GLUE

Prayer: A Struggle for Control

Admittedly, through nearly twenty-four years of full-time ministry, I have not often viewed prayer as something I enjoy. Of course, I know I am “supposed” to pray, but I struggle with a temperament compelled to action. Surely, I am not alone.

With a desire to advance in this critical area of my life/ministry, I have recently turned to Philip Yancey and his work, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference (Zondervan, 2006). Written by one who states that his “main qualification for writing about prayer is that I feel unqualified-and genuinely want to learn,” the book offers a refreshingly balanced assessment of the subject: of all that prayer is, is not and still can be for those, like me, who are not yet satisfied.

One section entitled “Guilty” has me thinking. There, Yancey reminds that God asked only two questions of Adam and Eve: Where are you? What is this you have done?

The first question, he notes, addresses our present reality. Are we attempting to hide, feeling exposed, suffering from guilt or shame, the hurt and rejection of others, or perhaps even angry with God due to unmet expectations, etc.?

The second question recalls the past and, if we are honest, provides an opportunity for proper assessment of what exactly has brought us here.

Having answered these questions before God, we are prepared to leave the garden (of prayer) newly clothed and rightly positioned for the journey ahead.

In other words, authentic prayer is that excerise through which I realign myself with God; through which I again admit, “Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.” Prayer compels me, therefore, to cease from striving to control, and to will myself to be controlled by the One who not only knows me best, but who is, truly, about what is best for me.

Perhaps prayer, then, is time to answer once again the question, “Do I really believe that?”

Their Stories Continue

Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church, is filled with stories of life-change and transformation in Christ such that we are experiencing in the multi-ethnic environment of Mosaic. Apparently, these stories have stirred the hearts of readers who are now asking for more information concerning where these people are now, i.e., "So, what happened next?"

With this in mind, I recently asked Georgia Mjartan, whose story of coming to Christ is told in the book (pp. 79-80), if I could use part of an email I received from her recently to share how God has brought things full circle for her and a friend (name withheld) who has now, too, found a home at Mosaic. In the following exchange, see how God has used Georgia to reconnect this woman to a Christ-centered community of faith.

Here's what Georgia wrote ...

"Dear Mark,

"My friend (name withheld), who came to church with me yesterday, is going to join Mosaic. When she was leaving the church, she said she filled out the newcomer’s card and that there was a question on it which said, 'Are you looking for a church home?' She told me that as she read this, she wanted to answer 'no' because she had already found her church home—Mosaic! She knew it was her home, even just on her first visit.

"To give you a little context, her husband of thirty years died about a year and a half ago. He was a wonderful and truly Christian man, and it is a very sad loss that he is gone. I am so thankful that she (has) found a community in Mosaic.

"This morning, (name withheld) sent me a link to her blog. I wanted to share it with you because I think that one of the things that Mosaic has done for me is to teach me—to equip me—with the tools to be able to go out into the world and be a light to other people. That is certainly not something I ever thought I would be comfortable doing, especially with my background. The thought of 'evangelizing' always turned me off (and) I never would have thought that God would use me to bring back someone who was lost and disconnected! (Anyway, I am) so thankful that He did and thankful to you, Harry and others in the church for equipping me and preparing me to be used in this way."

Here then is what Georgia's friend wrote on a Sunday night following her experience with Georgia at Mosaic ...

" ... So what do I mean by this being a time of surprises? This morning I heard a preacher say that the way God works is quite often a surprise to us, not the way we would choose to do something.

"(Now) I have known for some time that I need to get involved in a setting that provids community, especially since I live alone. Though I have lots of wonderful friends who have been very supportive, they live in Arkadelphia or Avilla or West Little Rock or Germany—or they have really busy lives or new children or high stress jobs. So I have needed to make additional connections and I have explored some things, but nothing felt like home.

"Today I think I found 'home'—and the surprise, or one of them, came in how I ended up there.

"My sweet, wonderful, young friend Georgia, whom I met about nine years ago when we both started the Donaghey Scholars Program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and who once asked me kindly to remove her name from the list of Christian focused emails I sometimes forwarded because she wasn't a Christian, invited me to her church! She kept touching base with me about my need for community and companionship, providing it when she could, but nudging me to take steps toward finding my niche. And this morning she picked me up for church!

"I won't tell you her story (you can read it for yourself), but I will say that I know God has worked through her to help me find what I need now. And I am confident that I will find the community I need (at Mosaic), and that when I am stronger or even in my weakness, I will be able to extend that community to others also!"

According to our faith, the word of God never returns void. And as this story illustrates, God is always at work (whether we realize it or not) in and through the faitfhulness of His people. So let us keep speaking, writing, sharing, caring and going, etc., in His name. Indeed, we are all the better for it.

Is There a Need for "Church"?

For more than twenty-five years, the very nature and need for "church" has been questioned with increased skepticism throughout the United States, both in general and specific ways. Indeed, many in our day question the the need for church at all or as central to Christ-centered life and spiritual formation. And while I haven't yet read it, my good friend, Dan Kimball's new book, They Like Jesus But Not the Church, will no doubt offer further insights into such concerns.

