Tag: pray

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In A Heartbeat – Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy

Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy (with Sally Jenkins).

The other side of The Blind Side

After reading Michael Oher’s book, I Beat The Odds, it only made sense to read the Tuohy’s side of the story–Paul Harvey would say, “Page Two.”

The book solidified the image I had in my mind about the Tuohy family, their spirit of generosity that has is the DNA that binds them together. If anything, it seems like the movie and publicity about their family compelled them toward more action.

Leigh Anne and Sean provide some details about their upbringing, challenges they faced, obstacles overcome.

For Sean, the saddest part was his father’s heart attack in the prime of his life. An amazing coach and friend to many, his father dedicated himself to coaching, but more than just a game, Ed “Skeets” Tuohy wanted his players to enjoy the game, to look forward to practice. He knew the secret of instilling the heart of the game in his boys and it worked. John Wooden would be proud. Sean’s years at Ole Miss ruined his desire for basketball and while it may be brutally honest, his description and specific memories of his coach leave me sensing he hasn’t really moved past that experience.

Leigh Anne’s story was quite different. She and her mom are partners as interior designers. Her dad was a U.S. Marshall that lived through the racial tensions of the 60’s in the south, called to enforce desegregation and the insane history of our country just a few decades ago. The toughness she learned from her father, but it appears that his mandatory retirement at 55 and other issues ended his marriage.

As parents, we know we have a profound impact on our children. Like some super-buffet, they will pick and choose what lessons they will take. For the Tuohy’s it seems they genuinely desire to help others and would prefer to do so without being in the spotlight. I get the impression that they are NOT trapped by their wealth and success and they did NOT see Michael Oher as a project. Both of those insights were pretty clear from Oher’s book, but this one drove the nail home.

I’m thankful for an example of a Christian couple that walked the walk without a lot of talking about it. I pray their family will continue to growth in their faith and desire to help lift up the inner city youth, especially the public schools. Our daughter, Alyssa, is about to enter the world of public school teaching and our oldest daughter, Miranda, is currently teaching college to inmates. In both cases they see first hand the difficulties faced by those who our society wants to forget.

Pray for those children and teens in schools that are just getting by — more than that — Lord, help us to be part of the solution! I pray for our children who are teaching, on the frontline of the battle. I pray for our churches, institutions that have a great opportunity to help in many ways. I pray for our country that honors wealth, fame and fortune and seems to forget about those left homeless and trapped in vicious cycles of poverty. May we learn from these examples and get better!

 

 

Both of these books came from the amazing Anderson County Library system–and Zoë and I will watch The Blind Side by checking out the movie. Just thought I’d put that out there! You don’t have to buy anything to enjoy these stories.

 

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I Beat The Odds – Michael Oher

Michael Oher is a professional football player with an amazing, true story, of rags to riches. What makes this unique is his heart for the homeless, the foster children, those who society would discount as hopeless. This was another quick read that left me with great respect for Michael Oher.

The book is divided into 21 short chapters, a fitting tribute to the constant moves from place to place as he grew up in the worst of neighborhoods. The first half of the book seemed to struggle with telling the story of his childhood. After all, no one was taking notes, posting on Facebook or other social media. Oher was part of a large family with a mother addicted to cocaine and crack who had children from men who cannot be characterized as fathers other than in the biological sense. Her addiction meant the children would be moved in and out of places they would call home, living on the streets at time, with relatives, other families, etc. The Child Protective Services had his family on their radar and they did what they could to keep the children from harm.

I get the impression that Oher really wants the book to speak to those who are in similar circumstances. I don’t know him personally, but if I were to ask him a question I think I would ask him to tell me about his intended audience. I suspect he would light up and tell me story after story about “E” and Molly and Jyi and others, children who found inspiration in his story and are fighting to beat odds that are stacked against them.

