God’s goodness should infect our homes as we humbly live out the power of the Gospel in our own lives. And as this happens, we pray God will woo our children to his saving grace.

I am so excited to share that last night, I had the privilege to lead my daughter Margo in a prayer of faith and trust in God’s grace for her salvation. What an unbelievable opportunity! Since Cooper trusted in Christ back in January 2008, Margo has been asking a lot of questions. There have been many moments over the last year of her life where I thought I saw the “lightbulb” come on for her, only to be convinced that she needed some more time.

Last night, we were reading the story of Jesus and the children from Matthew 19 from The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones (an amazing Gospel-centered children’s Bible) and I could tell that something clicked in Margo’s spirit. She got it. The part of the story that she resonated with said this:

…no matter how clever you are, or how good you are, or how rich you are, or how nice you are, or how important you are – none of it makes any difference. Because God’s love is a gift and, as anyone will tell you, the whole thing about a gift is, it’s free. All you have to do is reach out your hand and take it.

…You see, children loved Jesus, and they knew they didn’t need to do anything special for Jesus to love them. All they needed to do was to run into his arms…

After I read this, Cooper said, “That’s what I did, Dad,” and Margo said, “That’s all I have to do, Dad?” I told her yes. It knew it was time. It had all been leading to this moment. We went upstairs and we talked for a bit and prayed together. Wow…

What is beautiful about this is that Cooper was drawn to the saving knowledge of Christ through the Word by the same Bible almost a year and a half ago. God’s word is alive!

She is so excited to get baptized, especially to show her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins about her decision, but she is almost more excited to take communion as a family. At The Journey, we come forward to take communion and Holly, Cooper, and I have been doing this together for the past year and a half. Margo has been joining us as we go forward but not partaking. She has been asking more questions lately about what the elements represent.

I think this has been another big part of her journey to Christ. It reflects what can happen when, as an ordinary family, as Tim Chester and Steve Timmis say, you do ordinary things with Gospel intentionality. Just having Margo around the sacraments made an impact on her. It drew her into wanting to be a part of God’s family.

I thank the Lord for the professions of faith of Cooper and Margo and continue to pray for my two youngest, Sloan and Everett. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord…

For further reading, the following post was written in January 2008 and captures my heart on bringing the Gospel to your children, highlighting what is most important and exposing some misconceptions. I would encourage you to read: Bringing the Gospel to your Children: What I’ve Learned So Far

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warren on obama/obama on warren

• Author: Brad
• Filed under: politics, prayer
• Date: Dec 23,2008

More on the Warren inaugural prayer…

Rick Warren’s prayer for Obama:

Barack Obama on why he chose Warren:

HT: Out of Ur

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mcknight on obama + warren

• Author: Brad
• Filed under: politics, prayer
• Date: Dec 22,2008

Scot McKnight waxes ever so eloquently on the hubbub over the invitation for Rick Warren to deliver the invocation for Barack Obama’s inauguration. His main points:

1. Inauguration Day is a day for all Americans to drop our differences to celebrate the Great American Experiment.

2. It is custom of to invite to the podium — for the invocation — a spiritual leader.

3. Inviting Warren to pray is a move that signals Obama may be serious about crossing boundary lines and working for a kinder, more unified America.

4. No matter your political leanings, we should love our enemies.

I’m far from a Obama apologist but it’s pretty amazing that a prayer can cause so much brouhaha. Reminds me of the stir Donald Miller caused from conservative evangelicals by praying at the Democratic National Convention back in August.

It may be easier for me to say since I consider myself a conservative evangelical, but let’s celebrate this act of prayer for the inauguration of our next president. And when and if the table is turned in my lifetime, I pray I can celebrate whomever is given the opportunity to pray for our country as well.

