who loves you?

I asked Lillian, “Who loves you?” Usually she’ll say, “Daddy or Mommy.” Today she said, “Jesus loves me.” And then while eating her cookie with me at Starbucks she hummed the melody to Jesus loves me. She’s been singing it everywhere she goes. I realize she doesn’t really understand the impact of her answer. To her Jesus is like any other character in a song she sings. Jesus to Lillian is like the farmer Old McDonald. At the same time I know she understands the concept of love through her parents. She knows that love is a really good thing. And so Lillian can sing with great affection about someone endlessly loving her because who wouldn’t want to be loved by someone so strong? Thought it was a good moment and one I’ll not forget for probably a long time…

awareness

A quick thought as I continue to work through Mark and Jesus’ call to the Gospel:

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath… (2:27)

I’ve been consumed by this small prepositional phrase as it pretty much dictates the whole dialogue about why Jesus is upset with the Pharisees for their stubborn position(s) concerning the Law through Mark 3. We often preach in this section that the point is more on how legalism is wrong (which it is) and that we need to try new things given shifts in our context.  I would totally agree but that’s not the entire point of Mark 2-3. Jesus isn’t mad about traditions. He actually practices them (Matt. 5:17-25). What irritates Jesus aren’t old forms but insensitive leaders that demand them to the point that they actually cause people to struggle. They’re dangerous leaders because personal convictions are held even at the expense of people’s physical and spiritual well-being. In fact his whole point comes down to this one question: “‘Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’ They remained silent.”(3:4).

crazy faith

Something in Mark 2 made me pause and think about the importance of community:

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

I’m always moved by how the paralytic has people close enough to him who will carry and lower him through a roof to Jesus. I’m not sure if they’re friends. Maybe they’re family members. Could just be people with compassionate hearts. To me it’s a picture of passionate community; that uncanny desire of finding ways of breaking impossible barriers in a person’s life in order to bring them nearer to Jesus.

Seems to me part of the cost in following Jesus isn’t always wrapped in trusting God to forgive our junk as much as it is believing that God can do the same in other people. You see it’s not “his faith” that captivates Jesus’ heart. It’s “their faith” which is the basis for why Jesus doesn’t mind that they’ve just busted through his roof.

why church planting?

A quick rant…

Here’s what someone recently said to me about my dream to plant several churches in the  area: “Why would you break apart churches to do this?” In other words, stay together. Don’t send people from churches because that makes them smaller and hurts them from a resource stand point. My next question was a bit upfront, “Why not plant churches to make other churches smaller so that more can multiply and reach those that aren’t being reached relationally with the Gospel?” In fact, I stared at the dude and said, “Do you think smaller churches are a waste of time?”

You see, I love small church. I grew up in one. I’ve always served in them. I love the fact that nothing works. I work hard at making stuff that’s super old look good. I like that there’s a grind to churches that are underfunded or forgotten by their denominations. Everything feels raw. It’s all unplugged. Live. Flexible. Changing. Nomadic. And sometimes you get a few talented people together to serve in them and they have a worship sense that kicks donkey…