Oher doesn’t need my approval for his writing style or applause for his ability to start every game in his NFL career as an offensive lineman, though the latter must be significant since it takes incredible physical endurance. No, he’s not looking for fame and fortune in this book, those things have been afforded him through football. He’s out to win the hearts of the teenager who’s choosing between drugs and books, gangs and sports, good and evil–those that are in terrible situations where the path out of the ghetto is nearly impossible to see.

I’m really sad about his biological mother. Her addiction has warped her mind and caused her to lose any sense of what it means to be a mother. That’s not news to anyone, but it is sad.

On the other hand, I’m really impressed by the Tuohy family. They didn’t go seeking Michael to complete a Sunday School checklist or earn heavenly points, they simply saw someone in need and jumped in with both feet. It’ll be interesting to read their story (next on my book list).

My prayer for Michael Oher is that he will continue to be the role model for youth, that his example would lead others out of such dire circumstances. My prayer for those of us who call Christ our Savior is that we would see the need to jump in and help local organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Big Brothers, etc. Oher lists a ton of service providers for us to consider. The main point is this: get involved somewhere that fits your personality, your gifting and listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

One final note. As we volunteer in these organizations, we don’t have to try to have stories of our own to relate to the kids–we can now point to Michael Oher, the guy who beat the odds, and encourage them to do the same.

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Under the Overpass

I finally took time to sit down and read Mike Yankoski’s book, Under the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of America. We’ve had the book in the house for several years. I think it was a gift from someone when I was on staff at Shoreline Community Church, but I’m not sure. Dealing with homeless issues is something we saw on a daily basis there. As the “big” church in Monterey, people knew they could seek help at Shoreline.

Like The Heart and the Fist, this is not a book that I will outline, add discussion questions or some kind of leaders guide, it’s just a short review of thoughts I have based on the reading.

To begin with, it’s really short and easy to read, so if you’re looking for a book for those who don’t read much, I highly recommend this one. With only eight chapters (sections), Mike Yankoski recounts his adventures with his friend Sam Purvis as they hit the pause button on college and subject themselves to living on the streets of Denver, Washington DC, Portland, San Francisco, Phoenix and San Diego.

Beginning

If you look at the featured image on this post, you’ll see that I intentionally included Matthew 16:24 in the background. We are called to be disciples of Christ, called to action, called to do something with our limited time on earth. This book is about Mike and Sam being faithful to hearing God’s call in their life for this particular journey into the homeless subculture of the streets in a handful of major cities in America.

I greatly appreciate their patience in planning and executing this particular mission. They didn’t just get motivated and take off; rather, they formed a board of advisors, asked for prayers and, get this, they listened to their elders. That is an amazing thought. God honored their plans and heartfelt desire to learn about homelessness by experiencing.

It was an experiment, one they could cancel at any time, but these guys were committed and stuck to their plans with little modification (they left Phoenix about a week earlier than planned because of the heat).

Lessons Learned

There are many lessons learned throughout the course of their journey. One of the most poignant stories was from a church in Portland. I wish I had a photo of this:

A large gray church rose up behind a wrought iron fence in front of us. The building was old and weathered. Above the mahogany double doors hung a sign in red letters: “No Trespassing. Church Business Only.” A new chain and two huge padlocks secured the gate at the sidewalk.p. 114

How many times do we project those words instead of the words Jesus taught us to love the least of these. I know we need to lock our doors, but is there some way we can be open for those in need?

Here’s a quick review of the cities and a thought on each as I flip back through the pages. It’s interesting that because of my time in the military, I’ve lived in and around the cities in this book (with the exception of Portland).

  • Colorado Springs (60 miles south of Denver),
  • Manassas, Virginia (a city in the Washington DC area),
  • Monterey, California (100 miles south of San Francisco…several trips there during our 3 years including a mission trip to the Tenderloin)
  • Tucson, Arizona
  • Much business in Los Angeles and a few trips to San Diego

Perhaps this was part of the appeal of the book and part of the reality that I’ve walk past homeless guys in most of these cities (and countless others in my travels). Hmmm. Something to think about.

