My Voice - Life Support

So I woke up this morning really early thinking about life support. No, really, that was my first waking thought. You know life support has two primary functions. One, obviously, is to sustain life, to keep a pulse and to make breathing happen. The second is to stabilize life so healing can occur and real life can be resumed.

This morning, I woke up and started thinking about how many families we know that are on life support. Families just hanging on, barely able to breath and survive another day. Our countries social services are often great at doing phase one of life support: keep the family alive, breathing. Resources are brought to bear and the family stays alive, barely, struggling daily for life. I think the church is the key to stage 2 of life support. When the church brings the hope of Christ into a situation, surrounded by the resources it has to offer, lives should begin to stabilize, healing can occur and families can begin to live real life together.

This morning, I am convicted that too often, I allow families to linger at stage one of life support. Unfortunately, I allow this because quite frankly it's easier. But once in a while, I see God move in His people, and they take on the difficult work of helping someone move from stage one to stage two of life support and eventually to move off life support altogether. Doing what is easy is rarely right and doing what is right is rarely easy.

A friend of mine in our church used to be part of a family on life support. I remember when I first met her family, I often wondered if they would survive. I remember how young people came around her kids and how the entire family folded into the community of Christ. I remember seeing the stability of God move into their lives. I now see the strength of pulse this family has and am so encouraged. I am thankful today for this family and the real life they live.

My Voice - How did We get Here?

This month we are celebrating the five year anniversary of the Orchard STEPs House, a clean and sober living environment committed to helping homeless men get off the streets. In the past five years, 60 men have had an opportunity to be mentored, given a chance to make it off the streets, and shown the love of Jesus in a very practical, meaningful way.

Nine years ago this month, my wife, Annie, and I were praying about moving to Chico to start a church that would be committed to meeting the practical needs of its community. Be careful what you pray for!

In August 2001, Next Generation Churches appointed us to church plant in Chico, CA. We packed up our home in Missouri and moved to Chico, only to see me recalled to military service after September 11. For most of the next year, Orchard Church was a core group, mostly of new believers, meeting in the living room of our rented house, led by Annie and a couple men from the fledgling team. I was only a prayer partner to the group, as I fulfilled my military duty.

Shortly after returning home, our core group began to really seek the community that God would place us in and allow us to serve. We looked for a community was that was unchurched, and where the need for the church was great. After months of seeking God, Orchard Church chose to move into a neighborhood called Chapmantown, a diverse 10,000 person area in southwest Chico, filled mostly with families struggling at or below the poverty line. We were amazed to find that there were no churches reaching into and serving this community. Our first meeting place in Chapmantown was a rescue mission called the Jesus Center. We met there for nearly three years. Ever since, we have loved our partnership with the Jesus Center. Sunday mornings, we would set-up the dining hall for church services and the DNA of our church begin to form as a diverse, accepting group of Jesus followers. College students, businessmen, homeless men and young families of all backgrounds were accepted and loved in our Sunday services. Soon, we began to see men and women making decisions for Christ, including our friends who were homeless. Through that experience, God opened our eyes to the needs of the homeless in our community. One need we decided to meet was to help homeless men who needed a fresh start. In July, 2005, 6 men moved into our men’s house and the journey for our house and our church began.

Since that time, our community of believers has outgrown the Jesus Center and we have moved one block over to an elementary school. However, our love of diversity and compassion for the lost continues. It is engrained in our culture now. Four years ago, we began an after-school program for at-risk youth and a wilderness program to help kids see the possibilities beyond the poverty and addictions of many of their families. Last month, 30 youth went to the Pacific Ocean, many of them for the first time and were taught about how they belong to the “Community of Christ” and are part of the strongest family in the history of the world: the Church. Two years ago, a young couple in our church envisioned a Sunday night service in our city center for people in poverty and homelessness to get a meal and people to love them and worship with them. Church on the Street is often a picture of heaven with those who are hungry being fed, thirsty and given something to drink and lonely and given care and compassion.

