The Means cannot become the end!

I recently heard a commentary on church planting that mostly had to do with creativity, vision, and innovation, three words that have always been values of mine... at least in theory. I want to be apart of a movement that is fresh, vibrant, and innovative. I think everyone does, in fact I would go as far as to say, what's the point of starting something new if it's just a carbon copy of something that already exists. These thoughts launched me into a thoughtful brainstorming session in my own mind and heart, a practice that has become somewhat habitual for me. I started asking myself questions about these ideas. You see, the church planting movement in America has really latched on to the concept of innovation in churches. It has become one of the driving values for all the, "Material," out their on church planting, and while I agree with the value, I am wondering if there is a danger connected to holding this as a very high value. 

I recently attended the largest church planting seminar in North America,  called exponential. It was a fantastic time learning new methods, being encouraged by those in my same shoes, and hearing from leaders who have been successful in planting, and learning what gave them the best opportunity for success. So much to learn! Anyway, the most staggering element of this conference was the vast number of resources available for church planters in America. We are talking innovation at it's best. The church hosting the conference had some 5,000 sq feet worth of booths and displays each having a new innovative approach to church programing. We are talking about cutting edge innovation. Hi-tech people counting software, nursery check-in programs, advertising strategies, and many more. It was quite a sight to see. One of the things I wonder constantly, is have we gotten carried away? Does God really care about all this? Does He hold it as a value? Did the great fathers of our faith care this much about dreaming, creating and innovating? 

As I look at scripture I can't help wonder what Paul might say if he were to gaze upon the light shows, media presentations, and hi-tech programming we are using in churches these days. Would he appreciate it? Would he hate it? I don't know, but the one thing I do know is that he would be fine with any set of means that justifies the end. What is Paul's end? People finding Jesus. We see his heart 

Acts 20:24


However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Again we see a very simple one track mind from Paul in 1 Corinthians...

but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

Paul's focus is uncanny. He has not lost sight of what matters most, and yet at the same time is willing to do anything to help people find Jesus. 

Here's the point I think Paul would look down the hall of booths and tables at exponential, the church planting conference, and have one thought... "Is this stuff doing the job of bring the light of salvation to as many people as possible? If the answer is yes, then keep doing it." I don't think he would get caught up in who's presentation is better, which sign looks cooler, and which program is more cutting edge. 

Our lesson as church planters, and visionaries from Paul, is to not let the means become the end. If we ever get to the point where we value innovation and creativity in ministry more than, or even equal to what matters most, people connecting with God, and being saved from the pit of hell, we have gone off a dangerous cliff. 

We need to consider all things as optional tools to meeting the ultimate end, and never over value the means. Some people get to the end through street evangelism, some through huge in church programs, others through personal relationships. Some are more effective than others, but the only thing that makes one right and another wrong is the motive. 

Are you in love with your means? or are you in for the end result?

This is the pivotal question for a visionary kingdom laborer!

 

Big Day

Tomorrow I am going in for ankle surgery, I am not looking forward to being down for 2 months, then beginning 3 months of rehab. I am however looking forward to having a working ankle again for the first time in almost 10 years. 

I think we should probably approach God's grace this way

Lyrics to Forever Holy : Glorious unseen
God, You stand when all has fallen
You embrace the long forgotten
I guess it's just hard to believe
The Grace You've poured out on me
I guess I'm just starting to see
How You're working in me

This is what makes my head spin
You're forever Holy
God of all creation
Pour Your life into me
This is so overwhelming
You're forever Holy
God of my Salvation
Clothe me in Your Glory, yeah

God, You hold when all is breaking
You restore the tired and aching
I guess it's just hard to believe
The Love You've poured out on me
I guess I'm just starting to see
How You're working in me, whoa Lord

This is what makes my head spin
You're forever Holy
God of all creation
Pour Your life into me
This is so overwhelming
You're forever Holy
God of my Salvation
Clothe me in Your Glory

Clothe me in Your Glory
Clothe me in Your Glory

This is what makes my head spin
You're forever Holy
God of all creation
Pour Your life into me
This is so overwhelming
You're forever Holy
God of my Salvation
Clothe me in Your Glory
(2x)
Clothe me in your Glory 

Listen here

It's a new era...