Denver

Staying in a mission for a month was their way of getting acclimated to the idea of being homeless. It seems like they learned a lot in this process and makes me want to spend a month in mission somewhere without this computer, internet or cell phone. Seriously.

Washington DC

The separation of classes is really prevalent in DC…those who have (power and money) and those who have nothing. The sad reality that a huge part of this population comes from military veterans is difficult to appreciate. Why are our veterans abandoned?

The story of Tiffany in this chapter was really inspiring. A young Christian college student, Tiffany saw Mike and Sam and bought them dinner without knowing their story. Cool. I reminds me of something our daughter Cynthia might do (if she has, she wouldn’t tell us anyway…that’s how she is!). Seeing the guys were hungry, she simply offered to take them to dinner and listen to their story. Nice.

Portland

Basic needs for restrooms, showers, clean clothes and even something as simple as water are things the homeless population struggle to find. The “body basics” are daily concerns. The guys went for weeks without a shower because that was just not available. I’m reminded of the mission in Montgomery where they intentionally built showers and laundry facilities to help the homeless.

San Francisco

God’s providence was evident in several ways in San Francisco. Reading this chapter reminded me of the week I spent with the youth of Shoreline Community Church as we ministered to those in the Tenderloin district…the poorest of the poor. I could smell the smells and see the faces of those I met as Yankoski recalled their experience. When they met a 17-year old preacher in the park who was following his calling I couldn’t help but smile. We discount our teenagers too quickly these days. Here was a guy who was sincere. Well done.

Phoenix

I loved the Mr. White Polo Shirt story. Some megachurch with excellent security staff kicked Mike and Sam off the property because of an event the church was hosting. Later Mr White Polo Shirt found them in church, hugged them and asked for forgiveness. How often do we get a chance to ask for forgiveness for our missteps?

San Diego

The story of Doug saving a guy from drowning was a surprise. The surrealistic experience toward the end of their time on the streets must have really made an impact on Mike and Sam. It’s a brief, but Doug’s story is symbolic of so many on the streets who are addicted to something they can’t shake, though they try.

Concluding Thoughts

This is the incredibly sad reality of many on the streets: mentally ill, alcoholics, drug addicts, beaten, worn, without hope. These are the least in our society and we are called by Christ to serve them. I greatly appreciate the end of the book (pp 218-219) where Yankoski provides a few ideas and encouragement to get involved locally:

  1. Find the rescue mission nearest to you. Call and find out how you can get involved. Show up an hour early and plan on leaving an hour after you’re scheduled to. Have conversations with the homeless as they stand outside, waiting to get in. Bring bottled water, baked cookies, granola bars, patience, and a sense of humor. You’ll bless those who cannot bless you in return.
  2. Go downtown with a friend or friends (don’t go alone). Buy cups of coffee or a bag of take-out food, find a homeless person sitting around asking for money, share your gifts, and enjoy a conversation. No agenda, no plans, no purpose other than to be with that person. You’ll be amazed at what unfolds.
  3. Is it cold outside? Go to your closet and grab the sweater, sweatshirt, or coat you keep telling yourself you’ll wear sometime but know you won’t. Call up four friends and tell them to do the same thing. Then go downtown and hand out your warm clothing to the men or women huddled under the overpass or in a doorway. As you stand there thinking of how cold your nose is, you’ll be amazed at the genuine thankfulness of someone whole whole body is probably numb. And your giving will warm your soul, too.
  4. Become a spokesperson in your your group, church, and community for those who have no voice. Be relentlessly suspicious of your comfortable life, and of the comfort zones that render so many Christian fellowships insensitive and ineffective in our communities. God calls us all to more. And you and I can lead the way, one small step at a time.

In other words, do something.

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Psalm 139

As Easter season is fully upon us it seems prudent to take time to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for all of us for all time. I have friends that give up Facebook for Lent or various things definitively seen as worldly. I haven’t followed their lead because I tend to resist doing things (or not doing) that are trite and trivial in the first place. At the risk of sounding pious: if there is something I should sacrifice for Lent, perhaps I simply should let that go.