For the past several years, Orchard Church has been committed to accepting people right where they are at, loving the broken, and helping the lost feel comfortable enough to hear how Jesus can change their lives, today and for eternity. I would have never believed the journey God has taken us on these past nine years, but wouldn’t change it if I had the choice. Many Sundays, I spend time encouraging a young professional, a college student, a teen stuck in a broken home and a homeless man looking for hope. I often ask Annie, “How did we get here?” The answer always is the same: God knew the vision and direction for Orchard Church much better than we ever could. Thank God!

My Voice: Timing

The other day, I got this great advice from a priest. It was after surgery on Tuesday, I was on the couch and this priest said to me, "We pray in our time, but God answers in His time." Now, I was a little drugged, and it took me a day or two to realize that the priest was not at my house, but actually the "priest" in the movie "Rudy". But still, the guy is right. And I am finding my biggest struggle with my lack of voice and the uncertainty of things is frustration over what God's timing will be. I am not afraid of the outcome of things nearly as much as I get frustrated about now the "when".

God's timing rarely seems to be on my planned schedule. God's timing requires patience to wait for His best and to learn in the middle of the wait. And mostly, God's timing means I trust God and don't run ahead when things aren't moving fast enough. Trust is a recurring theme in my life. I often buy into the American ideal of "make it happen", "have it your way" and "your best life now". I often trust in myself. But God calls me to trust Him, to wait upon the Lord, to have faith in what I cannot see. So, today, as I wake up, praying for the future, I choose to listen to the "priest" and trust that God is working in His time.

Trust is a big issue for me, and if I am completely honest a tough issue as well. But the more often I am honest and deal with this struggle between the desire to trust God and to get things my way, the better. I do not want to live in cliches about "it's all gonna be all right". I want to live in the truth that says, "God is worth trusting, even when things don't seem all right." The past two months have been frustrating for me (quiet time is not a strength...especially when I want to engage our church on so many levels), but I trust that God cares more about me, our church, my family than I ever could. So today, I will trust God to work in His timing...and try not to wish that He would make His timing speed up to match mine. Just being honest.

My Voice - Tree Hugger

I know this may offend my more conservative friends and acquaintances, but yes, I am a tree hugger. I did it yesterday as a matter of fact.

Yesterday, I wanted to get out of the house, walk a little, shake off the lingering affects of the anesthesia, and spend some time alone with God. So while Annie went to the gym, I had her drop me off at 5 mile in lower Bidwell Park and then pick me up at One-Mile when she was done. While walking through the park, I loved hearing the creek babble, rush through rapids and then quiet down in its calm holes. I kept thinking of how all creation cries out to praise God. Big Chico Creek was doing his part yesterday. Then, I started to notice the trees, the majestic valley oaks that lined the path I was on. They are giant, ancient trees. I came to one tree along the path, about 30 feet from the edge of the creek, a couple miles into lower park. It was the biggest tree I had seen. It was probably 100 feet tall and over 20 feet around at its trunk. I know, because it took me more than three arm length hugs to reach all the way around. I was so intrigued by the size and majesty of the tree, that after hugging it, I sat at it's base and read for a while.

While I was reading, I was reminded of the verses in Jeremiah 17:7-8 and Psalm 1:2-3. They say that God blesses those who place their comfort and trust in Him, who follow God's word. It says, "They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees will not be bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they go right on producing delicious fruit." So God is telling me that as I place my trust, hope, comfort in Him and follow His word that I become like the majestic oak in Bidwell Park. I am strong, not easily shaken, heat and drought resistant and a producer of fruit. This summer has been a challenge for me to keep my trust and hope in the Lord with all that has been going on. Every day I have to be reminded that God is in control and that He has a plan and loves me no matter how the finances or the vocal cords end up. I place my hope and trust in God, because He is worth trusting and hoping in. I want to be like the tree planted by the riverbank that is strong and keeps producing fruit in spite of adversity.

