Still Trying to Sell Our Home

Thought I would write a quick update on the progress being made to sell our home.  This past Thursday we had a couple view our home for a second time.  They put it as the number 1 home on their list, but weren't ready to make an offer.  Our home is at the upper end of their price range and they wanted to look at a few more homes.  According to our realtor, another couple that look at our home twice is still very interested--yet no offers.  Today we have dropped our asking price 5k to help increase the traffic on our home and perhaps ellicit  an offer from one of these potential buyers.  Keep praying our home sells quickly.  Paula and I are beginning to plan a visit to Lockport to view rentals.  It is beginning to appear that we will likely have to rent as we are waiting for our home to sell and close.  Keep us in your prayers as we begin to consider this possibility.

The Hole in Our Gospel Book Review--Pt. 2

Part 2 of The Hole in Our Gospel is called "The Hole Gets Deeper."  In this section of the book Richard Stearns describes how the evangelical church has lost sight of the Bible's big picture or in technical language its metanarrative, suggesting many have "missed the forest for the trees." 

 In chapter 4 Richard describes what he calls "the twin pillars of compassion and justice."  He begins by quoting Micah 6:8--We know what God wants and thinks is good: Act Justly; Love Mercy and Walk Humbly with God--The McBeath Authorized Version.  He then explores Is. 58 and Matthew 25. 

Stearns breaks Is. 58 down as follows:

1. Verses 1-3--An inappropriate and insincere fast. The people of God's "holiness is shallow and insincere", concerned with letter and going through the motions of religious practices that have not change their heart.
2. Verses 3-5--God can tell  their heart has not been changed because their actions are not just.  They exploit workers, quarrel, fight...etc.  Its not about bowing one's head and wearing sackcloth and ashes.
3. Verses 6-7--God describes what he wants from society (his people): loose the chains of justice, untie yokes, set oppressed free, break every yoke, share food with hungry  provide poor with shelter, clothe those who have none...etc.  Stearns goes on to say that breaking every yoke is breaking any system, law, practice, that is unjust whether social, political, personal, economic.
4. Verses 8-11--God describes what a benefit a just society would be like--what he wants his Kingdom People to be like and the impact they would have: Light, Justice, Righteousness, Glory of God.

Next, he explains Matthew 25.  In this passage on the sheep and the goats those who take care of the "least of these" are the ones that inherit eternal life.  Then in Chapter 5, Stearns describes Jesus' 3 greatest commandments for his Kingdom people.

1. Love God
2. Love Others
3. Spread the love revolution around the world by making disciples

 Stearns quotes John 20:21 where Jesus says, "As the Father sent me, so I send you."  If one puts this in the context of Jesus' mission and strategy--we are sent with the "Whole Gospel" not just a truncated academic, head knowledge version.  Indeed, Jesus death and Resurrection or founded on Christ love for the Father and his love for us!

Finally, Richard ends this section of the book by describing the hole in him and his ability to love "the least of these" in this way suggesting that this lack of love was a result of idolatry in his life.  He continues by describing Jonah's experience in the belly of the great fish as Jonah's clinging to the idolatry of what he wanted instead of what God wanted.  Further, we cannot find security in the idolatry of our ways; rather, this security is found in follow God's desires.  None of us are truly capable and equipped--like Moses--but God will equip those he calls to this revolution of love.

House and Showing Update

Hi Everyone.  Just an update to let you know we have another showing this Thursday between 5-6.  This is a second showing with a couple that viewed our home on Sunday.  They weren't very interested after that showing, but have changed their mind.  Additionally, their is another couple that is still interested.  Keep praying because your prayers are working!

Hole in Our Gospel--Book Review Pt. 1

I recently finished the book A Hole in Our Gospel. It is written by Richard Stearn the president of World Vision U.S.   He is a committed evangelical Christian.  The book has had positive reviews a broad spectrum of the evangelical world including notables Luci Swindoll, Kay Warren, Chuck Colson, Bill Hybels...etc.   Part 1 of this review will encompass part 1 of the book called "The hole in My Gospel--and Maybe Yours."