Lent, the forty days leading up to Easter, calls me to stop and reflect, pray and try to get my mind around what happened on the cross. Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of Jesus, Easter about the death and resurrection. I can get pretty excited about a baby being born–after witnessing the miracle of birth of our four daughters, but it’s hard to get excited about the brutal torture and death of Jesus, even though I know resurrection is around the corner. It’s hard because death is not something I celebrate and resurrection is beyond my comprehension.

One of the new songs I’ve learned at Hope Fellowship (thanks to Worship Pastor, Beth Ehlert) is based on Psalm 139. Simply titled 139, the song’s third verse is short is punctuated by whole notes that tell me to listen to these words carefully:

I open up my heart please search me through
Does anything displease you?
Lead me in the way of the cross.

139, David Moore, © 2012 Gateway Create Publishing

When first heard the song the question “Does anything displease you?” haunted me, it stuck out so boldly. I imagine God’s answer to that is something like, “Sit down boy, I have a list of things that displease me…”

Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

After a short rest the song picks up the answer that is beyond comprehension: the cross. On the cross Jesus covered my sins–all of my sins. He covered sin for all who would daily pick up their cross and follow him (Matthew 16:24).

This year I will stop. Listen to the whole notes. Ask God to search me, to even test me, but when I fail: lead me in the way everlasting. I might even take time to go through the Stations of the Cross to guide my thoughts. In any case, this is a season to listen to the whole notes and hear what God is saying.

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The Heart and the Fist

The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy Seal, by Eric Greitens

the-heart-and-the-fist-cropped
Click picture to view on Amazon.com

Founder of The Mission Continues,

Eric Greitens was inspired to launch the organization by his experience visiting Marines and soldiers who were wounded in combat after returning home from service in Iraq. Without exception, each service member expressed an unwavering desire to continue serving their country, even if they could no longer do so in the military.

Today, The Mission Continues has operations in cities across the country. Veteran volunteers, alongside non-profit partners and community leaders, work to achieve critical objectives such as improving community education resources, eliminating food deserts, mentoring at-risk youth and more.

Special thanks to my wife for encouraging me to read a book…just to read a book! No outlines here, no string of posts with notes and questions for discussion (the Table of Contents is provided for reference only).

This is a book that should be on the required reading of everyone in the military and those who work for humanitarian support agencies. Eric Greitens takes us on a tour of humanitarian and military hotspots around the world and provides an even-tone, introspective view of how individuals affect change around the globe. It’s not an almanac that tries to cover everything, just some highlights provided in a well-written, enjoyable read.

It should be required reading for the military because the author reminds us of why we wear the uniform and he does so from a position of humility without ever waving the flag. As a Navy SEAL, he is entitled the respect of many just for wearing the badge and serving with honor, but this is not flaunted nor is it brandished about as if the badge alone demands respect–he has earned his place at the table.

Those who work for humanitarian relief organizations will gain some valuable insight into why the military is their ally and how they can be partners in the effort to help those in need around the world. We need to work together, communicate better and serve with a common purpose.

Throughout the book, Greitens demonstrates the great need for humanitarian efforts to continue and he makes the case that there is a time and place for the military to take up arms to defend those who are defenseless. The wounded warriors that read these pages will walk away with a sense of honor that they deserve, with a respect we all have for their sacrifice.

I greatly appreciate Greitens’ inspiration for The Mission Continues. These men and women are far from being done yet. They may be physically wounded, but what they have learned and the heart they have for being an effective part of the cause agent for positive change is nothing short of remarkable.

Thank you Mr. Greitens for sharing your story. Thank you for encouraging all those who have served in the Armed Forces of this great country that chooses to involved itself for humanitarian needs regardless of the motivation. My prayer is that we would all learn to appreciate those who have such a heart for people, that we would learn to look at others as brothers and sisters and not projects or numbers. Thanks for the perspective.

