Something Different

Very early in the planning stages of starting thebridge a topic of conversation kept coming up. The importance of how we welcome people was something everyone had strong opinions on. The consensus was that we didn’t want to be a church that just shook a hand or worse didn’t greet anyone at all. We didn’t want to only talk to the people we knew nor did we want to single out the people we didn’t know. We were searching for a way to welcome people just as they are as intentionally and authentically as possible. Teams eventually formed and although we have had many participate two people rose to the top of our greeting team, Ed and Mary. If you have ever been to thebridge the odds of you being greeted by Ed and Mary are very high! Their smiles are genuine and their concern for each and every person is real. They will be the first to tell you that it isn’t just them. They would throw out the names of Mike, Melanie, Chris, Micah, Steve, Bryan, and a host of others who joyously partner with them at the front doors in making our welcoming as amazing as it is.

Ed and Mary are often aware of far more than I am and they do a great job of not only updating me on different prayer requests but visiting people in the hospital and making follow up phone calls. They are generous with their time and treasures and we are so blessed to have them at thebridge.

In January they joined five others in partnering with thebridge and becoming Spiritual Leaders. The role of the Spiritual Leader is to come along side the staff and the church in an elder like role. Some Spiritual Leaders will have up front roles and others will have behind the scenes rolls. Some will partner in prayer and blessing while others will partner in serving and organizing. As we continue to grow the need for Spiritual Leaders will grow as well and we look forward to seeing how God will use them.

I have found that one of the most dominant prayer requests on a mission trip is for safety. I often struggle with this request because it seems to contradict the very thing we have signed up to do. It places the priority on our safety and comfort rather than picking up our cross and following Christ. Do I long for each of us to be safe? Yes! But my safety comes after my initial priority of doing anything, anywhere, at anytime for the glory of God. My number one goal is to glorify GOd and if that means my safety is jeopardized than I trust God in that.

I also don’t want to be naive though in underestimating the enemy who also has a goal and that is to seek, kill, and destroy us. Here is where I want our prayers targeted. Protection from the enemy’s schemes to hurt us personally or physically and protection over attitudes, hearts, unity, service and witness.

It is my hope that you will partner with us in our trip to Cambodia. That you will be mindful of us and our friends. That you would intercede for us while we are away and celebrate with us in all that God does.

Because our days are scattered I have bulleted out a number of prayer topics or thoughts. You can choose to work through one each day or lift several of them up as often as you think of us.

• Conversations on the planes and buses.
• Healthy stomachs during our trip.
• Attitude of joy and service.
• An anointed ability to pray.
• An ability to transition well with our sleep.
• Successful clinics.
• To be a blessing to our host team.
• Insight into what God has for us in the future.
• Our families back home.
• Relationships with the staff that we work with and support.
• Our trip to the village(s).
• An ability to extend love to the children and people we meet.
• A holy confidence in God and peace that transcends understanding.

I was informed recently that our connecting flight in Seattle was not valid because there wasn’t enough time to make it. This was my fourth time calling about such a change and it usually is a quick fix only to have them change the times a few days later.

However, yesterday the case was much different. I invested an hour plus with my friends from overseas on the phone trying to figure out an option for us. The result of the being put on hold 10 plus times was that we would not leave three hours earlier and add an additional connection to our trip. All told the math went I lost an hour of my day to find out that I will lose three more on Monday.

Here are some random thoughts by me about the book or letter of 1 Timothy.

• Jesus Christ is our hope! 1:1
• Mercy is added to the standard intro of Grace & Peace. 1:2
• Persevere as a leader. 1:3
• Avoid things that are not profitable. The list of things in this department for me are huge. It isn’t the bad things that are killing me it is the good things that are not profitable. 1:4
• The goal – the aim – the purpose – what you should be about is LOVE 1:5 (shameless plug – come to thebridge for Re:Love)
• Some talk to be known – others talk to make Him known. 1:6
• We need to remember that Christ came to seek the lost. 1:15
• Up the level of prayer – marty – bridgers – followers of Jesus. 2:1 & 2:8 (emphasis on men)
• Thoughts and qualifications on overseers is most of chapter 3. We have recently made the decision to add another Spiritual Leader.
• I have seen some use 4:4, “For everything God created is good,” misused in that if it exists God created it and therefore it is good. This not true!
• Physical training is of some good – I could use some good in my life. Meaning I could use some physical training. I have actually not played basketball the past two weeks to avoid injury prior to my trip. Now I’m starting to regret it.
• Do you know what is worse than an unbeliever? The person who does not provide for their older relatives.
• Gossip has always been a crushing foe for the church.
• WOW – 5:24-25 is the verse that jumps today. “The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgement ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.” I’m pondering that hard today.
• Godliness with contentment is great gain. Where are you not content? Is that lack of contentment of God or of you?
• Money is a part of this world and life. It shapes us or we can shape it. It can use us and trap us or we can use it and be free with it.

Here is a quick recap of the books I read in February.

Why We Love The Church by DeYoung and Kluck

This was a less than memorable read. DeYoung and Kluck set out to tell why they love the institutional church in four different sections. I love the idea but I don’t think they accomplished their task. The undertones of what they are against read louder than the words of what they were for.

In Pursuit of Elegance by Matthew May

This was a great read that unpacked the art of elegance. Broken into four sections May unpacked his findings of what makes something elegant. Symmetry,  Seduction, Subtraction, and Sustainability. This information was very useful for me as a communicator in that I could quickly apply the art of symmetry and seduction. Subtraction was my favorite read and May used a fascinating example of a European city that removed all traffic signals and actually saw their car accidents decrease. The idea being that people were forced to pay more close attention. Great book.

The Life Giving Church by Ted Haggard

I had never read anything by Ted Haggard and this book looked intriguing to me. Especially in light of his public stumble. The book had numerous practical insights and ideas. There was one chapter that unpacked some findings from Harvard that were quite helpful. The rest of the book is opinion and really limiting to only being workable in certain contexts.

Culture Making by Andy Crouch

This book will probably make the top 5 of the year. Crouch did an amazing job assessing how the church has dealt with culture and where the solutions of this dance can be found. The goal is for us to become artists and gardeners. Absolutely brilliant thoughts about condemning, critiquing, copying, and consuming culture and why all of that rarely works. I would love to dialogue with someone who has read this book.

Commentaries

I also read 4 commentaries on 1 Thessalonians.

Communicators Commentary by Gary Demarest

This is my favorite commentary series and I hope to acquire more of them. I borrowed this book and I haven’t been able to find it online (thus the picture of genesis).

Paul for Everyone by NT Wright

A close second in my favorite commentaries. Wright has an amazing ability to make each portion of scripture accessible. If you are a side reader and just wanted to read a commentary I would suggest something by Wright.

NIV Application Commentary

There were a few things that jumped in my reading of this commentary but not enough for me to comment further.

1 & 2 Thessalonians by John McArthur

At times I am frustrated by what I read and other times I marvel. I am thankful for his work in that it sharpens me and at the same time I find myself shaking my head often.

Link to January Reviews