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stetzer on the church and change

• Author: Brad
• Filed under: Gospel, church, contextualization, emerging culture, evangelism, incarnational, kingdom of God, leadership, ministry, missiology, missional living, missions, prayer, research, social justice, video
• Date: Dec 9,2008

Some of you may remember that back in August, Ed was invited to record a television program for the Assemblies of God. Those videos are now live and re-posted here from edstetzer.com. Enjoy…

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urgent prayer request

• Author: Brad
• Filed under: missions, prayer
• Date: Oct 23,2008

This came through my MBU faculty email today from one of our librarians, Jeri Schmidt. This is a request for prayer for YWAM missionaries and their churches in Orissa, India. Here is where Orissa is in India:

The request comes from Mable Hurst, an associate of HCJB Global. Please join me in praying for this situation:

Dear beloved sponsors and friends of Good News India.

We have never seen anything like this. We knew that Orissa was the most resistant and hostile State in India as far as the Gospel is concerned. And we brushed off the continuous threats and harassment we faced as we went about His work. But none of our staff imagined that they would see this kind of carnage…. And it is totally under the radar of the Western Media.

Let me explain…. A militant Hindu priest and 4 of his attendants, who were zealously going around the villages of Orissa and ‘reconverting’ people back to Hinduism, were gunned down by unknown assailants in Central Orissa last weekend.

Immediately the Christians were blamed. The cry rose up…’Kill the Christians!’ And the horror began…. In the past 4 days, we have first hand witness to hundreds of churches being blown up or burned and many, many dozens of Christian tribals have been slaughtered. For no other reason than they bear the name of Christ.

Night and day I have been in touch with our Good News India Directors spread across 14 Dream Centers in Orissa… they are right in the middle of all this chaos.

In Tihidi, just after the police came to offer protection, a group of 70 blood-thirsty militants came to kill our staff and destroy the home. They were not allowed to get in, but they did a lot of damage to our Dream Center by throwing rocks and bricks and smashing our gate, etc. They have promised to come back and ‘finish the job.’ Our kids and staff are locked inside and have stayed that way with doors and windows shut for the past 3 days. It has been a time of desperately calling on the Lord in prayer.

More police have come to offer protection. In Kalahandi, the police and some local sympathizers got to our dream center and gave our staff and kids about 3 minutes notice to vacate. No one had time to even grab a change of clothes or any personal belonging. As they fled, the blood thirsty mob came to kill everyone in the building. We would have had a mass funeral there, but for His grace. In Phulbani, the mob came looking for Christian homes and missions. The local Hindu people, our neighbors turned them away by saying that there were no Christians in this area. So they left. We had favor. The same thing happened in Balasore.

All our dream centers are under lock down with the kids and staff huddled inside and police outside. The fanatics are circling outside waiting for a chance to kill. Others were not so fortunate. In a nearby Catholic
orphanage, the mob allowed the kids to leave and locked up a Priest and a computer teacher in the house and burned them to death. Many believers have been killed and hacked into pieces and left on the
road…. even women and children. At another orphanage run by another organization, when this began, the Director and his wife jumped on their motorbike and simply fled, leaving all the children and staff behind. Every one of our GNI directors that I have spoken to said: ‘We stay with our kids…. we live together or die together, but we will never abandon what God has called us to do.’ More than 5000 Christian families have had their homes burned or destroyed. They have fled into the jungles and are living in great fear waiting for the authorities to bring about peace. But so far, no peace is foreseen.

This will continue for another 10 days…. supposedly the 14 day mourning period for the slain Hindu priest. Many more Christians will die and their houses destroyed. Many more churches will be smashed down. The Federal government is trying to restore order and perhaps things will calm down. We ask for your prayers. Only the Hand of God can calm this storm. None of us know the meaning of persecution. But now our kids and staff know what that means. So many of our kids coming from Hindu backgrounds are confused and totally bewildered at what is happening around them. So many of their guardians have fled into the jungles and are unable to come and get them during these trying times. Through all this, I am more determined than ever to continue with our goal: the transformation of a community by transforming its children. Orissa will be saved… that is our heart’s cry. If we can take these thousands of throw-away children and help them to become disciples of Jesus, they will transform an entire region. It is a long term goal, but it is strategic thinking in terms of the Great Commission.