 

 

Table of Contents

  1. Mind and Fist
    1. Iraq
    2. China
    3. Boxing
  2. Heart and Mind
    1. Bosnia
    2. Rwanda
    3. Bolivia
    4. Oxford
  3. Heart and Fist
    1. Officer Candidate School
    2. Seal Training
    3. Hell Week
    4. Advanced Combat Training
    5. Afghanistan
    6. Southeast Asia
    7. Kenya
    8. Iraq

Epilogue: The Mission Continues

 

 

 

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unChristian: 2. Discovering unChristian Faith

Generation Gap Widening

This chapter provides more background into the rest of the book and provides an introduction to the next six chapters.

One of the interesting dichotomies is the strong desire for Mosaics and Busters to be part of a tribe while maintaining fierce individualism–perhaps disturbing is a better term.

Fewer than one out of ten young adults mention faith as their top priority, despite the fact that the vast majority of Busters and Mosaics attended a Christian church during their high school years. Most young people who were involved in a church as a teenager disengage from church life and often from Christianity at some point during early adulthood, creating a deficit of young talent, energy, and leadership in many congregations.1

It’s imperative that we take time to understand the gap and to figure out how to make connections. But we need to be careful not to simply repackage Christianity to be appealing to a particular target audience. I fully believe Jesus is as relevant today as He was when talking to people on earth 2,000 years ago. We need to deal with the tension this causes, not ignore it, while at the same time being consistent. Difficult to say the least.

The leadership at Elevation Church has apparently figured this out. We have friends in Charlotte (and other Elevation locations) that are excited to be part of their vision. My prayer is that the cake is as good on the inside as the icing on the outside appears. I earnestly pray for their leadership and hope with all my heart that they are listening to God in every decision they make. Too many people’s lives are at stake!

Hostile Takeover

The data presented shows a drastic shift toward Christianity’s role in society. In 1996, 85% were favorable to Christianity. By 2006, that number is down to 38%, even to the point that one-third say Christianity represents a negative image, one they don’t want to be associated with. Compare this with:

Their impressions of the Bible are mixed: most think it has good values, but only three out of ten believe that it is accurate in all the principles it teaches.2

This just fuels my desire to see the Bible taught in churches, not for memorization, but for understanding. I pray that God will open the way for the Biblical Literacy Assessment to become a reality that wakes people up to the reality that we all need to comprehend the Bible.

Most Outsiders know the story of Jesus, most have heard, “It’s simple, just accept Jesus, believe in Christ, confess your sins and you will be saved.” (The A-B-Cs of coming to Christ.) I cringe every time I hear a pastor say, “it’s simple” or “all you have to do is…” This quickly becomes a faith that’s centered around something “I do.” Jesus did not teach this sort of cheap grace. Yes, we must come to grips with our sinful nature, confess our sins and accept Christ, but it is not simple. I’m not suggesting we embrace 613 laws that must be followed (or else), just that we get real about our own sinful nature, let transparency become the rule and not the exception. Jesus came to give life to a broken world and we’ve made it a “join the club” atmosphere.

Why So Negative?

Perhaps this is why people react negatively when we boast about the security of our eternal reward compared to their destiny. We are not so important–Jesus is. I strongly agree with Kinnaman’s assertion: “We have become famous for what we oppose, rather than who we are for.”

Six Broad Themes

The next 6 chapters will dive into these topics:

  1. Hypocritical.
  2. Too focused on getting converts.
  3. Antihomosexual.
  4. Sheltered.
  5. Too political.
  6. Judgmental.

Complex Background

  • Perceptions are not formed in a vacuum or based on limited exposure
  • Impressions are forged through many inputs: churches, relationships, other religions — conversations with other
  • The “secular” media is not as effective as we might expect
  • Bad experiences in church have a strongly negative influence on many — not a surprise — something like 30%.