I think God was a tree hugger, too. Later in the day, I was reading from Isaiah, and God says that Israel is going to be restored and they will be "planted like strong and graceful oaks for His own glory." I was reminded that I do not want to be an oak of trust and hope for my gain, but for God's glory. Yesterday, I was reminded of creation calling out to God's glory as I walked through the park. This morning, I remember that God says, I am the masterpiece of His creation...my role is to cry out to the glory of God!! So go hug a tree this morning, and think about where your trust and hope have been placed. Be like the tree near the riverbank, whose trust is in the Lord and is unaffected by the worries and adversity of life, but grow strong and produce fruit to the glory of God.

My Voice - I Love My Family

This morning, I was up early as my throat and ears hurt after yesterday's surgery. I was also excited to hear the paper come at 4:30 am and hurriedly found Annie's first food column in the Chico Enterprise-Record. Check it out at: http://www.chicoer.com/lifestyle/ci_15811276.

As I sat up reading this morning, I was just overwhelmed by the graciousness of God to allow me to be part of such an amazing family. Annie is a great, talented wife and mother and passionate follower of Jesus. My three kids are so unique, talented, confident and love God. I am part of many generations of people who have been committed to Jesus and am so thankful for parents who instilled those values in my life. Brothers and sisters who have modeled Jesus for me. I truly love the family God has given me. God's grace comes as large undeserved gifts and I am thankful for God's grace towards my family.

As I thought of family, I was moved to think about my Orchard family. I feel like a brother, father, uncle, friend to so many people in Chico through the gracious gift of Orchard Church. God has surrounded me with family who are passionately allowing Jesus to transform their lives. Brothers and sisters who encourage and support me as I follow Jesus. Young believers that God has allowed me to be a spiritual "father" to inspire me with their growth, perseverance and ability to overcome the obstacles of life. I grow by watching the strength their faith in Jesus gives. Sometimes, these young, eager followers of Jesus feel just like my kids. I hurt with and for them, celebrate with them, give discipline and encouragement. I learn from this family and am honored to be part of their number. I love them. Reading Acts 2:42-47, I am reminded today of how much I enjoy sharing life with "my family" and am devoted to them as we all grow to be more like Jesus. God has surrounded me with a natural and spiritual family that encourages me, motivates me and moves me closer to Jesus. God's gracious gift of spiritual family is truly undeserved and I thankfully accept that gift today!!

My Voice - Trust: My Rock to Climb

Last Friday, Annie and I took a date day. It was our last opportunity before I have surgery tomorrow and start two to three weeks of silence and Annie has surgery on Friday and will be on crutches for the next two or three weeks. I asked Annie what she wanted to do and she said, "rock climb! One last time before my hip gets fixed." We went to Grizzly Dome on the Feather River and climbed a 100 foot slab. We had a great time.

One of our favorite things about climbing is that Annie and I do it together and have to trust each other. Annie belays me (she is my protection) and I belay her. We set up the gear, check it for each other. While climbing you have to trust the gear and your belayer. We also love the challenge of climbing. It is a rush to get to the top after the struggle both physically and mentally. There is an ad that says, "we climb not because it is easy, but because it is hard."

Right now, I have a "rock" to climb. I need to trust God in the midst of the craziness of life. Three surgeries in four weeks, no voice for over six weeks, the financial strain, the relational strains have all been very challenging. But God is my protection. He is the rope and harness that holds me safe. He is the belayer who protects against my fall. I cannot give up, but follow and trust God in the midst of the challenge. We don't often do the right things, think the right thoughts, make the right decisions because they are easy, but because they are right, and often hard. So as I face one of the crazier weeks of my families life, the "rock" in front of me to climb is the question of trust: Will I trust God to protect and get me through and keep me safe in the face of this challenge? I choose to climb this rock and trust God to protect me.

My Voice - Choosing Life

I've been reading Deuteronomy the past few weeks and am going to preach through when I get my voice back...hopefully in September. As the book of Deuteronomy closes, Moses pleads his people to obey God, follow Him into the promised land and mostly he pleads them to "choose life". He want his people to choose the life of following God, of trusting and obeying the plan that God has. Moses knows that the only life is the life God provides.