What can you do? First, please uphold all this in fervent prayer. Second, pass this e-mail on to as many friends as you can. We must get the word out and increase our prayer base for this is spiritual warfare at its most basic meaning. We are literally fighting the devil in order to live for His Kingdom. The next 10 days are crucial. We pray for peace and calm to pervade across Orissa.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pass it on and help us to get as many people to partner with us on this cutting edge effort to fulfill His mandate: Go and make disciples of all nations.
Prayer works!

Blessings, Chip & Sandy Wanner Col 2:2 MBI
Team Facilitators to YWAM frontlines

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donald miller’s dnc prayer video

• Author: Brad
• Filed under: prayer, video
• Date: Aug 26,2008

HT: Ragamuffin Soul

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donald miller’s monday night dnc closing prayer

• Author: Brad
• Filed under: economics, politics, prayer, social issues, social justice, world issues
• Date: Aug 25,2008

Wow…

Father God,

This week, as the world looks on, help the leaders in this room create a civil dialogue about our future.

We need you, God, as individuals and also as a nation.

We need you to protect us from our enemies, but also from ourselves, because we are easily tempted toward apathy.

Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left.

Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them.

Help us serve people, not just causes. And stand up to specific injustices rather than vague notions.

Give those in this room who have power, along with those who will meet next week, the courage to work together to finally provide health care to those who don’t have any, and a living wage so families can thrive rather than struggle.

Hep us figure out how to pay teachers what they deserve and give children an equal opportunity to get a college education.

Help us figure out the balance between economic opportunity and corporate gluttony.

We have tried to solve these problems ourselves but they are still there. We need your help.

Father, will you restore our moral standing in the world.

A lot of people don’t like us but that’s because they don’t know the heart of the average American.

Will you give us favor and forgiveness, along with our allies around the world.

Help us be an example of humility and strength once again.

Lastly, father, unify us.

Even in our diversity help us see how much we have in common.

And unify us not just in our ideas and in our sentiments—but in our actions, as we look around and figure out something we can do to help create an America even greater than the one we have come to cherish.

God we know that you are good.

Thank you for blessing us in so many ways as Americans.

I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice.

Let Him be our example.

Amen.

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the 7

• Author: Brad
• Filed under: church, community, emerging church, missiology, missional church, movies, multi-site, music, prayer, relevintage, theology
• Date: May 30,2008

1. I-Monk once again cuts to the chase regarding the difference between gaining converts and just gaining people in church. Sometimes, bigger isn’t missional…

2. Ever seen a horrible Jesus movie? The Wittenberg Door has seen ten. And #10 may surprise you… [The pics alone are worth a click...]

3. Want an inside look at Saddleback? Bob Hyatt recently visited and unpacked some pithy insights on video venues, Rick Warren’s preaching and use of Scripture, worship segmentation, and church size.

4. This was a very provocative interview by Andrew Jones that got me thinking about how ‘gutsy’ our missional living really is. He interviewed David Pierce, director of Steiger International and No Longer Music, who, as Andrew says, is taking its message of hope to “some of the darkest places imaginable, including closed Islamic countries, terrorist clubs, squatter villages, anarchy festivals, brothels, junkie joints, punk & goth music festivals, Satanist clubs and New Age gatherings.” Wow…

5. Greg Gilbert waxes eloquent on adiaphora, er, the pursuit of many for coolness over faithfulness in a church. Not that they are mutually exclusive, but he pushes us to think about what is most important…

6. If you haven’t been following JVo’s series on prayer, it’s good. I mean really good. Check it out: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9

7. In light of the series I’m doing on the missional church, I found this video very insightful. It comes from Dave Browning of Christ the King Church @ Leadership Network’s Multi-Site Exposed conference @ Mars Hill in Seattle. In it, he talks about growing organic, relational congregations with authentic community that can grow and adapt to their specific sub-culture and yet remain connected to the greater body.

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the 7

• Author: Brad
• Filed under: Christianity, church, evangelism, homosexuality, missiology, music, planning, prayer, worship
• Date: May 22,2008

1. Bob is one of the best “heart-on-the-sleeve” pastors blogging today. I so appreciate his public wrestling of things like how to handle church growth and gracefully lose control in the process.