Hijacking Jesus

This is where caution must rule. We must not edit the Bible to make it more palpable for outsiders, nor try to look more appealing to satisfy their appetites. Kinnaman refers to this as hijacking Jesus, “softening or reshaping the gospel” to somehow make it more interesting. He believes outsiders want to have conversations and not persuasion sessions.

Do Perceptions Matter?

  1. What people think about Christians influences how they respond to us. People’s attitudes drive their actions.
  2. What people think about Christians should help us be objective.
  3. What people think of Christians can change.
  4. What people think about Christians reflects personal stories.

Years ago I put a simple reminder on my desk, one that I could see when speaking with anyone: “Perception = Reality.” What someone perceives is in fact their personal reality and that matters to me. That doesn’t give me license to become a chameleon, but it does mean that I take Paul’s words seriously:

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

A Wake-up Call

One of the things Kinnaman does in this book is to translate the percentages into numbers, e.g., “Millions of young outsiders are mentally and emotionally disengaging from Christianity.” Millions. People that Christ died for. Not a percentage or statistic, rather a list of names we could create if we were so motivated. That is profoundly sad. What am I doing today to remove one name from that list? Lord, I pray that you will show me some way to more someone off of that list each day and that I would teach others to do the same!

Responding to unChristian Faith

Jesus’ answer is recorded in John 17 as our Savior prays for his disciples:

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

I found a post by David Mathis interesting, “So let’s revise the popular phrase “in, but not of.” Christians are not of this world, but sent into it. Not of, but sent into.” I hope and pray that we become unhappy with churches that are so inwardly focused that they miss the command to be sent into the world by Jesus himself. We have a mission to complete. Lord help us!

 

« Chapter 1

Chapter 3 »

 

1 Kinnaman, David; Lyons, Gabe (2007-10-01). unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity…and Why It Matters (p. 23). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

2 ibid, p. 24

 

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Like An Avalanche

Last Sunday (Feb 21, 2016) we sang the song, Like An Avalanche,1 a powerful song that compels us to come before the throne on our knees. There are several scriptures implied in this musical work of art. The bridge in the song, that musical section that serves to tie the song together, is based on these passages (at least) Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, Matthew 10:38-39:

Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Jesus is talking with those who are following him. The people are impressed with his miracles and teaching so he clarifies what it means to be a disciple, something I’m sure many find difficult to understand. To be a disciple of Christ comes with a cost. In the referenced passages we find Jesus lays out some heavy requirements. I imagine there were many who were shocked by Jesus words in Matthew 10:32-33:

Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

These are powerful words that no doubt set many on their heels, stopped them in their tracks. “I will disown before my Father in heaven.” You. Me. Family. Friends. What is our response to such words? How do we react when we read these words? Turn the page and keep going? Do we fill our quota of scripture for the day and check off the box that says read the Bible?

The Bridge

This Sunday we led this song with a room full of people who are seeking to grow in their faith, to be disciples of Jesus. I’m not sure how many times we sang this phrase, but I couldn’t get enough and it still plays in my mind as I type this:

Take my life, take all that I am,
with all that I am I will love you.
Take my heart take all that I have
Jesus how I adore you.

How I pray that we can truly embrace this posture of complete devotion to Jesus. Let the lyrics and music wash over us all. I hope these words keep repeating in your mind as you consider Like An Avalanche.

 

 

1 Like An Avalanche, Joel Houston and Dylan Thomas, Hillsong Music Publishing, 2010

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unChristian: 1. The Backstory

Seeing Christianity from the Outside

Our research shows that many of those outside of Christianity, especially younger adults, have little trust in the Christian faith, and esteem for the lifestyle of Christ followers is quickly fading among outsiders. They admit their emotional and intellectual barriers go up when they are around Christians, and they reject Jesus because they feel rejected by Christians.1

It’s not a surprise that many have little trust in the Christian faith, but digging into the details Kinnaman and Lyons explore this concern through many lenses. The Backstory explains how Gabe Lyons confided in David Kinnaman about his calling to explore these issues and to reveal them to other Christ followers who certainly have a sense that this is the case, but really don’t understand the nature of the problem.

