Thoughts from the Birdnest: February 2011

Thursday, February 24, 2011

How to properly use the platform God has given you...

I am far from a NASCAR fan, but I have to admit I was impressed when I heard the news that a 20-year-old driver (in only his second Sprint Cup race) took the crown of the famous Daytona 500. Think about it: he can't legally drink, most of his peers are in college racking up debt, and he just pulled in a winning purse of more than a million dollars.

But what is more impressive to me than Trevor Bayne's win is what he said about his sudden income after the win.

“I don’t know if I will splurge. I am definitely not putting it up for retirement yet, I am going to stay around for awhile," Bayne said.
"Hopefully this money will help us get some more races, and there are a lot of foundations and ministries that need support. Back2Back ministries in Mexico is one, and there are a lot of good organizations that need some help, and we will help them out as much as we can."

Back2Back is a ministry several friends from New Covenant went to help serve during this past Thanksgiving holiday. They came back sharing about the powerful ministry Back2Back has to orphans and the community. Back2Back really is a "least of these" Christ-centered ministry.

But rather than talk about going to Disney World, or buying the types of things most 20-year-olds would splurge on, Trevor thinks of the ministries he can now support financially.

And THAT'S how to use the platform God has given you. You give it away.

(Wonder if Trevor would want to help church planting efforts in Iowa... ;o)

Posted via email from erin bird's web nest

Thursday, February 10, 2011

A hurting world in need of a healing place...

I ran in to an acquaintance today. He knows about my family's church planting adventure, so when he approached me, I figured he wanted to get an update on our life. But the words that tumbled out of his mouth weren't followed with a question mark. They were followed with an unspoken plea for prayer.

"My wife left me."

As soon as his heart-ached words hit my ears, my heart ached for him. He said she left him... the kids... the house... everything. And as she pursues her selfishness, she leaves a hurting family in her wake.

Now, I've been in ministry too long to not realize I was only hearing one-side of the story. (And because of where our conversation was talking place, it was forced to be an extremely short conversation.) There's most definitely more to this story than just the abandonment of a spouse. But my friend's words did something in me.

His confession made me want to plant a church all the more.

You see, Ezekiel 47:12 (which, by the way, is the key verse for our 47:12 Campaign) is a prophetic verse about the people of God. This verse describes God's people as trees along the bank of a river. Because their life-source is the river (which is Jesus Christ), they will always have fruit and leaves. It says, "their fruit will be for food," (which gives nutrition, sustenance, and life) and "their leaves will be for healing" (which restores, refreshes, and renews).

With this imagery in mind, I want to help create a place filled with these "trees" who will use their resources (time, ears, money, homes, etc.) to bring healing to these weary souls. I want to continue the expansion of God's forest that can be used by God's Holy Spirit to restore, refresh, and renew these hurting people.

I want to be part of a team that creates an environment...

...where the abandoned spouse can cry out to the ever-present God.
...where the running spouse can run into the arms of Jesus.
...where the addicted twentysomething can find freedom in Christ.
...where the type-A executive can find rest.
...where the woman with a past can find a forgiven future.
...where the adolescent man would mature into a servant leader.
...where the messed up, sin-beaten, weary, dry, lifeless souls who look to earthly eyes to have it all (but are nothing but ashes in the depths) can find true life in Christ, healing among His people, and nourishment for their journey ahead.

So that's part of this crazy dream I believe God has given me: To start a church that He can use to draw people to Himself, even in the middle of their hurts. Because unfortunately, my friend's story is all too common in Iowa.

If you live in Iowa and find yourself in a tough marriage, may I recommend you contact Marriage Matters of Iowa. And may I also recommend you get connected up with a gospel-centered local church if you aren't already.

Posted via email from erin bird's web nest