I keep learning this truth deeper. I see ads all the times that talk about life, "the high life", "living the life", etc...I want to learn to live real life, the kind that Jesus can give, that comes from following God, trusting and obeying his purposes and plans. Jesus says, "if we try to keep our lives, we will lose it. But if we give up our lives for Jesus, we will find TRUE LIFE." We hold so tightly to our lives, our dreams, our fears, our hopes, our failures...we hold tightly to ourselves and miss true life. I want to lose "me" and find a deeper meaning of TRUE LIFE. It is found in pursuing God, following the teaching and example of Jesus. Life, Jesus style, is risky, dangerous, selfless, and totally fulfilling and real.

Today, I am trying to grasp a hold of Jesus with both hands, which require me to let go of myself. Only then can I "Choose Life". Friends, I hope you will heed Moses' words and "choose life" by following God in all of your life.

My Voice - Communion

So, I just ended my craziest week of the summer, spending four days with 20 youth in Yosemite (watching kids make eternal decisions!!), then jet-setting off to York, PA for a wedding for three days (15 hours sleep in those three days...). This morning, after nine hours of sleep and a big cup of coffee, I have awakened joyful. God has allowed me to live to the fullest, to see lives change today and for eternity, to fall into bed exhausted and wake up ready to start anew. I love serving God.

The wedding in York was for one of my favorite nephews, Tim and his bride Nellie. Both Tim and Nellie love God and come from at least three generations of faithful followers of Jesus (I met that many generations at the wedding). During the ceremony, the wanted to share communion together as a way to deeper communicate their intentions of placing Jesus first in their relationship. I have done communion often in weddings and it is always nice, but this was the most special time I have witnessed between a couple. Both Nellie and Tim hate the spotlight and kept asking me over the past few months to make the ceremony fast. But on Sunday, during communion, the world around them stopped and they entered communion with God. Tim spent time praying with and for Nellie. They took the bread and the juice and served each other. Then Nellie prayed and thanked God for saving them, loving them and giving them this marriage. It was a special time for them and I was glad to be close enough to see the intimacy they shared with God and each other.

That's what communion is about: Remembering the sacrifice and intimacy that God the Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit invite us into. God wants us close, so passionately that He allowed Jesus to die for us to be intimately close with Him. God wants us so close that when we choose to follow Him, He sends His Spirit into our hearts to keep us closer than any other relationship can ever hope. Communion goes beyond the bread and wine...it is everyday that God calls us into a deeper, closer, renewed relationship. Tim and Nellie need to remember that everyday, that the success of their marriage is based on the closeness of their relationships to God. We need to remember everyday that God calls us to communion, to intimacy, to cherish our relationship with Him. Start your day today in communion with God.

My Voice - Crazy Committed

Committed is a word that can have a couple of meanings. Like, "I am committed to this marriage and will never leave my wife." Or, "I think I am Napoleon and I am committed to the Behavioral Health ward for evaluation." One definition has sign of certainty, stability, unwavering actions. The other definition connotes "crazy". You know, I am finding that being committed to following Jesus-- living in a manner that reflects Him more than the prevailing culture, loving the least instead of sucking up the the best--makes me feel the tension between these two definitions. I feel unwavering commitment to pursue Jesus everyday -- and I feel like others think I should be "crazy" committed to some state facility.

I spent several years in a successful career as an officer in the Air Force. I spent days working for some the most powerful people in the world, including have direct connection to the Clinton Administration. Now, each week, I spend days eating a meal with Chico's homeless, sleeping on the ground with Chico's struggling teenagers, managing a messy collection of people in recovery, young adults and people who are as "committed" as I--please see the double meaning. Somedays, I wonder, "maybe I should be committed."

Then, I read stories of Jesus, and His struggle with the prevailing religious culture. He said crazy things, like, "foxes have dens, birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no where to lay His head." Jesus lived homeless. He said, "If you want to find your life, you have to lose it." Jesus encouraged you to see the extreme cost of following Him. He said things like, "Don't take the seat of honor, but take the seat of the least...". Jesus seemed to tell people that it's ok to fall off the ladder of success, to quit fighting to "be somebody" and become a servant, take on the role of the least, lose yourself and live unencumbered and along the way, you just might find True life. The most committed example of pursuing God's will was a man many thought should be "committed." Why? Because Jesus' commitment to God separated Him from the values of the culture and it looked crazy different. As we commit our lives to follow Jesus, aren't we going to look crazy different too? A life committed to following the steps of Jesus is going to look starkly different than the cultural norms. I believe that is where we are called to live. Let's get "crazy committed" to Jesus!