Why unChristian?

Outsiders, those who are not part of the Christian faith, see Christ through our actions, our words and deeds, especially the negative press, and find little to compel them to be a part of the Christian community. Quoting Bible verses isn’t helpful in bridging this gap. Building relationships based on love and trust matters–not viewing people as projects. We have a lot to learn from the data presented in this book. So here we have evidence of outsiders’ reactions to Christianity. This is an opportunity to listen and learn. We must be willing to engage, not just throw our hands up and quit. Christ called us to make disciples and He promised it was not going to be easy.

New Directions

Terms and definitions are required to discuss perspectives used throughout this book. It’s always risky to apply a label, so the authors have chosen terms that are meant to avoid derogatory connotations.

  • Outsiders. This group includes atheists, agnostics, those affiliated with a faith other than Christianity (such as Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Mormonism, and so on), and other unchurched adults who are not born-again Christians.
  • Mosaics. Those born between 1984 and 2002.
  • Busters. Those born between 1965 and 1983.

The primary focus of this book is on those between 16 and 29 years old, the Mosaics and Busters because they comprise a huge portion of our population and they are the generation that will be running the country when we’re old and retired!!

While the focus seems to be on outsiders, it appears that many Mosaics and Busters that are Christ-followers are skeptical of present-day Christianity–they are feeling the heat of negative perceptions. In my mind this is a huge call for discipleship that we (as the elder population) need to take seriously.

And so the journey begins. My prayer is that God will open my eyes to the great opportunities that are revealed in this book, that the size and scope of the problem keep me up at night as I wrestle with understanding what one person can do to affect change that is so desperately needed.

 

« Intro

Chapter 2 »

 

1 Kinnaman, David; Lyons, Gabe (2007-10-01). unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity…and Why It Matters (p. 11). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

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Ten Questions: Conclusion – The questions our friends need us to ask them

Introduction

  • Mark Mittelberg begins this chapter with a great story of Ronald Reagan’s debate with Walter Mondale, the turning of the tide in Reagan’s campaign was the seminal response to the question about his age (73 at the time). His response:

Not at all, and I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience!

  • Reagan turned a perceived weakness into a strength. Incredible.

From Defense to Offense

  • Be prepared to give a good answer 1 Peter 3:15.
  • We don’t have to defend ourselves, offense scores as well 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, our battle is well beyond this world.
  • Nobody is neutral: everybody is making a claim to something
    • The atheist claims there is no God
    • Other religions support their version
    • Christians defend their position
  • All of us should be willing to give a defense for what we believe, but learn to turn defense into offense without being offensive–therein lies the challenge.
    • Stop merely answering our friends’ questions and start asking them a few key questions of our own.