In part 1 of the book Stearn describes the "hole" in much of the "evangelical" worlds gospel--ch1.  Ch. 2 is called "A Coward for God."  In this chapter Richard describes his slow and cowardly realization that there must be "more" to the gospel.  And ch. 3 titled "You Lack One Thing," relates the parable of the Rich Young Ruler to the idea there is a hole in our gospel.

According to Stearn their is a hole in many Christian's "Whole" gospel and goes on define the word gospel as "Glad tidings esp. concerning salvation and the kingdom of God as announced by Jesus."  He continues by suggested that "Jesus' kingdom announcement  is very different than our truncated version of the gospel," that minimizes this life, emphasizes escape to the next life, comes across as little more than a fire insurance policy to keep one out of hell."
the king.

Next Stearn quotes Jesus in Luke 17:21 who says, "The Kingdom is within you."  He goes on to describe the Christian as one who initiates God's kingdom reign, the "first fruits" of the kingdom as the Apostle Paul describes.  As such, the Christian is to challenge the fallen world here and now with God's kingdom ethic.  He then explains that the primary metaphor for evangelism is "the harvest".  There is a lot of prep that goes into a harvest--in fact this is most of the work of the harvest.  One is supposed to prepare the soil, plant, water, week...etc for a wholes season.  Yet, most of our evangelism approaches don't emphasize the amount a relationship it takes to prepare for the harvest.  We rush straight to a 4 Spiritual Laws proclamation of the Good News and forget to prepare the soil through building relationships and helping/serving others. 

Next Richard describes Jesus' mission to spread the "Good News" and who this "Good News" is for.  He begins this section by quoting John 10:10 where Jesus states that "he has come to give life and life to the full."  Stearn believes this is Jesus' mission. Nest Richard describes Jesus announcement of his ministry and mission in Luke 4:18-21:

"And the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

"Then he rolled up the scroll , gave it back to the attendant and sat down.   The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began saying to them, 'Today the Scripture this fulfilled in your hearing.'"

Again Stearn suggest that the Good News Jesus has come to proclaim is more than an "escape from hell".  And that this is Jesus' action plan or strategy for accomplishing his mission to give life and life to the full.  In this passage Jesus strategy can be summarized with the following 4 points.

1. Proclamation of Good News of Salvation--more than escape from hell yet including this escape--even to the poor.
2. This full life includes helping people recover their sight which is a metaphor for a spiritual life that is represented by compassion for the blind, sick and sorrowful--see Is. 61--Jesus is quoting this passage.
3. Social Justice for those oppressed under Rome's occupation (any world's system that opposes God's ways), that includes freedom for the prisoners of that system, releasing the oppressed of that system, and offer God's system which is represented by a Jubilee year of God's favor where slaves are freed, debts are forgiven and land is returned to its original owners. 

It is Stearn's contention that when Christians offer a "whole gospel" that includes these things, we offer people an alternative system to the worlds system.  We offer a system that is based on God's Kingdom Way that is only available to those who place their faith in Christ, Christ's work on the cross, and resurrection where the believer receives new life that is characterized by this way of life. 

Questions:

1. What do you think of Stearn's assumption that their is a "hole" in the Gospel?
2. What do you think of Stearn's definition of the Gospel ans including the "Kingdom of God" or God's Kingdom way?
3. What do you think of the Stearn's suggestion that "The Kingdom"  is within the Christian and that the Christian is the firstfruits of that Kingdom?
4. What do you think of Stearn's assertion that to much of evangelism focus on the reaping of the harvest and not the preparation that goes into the harvest--before reaping can occur?
5. What do you think of Jesus' mission statement and strategy for accomplishing that mission as stated by Stearn?

Update on House and Move to Lockport

We had a good showing Friday.  The couple stayed 45 minutes and really liked the house.  They are taking the weekend to talk it over.  We have another showing Sunday between 3-4 with another possible buyer.  Keep praying our home will sell quickly.  We received our home inspection for the Union Street home we would like to buy in Lockport, made some fix it requests, should hear today what the owner's counter--if any. 