PS - I have been thinking about this since last fall when I read, "In His Steps" by Charles Shelton, written in the 1890s about a community that lives like they believe Jesus would and look strikingly different than their culture. "In His Steps" is now public domain and can be read here: http://www.ssnet.org/bsc/ihs/ihs.html or purchased at Amazon.com.

My Voice - Greatness

What defines greatness? Muhammad Ali self-proclaimed, "I am the greatest!" Michael Jordan and Joe Montana are considered "the greatest" in their respective sports. Why? Because they won a lot more than they lost and led those winning teams with their talent and personality. The Beatles were once called, "the greatest musical act that will ever grace a stage." Winning, success and popularity seem to define greatness in modern culture.

Yesterday, I read Psalm 104 that talks about the "greatness" of God. It says, "Oh Lord, My God, how Great You are. You are robed with honor and majesty. You are dressed in a robe of light and you stretch out a curtain of the starry skies....You placed the earth on its foundations so it would never be moved." The Psalmist continues for 35 verses describing the creative "greatness" of God. 1 Chronicles 29 says, "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory and the majesty. Everything in heaven and earth is yours...." King David proclaims that there is a "Royal Greatness" to God that diminishes all other leaders in comparison. Psalm 79 says, "Your people will praise your greatness from generation to generation to generation." The greatness of God is not temporary, but eternal and unchanging.

So what? Well, for a lot of my life, I have tried to be great. I have wanted to be able to say, " I am the greatest." I have wanted to play the role of Michael Jordan in every situation. But recently, I've been learning that God is great and my role in life is to proclaim the "He is the greatest and He lets me play on His team." God is the Creator, the Eternal King, The Answer. I get to play the role of Harris Barton (an offensive lineman for the 49ers), who said, "Joe Montana is cool... He is the greatest. I do my part, so Joe can be great." Well, God is the Greatest and I want to do my part, so others see that God is Great!

So, today, I am spending the next 15 minutes being reminded of "How Great our is our God". You should join me and celebrate the greatness of God.

My Voice - What if...

"If" can be a dangerous word and "what if" a dangerous question. Two weeks ago I found out that I needed surgery to remove polyps on my vocal cords and the doctor said, "We need to do this now because you are at risk of having permanent voice damage." That started the what if conversations in my head. "What if I have permanent damage to my voice...I talk a lot in my profession." "What if I have to do something else...I want to keep serving God here."

Finally, I spent some time praying and realized that God doesn't live in "what ifs", but deals in the certainty of His sovereignty. God is in control and loves me and wants me to live faithfully. God doesn't need me. He has grown Orchard Church to a place that needs me. God loves me and wants me to live faithfully. Hebrews 11:1-2 says "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation." "What ifs" deal in things we cannot see and every time we try to process them apart from faith, we miss out on what God really wants for us. But when we turn our "what ifs" over to God and say, "You are in control, God, I want what you have for me", then we live in faith, in hope of the results we cannot yet see.

So this month, while I have been struggling to deal with the "what ifs" of finances and vocal health, I am learning to trust God deeper. Last week, before surgery, I talked with God and said, "God, I do not need my strong voice if you allow it to go away...I need to serve you. I do not need to be a pastor who speaks all the time to find value, I have value in you. My life is not about what I do or have that defines me...my life is to glorify God, no ifs, ands, or buts." God is teaching me faith this month in the noise of my mind and the quiet of my voice. I do not want to worry about what I cannot see, but instead trust and hope for the things that God can see.

PS - I think my voice is going to respond well to surgery, but I am thankful that God has given me this opportunity to dialogue with Him about faith, value and trust.

My Voice - I want to be a Billionaire

It's been a quiet day, so here's what has been running through my noisy head...