The Questions Revisited

  1. What makes you so sure that God exists at all–especially when you can’t see, hear, or touch him?
    • How do they account the the existence of the universe? Is it eternal?
    • How did it become so precisely fine-tuned?
    • What is the basis to say anything is ultimately right or wrong?
  2. Didn’t evolution put God out of a job? Why rely on religion in an age of science and knowledge?
    • How do you explain where the primordial goop originated?
    • If they maintain that evolution and God are compatible, what have they done to discover who God is?
  3. Why trust the Bible, a book based on myths and full of contradictions and mistakes?
    • What specific myths are you referring to? Which contradictions bother you the most?
    • Would you be willing to explore that in detail with me?
  4. Everyone know that Jesus was a good man and a wise teacher–but why try to make him into the Son of God, too?
    • Have you ever read the Gospels for yourself? Why don’t we both read and discuss them?
    • Demonstrate that we are genuine lovers of truth, unafraid to look at the real evidence and to follow the facts where they lead.
  5. How could a good God allow so much evil, pain, and suffering–or does he simply not care?
    • Remember there is an appropriate time to dive into this discussion–not in the midst of tragedy
    • What is your alternative? No God? If no God, what meaning do pain and suffering have?
    • Hopefully our friends will understand that it’s better to grapple with the problem of evil than to deny it through atheism or Eastern pantheistic philosophies.
    • No one suffered more than Jesus Philippians 2:5-11
  6. Why is abortion such a line in the sand for Christians? Why can’t I be left alone to make my own choices for my own body?
    • Are you 100% certain that it’s not a living human child inside the womb? If not, what is it?
    • The least of these Matthew 25:45
  7. Why do you condemn homosexuality when it’s clear that God made gays and that he loves all people the same?
    • Jesus was full of grace and truth John 1:14, we should lean toward grace without relinquishing truth
    • Recall the Samaritan woman and how Jesus handled the conversation
    • Given Jesus’ strong and positive explanation of God’s plan for marriage, what do you think he would say about gay sexual relationships?
    • Do you see anywhere in Jesus’ words or teachings of the Bible where homosexual behavior is condoned?
      • Don’t wield biblical truth as a weapon or as a way to put up a wall — that’s the opposite of our desire here
  8. & 9. How can I trust in Christianity when so many Christians are hypocrites? And why are they so judgmental toward everyone who doesn’t agree with them?
    • Hypocrisy and judgmentalism are problems for some Christians. Jesus agrees with you on this point. Since you’re on Jesus’ side, why not learn more about him and show us how to be a better example for others?
    • How about you: do you ever struggle living up to your own ideals–or God’s?
    • If they are aggressively taking their position, perhaps you can ask, “how is that different from what you are doing right now?
    • Everyone thinks their opinion is right, the question quickly becomes, “how do you know you’re right?”
  9. Why should I think that heaven really exists–and that God sends people to hell?
    • We can’t directly access heaven right now, but we can listen to the One who died on the cross and rose from the dead: John 8:23, 11:25
    • In light of Jesus’ divine credentials, why wouldn’t you believe what Jesus taught about heaven and hell?
    • If you’re not going to believe Jesus, who are you going to believe–and why?

Back to Where We Started

We need three things in order to appropriately put the information into action: preparation, prayer and proximity.

  1. Preparation. Reading this book and taking notes, discussing it with brothers and sisters in Christ, is all part of preparation.
  2. Prayer.  Keep praying for your friends, family members, co-workers, etc., and keep praying for yourself, that your knowledge and understanding would increase–even that God would open doors to opportunities to use this knowledge.
  3. Proximity. I hope you will no longer shy away from opportunities to get close to people who are far from God.

Remember the purpose of this study is not just to answer question, rather, it’s to lead people to Jesus! We want to help them find not only answers and truth but also the One who said,

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.John 14:6

Go with confidence and a sense of urgency, knowing that the time is short and the information you have to share is life giving.

I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes.Romans 1:16

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Ragamuffin Gospel: 19 Mercies: A Spiritual Retreat

Time to Reflect

In this chapter, Brennan Manning provides an opportunity for a guided retreat through 19 mercies, opportunities to hear from our loving Father. Perhaps this is a chance to slow down a moment, to pray, to ready, to listen.

I’ll list them here. Perhaps we should all consider taking one a day for the next few weeks.

Come

  1. Be here, now.
  2. Don’t wait.
  3. Jesus wants to enter into deep friendship with you.
  4. Cry out for the Spirit.

Encounter

  1. The Person of Jesus.
  2. The call from the cross.
  3. Through Jesus we know Abba.
  4. The God who is love.
  5. God loves you unconditionally.
  6. We cry, “Abba!”
  7. The prayer of simple regard.

Serve

  1. The freedom of serving.
  2. Healing through meal sharing.
  3. Washing feet.
  4. Freedom from your own contempt.
  5. Christ in the person next to you.

Trust

  1. Trust in your Father’s delight.
  2. Worry is an insult to your Father.
  3. The grace of reckless love.

Go in peace and find freedom in the God who loves you more than you can ever express…but express it anyway through song, poetry, work, creativity, loving and serving others.

Amen.

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