2. If you haven’t read Peppermint-Filled Pinatas: Breaking Through Tolerance and Embracing Love by Eric Bryant, navigator at Mosaic in L.A., you are missing a gem, particularly on the topic of Christians and their interaction with homosexuality. Recently, on his blog, he unpacked his thoughts on the recent California Supreme Court decision to allow same sex marriage: Why Homophobia is So Gay. It is a must read.

3. Proactive. True. Bob Roberts disciple, Aaron Snow, who is leading intentional missional communities in Vegas, hits the mark on why Christians suck at reaching the lost.

4. Zach Nielsen helps us think deeply about the true placement of our worship as musicians. Is it in the music or the music Giver?

5. Prayer. It is a mysterious thing. Yet for some, it becomes a “cookie-cutter,” lifeless ritual. Loved this post from John Voelz. Especially the challenges for “pray-ers” at the end…

6. Brian’s recent trip to New Orleans reminded him the old days when musicians could make a decent living making art, like, you know, in the Baroque era. He says that in dumbing down worship, we have created a non-culture of indigenous art springing up from within our churches. Anyone can play the music that is being written today…

7. One of the coolest missional stories I’ve heard in a while: Homeless Running Club. HT: Mark Riddle

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the “when we’s” of worship

• Author: Brad
• Filed under: Bible, leadership, leading, media, music, planning, prayer, sacred space, technology, worship
• Date: Apr 18,2008

Photo by luz

I think this is the most helpful description of the practicality of leading worship that I have come across. Great thoughts on the “when we’s” of worship…

Adapted from “Principles and Practicals: Cue cards for a crash course in leading worship” from Reformed Worship, Issue #63.

When We Pray . . .
* As a community: using “we” instead of “I.”
* For a variety of reasons: to adore God, to confess sin, to give thanks, to ask God for something.
* At a thoughtful pace (more slowly than we normally speak), and with space for attentive, reverent silence.
* Without using verbal filler (“just,” “um”).
* To God, who is Three-in-One. Though we sometimes address the Spirit or the Son directly, we pray most often to God the Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus the Son.

When We Work with Technology in Worship . . .

We strive to be unnoticed, sacrificing a small bit of our full participation so that others may worship fully.

Overheads

* Make sure the projected light fits properly on the screen.
* Make sure all the words that are being sung are visible.
* Anticipate the next line or verse, moving the transparency with enough time for people to see ahead.
* Move the transparency as few times as possible.
* Move the transparency smoothly and discreetly.

Sound/Lights

* Anticipate the speaker and have the microphone turned on; turn speakers’ mikes off during singing.
* Keep listening and adjusting the sound levels as needed.
* Set lights appropriate to the mood of the service.

When We Sing or Play Music . . .

Our primary work is to support the congregation.

Players

* use a consistent tempo, a clear bass line, and room to breathe.
* give obvious cues for when God’s people are to begin singing.
* make the melody stand out, especially when introducing new songs.
* allow the text of the song to guide the accompaniment.
* drop out occasionally so that the people can sing unaccompanied.

Singers

* sing with expression of face and voice.
* be aware of body language; make eye contact.
* avoid idiosyncratic embellishment that a congregation can’t sing.

When We Speak in Worship . . .

We don’t instruct people what to do next, we invite them to participate in the act of worship. We:

* give a foretaste of the next text, or refer to the one preceding, when introducing a song or a reading.
* let people know how each act fits into the dialogue of worship and the theme of the service.
* attend to the emotional contours of the service—what’s happening in our heart and in the congregation’s hearts.

We read Scripture with intelligence, passion, and hospitality, keeping the following principles in mind:

* Prepare: practice the reading ahead of time.
* Pace: read slowly, but use some variety.
* Space: allow time for the text to be heard and absorbed.
* Grace: read with expression that makes Scripture come alive, yet not with so much drama that it calls more attention to the reader than the message.
* Embrace: whenever possible include both genders when referring to people (the NRSV translation does this automatically).

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