Boys, Beach, Creation, and the Image of God

Yesterday, I spent a day at Pike Lake beach with my boys.  They had a wonderful time.  It was a beautiful day--warm in the sun and nice in the shade (I was sitting in the shade).  As I watched I couldn't help but think about God, his creation, and my boys being made in his image.   While I was watching them, I was struck with the fact that humanity is happiest when they are reflecting our Creator God.  Keegan was all smiles as he was creating his sand angels (think snow angel).  All three of the boys were laughing and giggling and carrying on as they were creating castles, and motes, and houses, and mountains, and sand soup.  Additionally, all three of the boys were playing with new and old friends (friends from the t-ball team) on the beach.  (Isn't it amazing with young kids there is no in and out group--they just enjoy each other's company.)  It is no surprise that these our some of my happiest memories of childhood as well.  Why?  I believe it is because we are created and in God's image and derive the most joy out of life when we are reflecting that image.  God is a God of relationship.  He is in perfect relationship with the members of the God-head.  What's more, God created humankind to have a relationship with them.  My boys were just reflect the image of our relationship God.  The weren't old enough to have the many things that encumber adult relationships.  Even more, my boys were reflecting our Creative God.  Just think of everything God created.  My boys, it seems, were creating hundreds of things there on the beach with their friends.  Oh to be like kids!  Not to be stilted and rejected in relationships that keep us or makes us slow to develop relationships.  I am sure this is why there are so many adults in and outside the church that have a hard time establishing and maintaining their relationship with God.  And shouldn't we all be stoked about creating things (lines in our yard as we mow, our gardens and landscaping, woodworking (I made a corn hole board a year ago), and. ...etc.  Sometimes I see these things as work, but most of the time I enjoy them like my boys liked creating at the beach--because I am made in the image of a creative God that likes to create.

Home Showing

Our realtor called today to tell us he has set up an appointment for Noon on Friday.  It is for a couple that went through our home at our open house on last Sunday.  The realtor said the couple seemed very interested, is working on a pre-approval letter, and could likely make an offer.  It will be a contingent offer however.  Please continue to pray that we sell our home quickly.  Maybe this will be the one, cause we can't wait to be back in Lockport.  I will keep you all updated with what is happening.

Letter to First Baptist Lockport

Dear Friends:

It is a beautiful morning in Warsaw, Indiana and the weather has caused me pause to reflect on being called as your pastor at FBC Lockport. It is sunny and the temperature is perfect as I sit on my front porch and watch my youngest son Keegan ride his bike up and down our driveway and street. Everything seems right--picture perfect!

This is how Paula and I feel about being called to First Baptist. It was a slow process but in God’s wisdom and timing—perfect. As we got to know the church, first through Doug Meye and Transformation Ministries, then through the search team, over the phone, we became increasingly aware of the solid foundation and heart for ministry that has been laid by many members and by the congregational leadership. Indeed, we learned that there is a solid foundation to be built upon to Grow God’s Kingdom. As we learned these things, Paula and I became increasingly optimistic that this may be the ministry God was calling us to.

As we visited with the search team in Lockport we instantly fell in love with the people we were meeting, your beautiful city, and the church. This love only grew as we began to meet the members of the congregation, answered your questions, and worshiped together. Lockport instantly became home and First Baptist instantly became family!

Paula, the boys, and I can’t wait to finally be home with our new Family at FBC! August 2nd in all likelihood will be my start date can’t come soon enough. Our home has been on the market for nearly three weeks. Please pray that it sells quickly. We have put a contingent offer on a home in the city and we can’t wait to begin having our new friends and family at FBC over. I know many of you can’t wait to get to know us better. Feel free to “friend” us on Facebook. I will try to frequently update my status—to let you know how the process of getting ready to move is going.
 
We look forward to seeing what God has in store for my family and FBC. Indeed we are all embarking on a new adventure full of possibilities and wonder as we await the awesome way He will work in us and thru us to Grow His Kingdom in Lockport. God is good!!