2010 Kids' Christmas Program

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Small Group Christmas Party (after the food, we assembled a gift basket to give to a grieving family)

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Yellow snow, anyone?

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Sharing the Story in the Language of the People

In the video above, a talented girl paints a story with sand on the Ukraine's version of "Britain's (or America's) Got Talent." It is clear to me the story has to do with the history of the Ukraine.  And as the camera pans the audience, you see women with tears in their eyes.  The story in the sand is part of the story of their lives, of their country, of their people.  And because it is their story, it moves them.

While the painting and soundtrack is graceful, I wasn't moved to tears a bit.  Why?  Because it is not my story.  I do not understand the language. I am not familiar with the tale. The story on the table does not resonate with my heart.  Because it is good art, I'm touched, but clearly not in the same way as many of the audience members.

However, there is a story that DOES resonate with my heart.  And I want to tell it.

I want to paint the story of the gospel in the lives of the people around me. I want to speak this good news in the language of the people.  I want to communicate the soundtrack of God that will touch hearts and move minds.  And when they understand it, people will jump to their feet to applaud the One who went to the cross. Then HIStory will become their story, a story about freedom, life, and love.  

I'm convinced, though, they won't understand the story of Jesus if I speak in a "foreign" language.  I need to speak Iowan.  I need to paint the Iowan way.  So as the video concludes, I find myself praying for God to help me share His story in the language of the people.  Just as I don't know the artist's name, I don't care if my name is known.  What matters is that HIStory is told and is written on the hearts of His people.

One last thought: just as painting with sand gets one's hands dirty, sharing the story of Jesus is my local context is messy.  But if Jesus could be born in a dirty stable with smelly animals and laid on a bed of donkey food, I think I can handle the mockery, the rejections, the failings, the messes, and such.  Because out of the sandy mess, God will paint something beautiful.

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Snow Day!

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Untitled

via twitterrific

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Invention Convention 2009

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'Tis the Weekend to be Jolly (Two Christmas Open Houses)

I'm REALLY looking forward to our TWO Open Houses this weekend:

The first one is our annual Christmas Open House for the young adults of our church (and those who help me in ministering to them).  Every year our house is stuffed with singles, young married couples, young parents, kids, and friends who enjoy catching up with one another, or meeting a new friend, or enjoying the fire, or having a deep conversation by the Christmas tree, or enjoying a game of ping-pong in the basement, or tasting some of the amazing food my wife makes.  Always a good time, and I'm looking forward to seeing people tonight.  Come anytime between 6:00 pm and midnight tonight.

The second open house is a neighborhood event.  Last year, my wife said, "We already have the house decorated and food made for the young adult open house, why don't we invite neighbors over for an evening and do the same thing?" So this year we are opening our home up for a couple of hours to catch up with neighbors.  We've been hosting a summer neighborhood BBQ for several years, but we rarely get to see our neighbors once the weather turns cold.  Hopefully a few will venture out in the freezing temps tomorrow night, and we'll all have fun hanging out for a little while (as long as they don't mind me sneaking peeks at the Big 12 Championship game - Go Huskers!).

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So Am I (My family's conspiracy plan this Christmas)

Each Christmas, my wife and I give our children three presents modeled after the gifts the magi gave to the Christ-child as recorded in Matthew 2.  I've blogged about this gift tradition before.

This year, my wife and I decided to handle the myrrh (practical) gift differently.  Rather than giving them socks, or winter gloves, or tooth brushes, or whatever else we think they need for daily practical use, we decided to allow our kids to choose their own myrrh gift to be given to a child who truly doesn't have the basic practical necessities in life.  We used the Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog, allowing them to choose any of the gifts under $15.  They had fun choosing balls, meals, and mosquito nets!

As my wife was filling out the Samaritan's Purse catalog order form at the kitchen table, my 9-year-old daughter looked at my wife and said "I am SO glad we are doing this!"  With my throat in a knot as I type this because of the wonderful, sensitive, giving nature God has given my children, I say in response to my daughter, "So am I..."

"...so am I."

(It just so happens that our church family is doing something similar through Advent Conspiracy by taking an offering on December 20, and giving the money to clean water initiatives in East India. I love being part of such a generous church!)

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I'm published! (Sort of) A ministry article on the death and birth of an ABF

If you find articles about the life cycles of mid-sized groups exhilarating reading, then you can see a piece I wrote for abfresources.com about the "death" of the 12:30@Eleven ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship) and the "birth" of the current BE[cause] ABF here at New Covenant Bible Church.

However, if you find such articles sleep-inducing, then follow the link right before your bedtime to receive a blissful night of Zzz's.

Here's "The Death and Birth of an ABF."

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