With this in mind, then, I recently addressed our body on the matter and specifically spoke to church attendance and timeliness. The subsequent exchange with one of our members demonstrates just some of the legitimate concerns being raised by the next generation and, I think, the need for church leaders to help all maintain a balanced perspective in the matter.

In part, I wrote to the church ...

"Ultimately, we should ask ourselves what consistent tardiness (or, in fact, outright inconsistency in church attendance) says to a God who expects His children to gather for worship once a week in and through the local church (Hebrews 10:24, 25)."

One young woman - a strong believer and committed member of Mosaic - with whom I've had discussions in the past concerning both the nature and need for "church" responded as follows ...

"I think the significance of this passage is not that people 'meet together' by showing up at a designated location at a designated time on a designated day. The significance is that they regularly (I would say more often than an hour on Sunday) 'meet together' to spur each other on to love, to spur each other on to good deeds, to encouarage each other. The expectation is on loving the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and loving our neighbor (and fellow disciples). The expectation is on encouraging each other in service and discipleship. The expectation is not to gather (simply) for 'worship' once a week ... that expectation is much too small.

"I would assert that believers who regularly gather to live out their faith together are being more true to this verse than someone who shows up on time at the designated spot once a week and then carries on their merry way until the next week. Not that I think you desire for Mosaics to settle for Sunday morning; I know that you desire lives of worship and service and discipleship. I'm just saying that's dumbing-down the verses a bit and using it for our own context ... God was saying so much more about what He wants his body to be."

Here's what I said in response ...

"Thanks (name withheld),

"You are absolutely right re. the verse meaning so much more than Sunday morning worship. And I am aware of the exegetical concern that this verse is all too often cited out of context. In fact, I had considered not even referencing it due to that fact. Yet for brevity's sake, I chose not to exegete the patterns of the New Testament re. corporate worship as contained in Acts and in the letters of Paul. The fact is, the New Testament local church (i.e., the entire body and not just a segment of it) picked up where the synagogue left off, gathering once a week (on Sundays, a change from Saturday in honor and proclamation of Christ's resurrection from the dead) for the purpose of corporate worship including prayer, teaching, the breaking of bread and fellowship. It is interesting, as well, to note that such things as ministry to the poor and/or evangelism, etc., are not referenced in the context of 'first day of the week' gatherings, but rather an expected part of daily life for believers beyond Sunday mornings.

"In other words, your assertion is certainly true re. this specific passage (i.e., Hebrews 10:24, 25); but it must, as well, be read in light of the whole of New Testament teaching. And with that in mind, a case can easily be made to support that those reading the book of Hebrews at the time of its writing (indeed, hebraic Christians) would have intuitively understood the concept of weekly corporate worship as inherent to the passage in addition to the additional exhortations contained within.

"I always appreciate the dialogue, (name withheld), and thanks for your thoughts! As you know, my heart is to call people to the cross not only on Sunday mornings, but throughout the week as well. And in an age where it is fashionable to denigrate the local church based on the past, negative experience of some, and/or sin within the camp, etc., it is important that people remain balanced in their perspectives on the matter.

"In other words, it is not all about Sunday mornings; but on the other hand, it is much more than a few folks 'doing life together.'

"You remain a valued piece of the Mosaic:-) And let's keep up the good and open communication!"

Yes, I believe "In an age where it is fashionable to denigrate the local church based on the past, negative experience of some, and/or sin within the camp, etc., it is important that people remain balanced in their perspectives on the matter." What say you?

A Great New Blog

At this moment, I am sitting with my good friend and fellow multi-ethnic church planter, Mont Mitchell, at a Mosaix Global Network Founders' Retreat on an 80-acre ranch just outside of Dallas, TX. Mont's church, Westbrook Church, in Bolingbrook, IL, is a wonderful example of diversity and unity all for the sake of the Gospel. From his experience, he has begun a new blog specifically focused on mult-ethnic church planting called Color Outside the Lines. For all those interested in the growing movement toward multi-ethnic churches, I recommend you check it out.

Mont is also involved in pulling a team from MGN together to present a multi-ethnic church pre-conference intensive, as well as a multi-ethnic church track at the 2008 National New Church Conference, April 21-24, in Orlando, FL. I am told this is now the largest conference for church planting held annually in North America. I hope faithful GlueSticks will plan to attend!

Grace Chapel

Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at Grace Chapel in Lexington, MA. This historic church (some fifty years old) is transitioning from a healthy, but otherwise homogeneous church into a multi-ethnic community of faith; a slow, but intentional process that began six years ago. With this in mind, I was the keynote speaker for their 6th Annual Cultural and Urban Awareness Weekend . If you would like, you can listen to this message entitled Intentional Pursuits, Predictable Results, one focused on the early rise and development of the New Testament multi-ethnic church at Antioch.