This summer, I have been driving around our Wilderness Experience teens in the 15 passenger van. Each time, we drive out of the Air-1 radio coverage and end up on a top 40 station. On these stations, there are only about 4 songs that get played repetitively. One of these songs is called Billionaire and states, "I want to be a billionaire, so fricking bad." The song goes on to discuss all the tings that the singer would do with his new found fortune, like play basketball with Obama, be on magazines with Oprah and feed the hungry. You might be wondering why I am thinking about this song and I'll give you two reasons: 1. I've heard it 50 times in two weeks and it's so frickin bad, and 2. my devotional time this morning happened to have me reading Luke 18 about the Rich Young ruler who departs Jesus without following because it would cost him his "billions".

Jesus asks this man, who is clearly a "good, successful man" to leave his fortune for the poor and follow. The Bible says that the man left sad at Jesus' request. Today, as I read that, I thought of all the things that Jesus asks us to leave behind to follow him. Here is my list to date (abbreviated): My career choice, my financial security, my cynicism of the ministry, my fear of the broken, my past successes and failures (my, my, my...). Following means an abandonment of "my billions" for the passions of Jesus. For over a year of my life, I walked away from Jesus sad, afraid and unwilling of the cost. Finally a day came when I said, "yes, I will follow with nothing but my life." What a great day!

The other thing that hit me is like in the "billionaire" song, I used to think, if God let me keep all of my stuff, I'll do good things with that. But then it's all about me and it misses letting God do the things He wants to do in me and through me. The "Billionaire" lyrics talk of the good he will do with his billions, but what has he been doing with his "hundreds". That has struck me...why ask God to bless us with more when we struggle to be "philanthropic" (thanks, Ron) with the things we have today...our limited finances, our attitudes, our words and our actions. I want to be faithful with what God has provided me and not worry about what I would do with more. I don't want to miss the opportunity of today to be where Jesus wants me, waiting for planets to align, for more money to come or for risk to be removed. I want to be with Jesus today and use whatever He has given me. I want to follow Jesus, so frickin' bad!!

My Voice - Live Like the Redeemed

As most of you know, last week I had vocal cord surgery and have another one scheduled for a couple week's Today is my fifth day of total vocal silence in a week and I am actually enjoying it. The problem is that my brain gets louder the more my mouth is quiet. I need an outlet, so for the next six weeks, I am going to blog on my vocal rest days.

Yesterday was an amazing day at church and all I did was sit there and worship (a new thing for me). Ron Stubbs did an amazing job of teaching Ephesians 4 and all night I have been thinking about putting on the clothes of Godliness and being philanthropic with my words. The songs we great too. Fritz Robinson led a team of Billi, Rick and Annie and they did great songs that moved my heart to desire God.

One of the songs we sang is called "We the Redeemed" by Hillsong United. Here is the chorus:

This is the sound of the redeemed
Rising up to praise the King
Our hope is in You
This is the sound of the redeemed
Rising up to praise the King
Singing glorious glorious One You have saved us
Honor and Power and Praise to the Savior.
You are the Answer You are the Answer!

All day, even during church, I have been thinking about this song and the idea of being "We, the Redeemed." To redeem means to buy back. To be redeemed means that you have "been bought back". We were people dead in our sin, destined for hell, separated from God, and then, we were redeemed, bought back by the love of Christ on the Cross. Think of yourself as a former slave, with no hope of future, no chance of surviving and asking "what is the answer to my perilous condition". Then, the King, comes and says, "You are free. I have bought your freedom once and for all. You belong to me, to live as a child of the King." That has to change us...we are no longer slaves, we are eternal royalty, bought into the family by the Creator.

Understanding that We are the Redeemed should change the way we live, the way we act and treat others. We have been saved from slavery and not freed into poverty to make our own way, but instead given the name of the King. Living like the Redeemed means choosing to pursue being more and more like the Answer, Jesus. Living with His attitudes, His attire, living like a freed member of the royal family. When We live like the Redeemed, our lives and the lives of our community will change. People will see Jesus is the answer by the way we live as God's redeemed.