Yesterday afternoon, at about 3:30 pm, I found myself in a place doing something I never thought I would do. I have never been one to cry at movies, I don't cry for much of anything truthfully. But yesterday, I was sitting at, are you ready for this? You could lose all respect for my in this moment... I was sitting at the Hannah Montana movie, and found myself in tears. It's true, I can't go on living a lie, the world must know, I am a pretty little girl. 

The truth is, I left that movie believing that every father should go see that movie with their daughter, and I dare you to hold back the tears that will be fighting to get out. 

I think the largest cause of the tears was the constant theme of a father watching his little girl grow up and become independent. As fathers we want to see our kids learn to make their own decisions, and we pray with all our might they will be the right ones. Decisions that will keep them safe, pure, and protected. At the same time when we begin to see them making decisions on their own, it is one of the scariest things on earth. When those decisions are the right ones, there is this very strange mix of emotions that vary from pride all the way down to fear and even anger. 

From the day our kids are born it is a slow, yet consistent movement toward losing them. All of life grows continually closer to independence. It's natural, it's right, it's God's design. So I ask myself, how are we supposed to let them go, at what age, when is it a good thing? The answer, I am convinced, is from day one. 

I have another daughter on the way, and all I can cling to for hope in a world that seeks to destroy innocence and purity at the earliest possible age, is that the God of the universe who formed my children in the womb, knows each by name, and tends to the smallest details of their lives, is in fact always keeping them as His own. I can't always be there, I can't always know everything, yet He can... He does... at all times. He never turns a deaf ear, nor does He ever turn His back. as the Psalmist say, 

"Where can I go to escape your presence? I go to the depths of the sea, you are their..." 

In this moment, I am even slightly choked up simply because I am so amazed by the majesty of my God. His providence is perfect, His arms are love, and His hand is steady. I can attempt to control my children, stress over their decisions, do everything in my power to protect them from the world, and in the end, are they any safer? 

No, instead, I will put them each in the hands of my faithful, loving, magnificent God, and I will rest easy knowing that He is able. 

Yes, my God is able.

a few thoughts about freedom...

As American's we take freedom for granted. On the 4th of July, we take the day, well, the whole weekend to recognize the day we became a free nation, but are we really celebrating freedom? The truth is we use this day as an opportunity to once more serve ourselves. Is today really about freedom? It seems to be more about parties, and fire works, friends and family. It seems to be more about the fulfillment selfish desires than freedom. After all, if it were really about freedom, is this how we would spend it? 

The very foundations of freedom have nothing to do with fun, fireworks or over indulgence. The basics of freedom are in fact something different entirely. The foundations are freedom are sacrifice, pain and suffering. It is about selflessness, rather than selfishness. I guess it is some sort of celebration of freedom to even be free to take advantage of freedom, but does that create a climate where freedom can grow and expand, or does our approach create a scenario where we end up more enslaved.

Most of the time on the 4th of july we think of freedom in the context of our physical world. Freedom to govern ourselves, that is what our for fathers died for so many years ago, but there is another kind of freedom offered to us, not by the efforts and sacrifice of the military men who have fallen, but by the sacrifice of one man, Jesus Christ, the son of God. His sacrifice gave us freedom from the bonds of sin and death. With one act, Jesus Christ changed the course of human history. He set us free.

It is not so that we can continue to live in the destructive and hurtful behaviors that have lead us to a life of enslavement to ourselves that Jesus gave His life, it is for freedom. Paul tells us,

"It is for freedom, that He has set us free."

Not a real novel concept right? Strangely enough, as human beings we gravitate toward enslavement, and bondage. We love the things that destroy us, and cling to what enslaves us. Why? We are sinful creatures. More than anything today needs to be a about a celebration of the freedom we are all offered in Jesus Christ. We can choose to walk and live in the freedom He gave us, or we can continue to pursue ourselves, and find ourselves digging a deeper and deeper whole of slavery for our lives.

When we truly understand this freedom, it doesn't lead to a life of wielding that freedom to those less fortunate, or taking advantage of the freedom we have. It doesn't lead to a selfish pursuit of whatever makes me happy. It leads ultimately to a life willing to sacrifice for the sake of others knowing the same kind of freedom. How have we as American's gotten to the point where we so enjoy or freedom that we view others as less than us, or less important simply because they don't have it? No, if we truly understood freedom, we would stop at nothing to see as many people as possible living in that freedom as well. 

This is my hearts cry, this is what I live for. I want to daily lay down my life so that even one more person can understand the freedom offered in Jesus. I want my freedom to create in me a sense of burden for those who don't know freedom, a life of mourning for the oppressed. This is the life worth living. 

So this 4th of July, we each have a choice. Freedom is freedom, and no one can tell you how to celebrate it, that's why it's freedom. You can use it, take advantage of it, and ultimately spit in it's face, that is your right, or you can see it as an amazing gift worth giving your life to see others experience it for themselves.

Either way, for us to truly understand freedom and the cost that pays it's price, we need to look no further than the cross of Jesus Christ. It is the cross that is beckoning at all man kind, come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest. The kind of rest that produces freedom known only by those who have put their hope in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. 

Happy 4th of July everyone!

P.S. Thank you to the men and women who stand as a human example of freedom's payment. your own lives

Insufficient at my best

I spend so much of my time trying so hard to be prepared, ready, and equipped to do the work of the gospel, and it seems that in moments where it matters most, my best is still like, "filthy rags." Again following along with the theme of dependence, I guess I shouldn't be surprised by this. The amazing thing, and the thing I take great comfort in, is the reality that it seems God finds a way to make good of and use my utter failures to still further his kingdom. For that, I am a grateful man tonight.

"... for they shall be satisfied."

I paid the bills today, a day that is typically a stressful one in the Brower household. Why you ask? Well, it's not because we don't have enough money to meet our needs, it's most likely because we don't have enough money to meet all our wants. As I was writing out check after check (yeah, I still use paper to pay bills... archaic I know, for some reason it gives me a sense of control, and accomplishment.) I couldn't help but begin meditating on all that we have. More than anything, I was struck by a sense of appreciation for the reality that we have enough money to pay all our bills. We never have to wonder where our next meal is coming from, or how we will pay to keep the air conditioning on. Even after we have spent the first week of our monthly pay cycle buying up whatever feels good, right in the moment, we still have enough to make ends meet. Something about pay day, when the account is full, makes me think I can afford to swipe the old debit card for just about anything that my fleeting heart desires. Don't feel like doing dishes, let's order pizza, been wanting some new clothes, why not, we are loaded? Of course, not thinking about how last month I did the same thing, only to find myself groaning over the reality that after I have paid all the bills, we no longer have a buffer for future impulse buys. We have in essence, spent ourselves to the limits, and will now have to spend the next 20 days being extra careful with how we spend our money. 

So naturally the question becomes, why didn't we start the month being careful? Why do we, month in and month out, find ourselves in this position? 

It's funny that this month the agonizing adventure of diving into our finances came in the context of me taking a break from my sermon preparations for this Sunday. I am beginning a series this week on, "The Sermon on the Mount." Jesus begins His message to His disciples, and the fortunate eves droppers that happened to be loitering with pretty radical, and counter culture outlook on what it means to live out a life of faith in God. He starts to list what has become known by American Bible readers as, The Beatitudes.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed the merciful," etc.

One of these so called beatitudes has become particularly striking to me in the wake of my war with the finances. 

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied."

I can't help but begin to ask myself in this context, what does it mean to be satisfied. I am today, in this moment, ever aware of my seemingly unquenchable appetite for more things, pleasures, and security. But here, Jesus is telling us that the only way to be truly satisfied is by living in a state of hunger and thirst. 

Wait a minute, isn't hunger in direct opposition to satisfaction? How can those two things go hand in hand.

It began to become clear to me... in God's economy, everything is flipped on it's head. I felt in this moment, like the woman at the well asking Jesus, "Where can I get this living water? If I had some, I would never have to draw from the well again?" Even in the context of receiving all that God has to offer me, I am still seeking it for my own earthly gain. 

The kind of satisfaction Jesus is talking about, is not the kind that is satisfied with food or drink. It is not found in the acquisition of more money, things, or pleasures. It is found in utter dependence, and intimacy with the creator of the universe.

My monthly bout with money serves as an incredible reminder for me, that all this world is offering me, will never begin to satisfy the hunger and thirst that is in my heart. If i try to fill hunger and thirst with things of this world, I will find myself empty, and broken. When I choose to live a life intent on remaining hungry, embracing the thirst within me, and focusing it on the righteousness God is calling me to pursue, the empty things of this world will ultimately become gray. I will begin to see these things for the false security and fulfillment they actually are. 

The more hungry I become for the King and His kingdom, the more satisfied I will daily become.