Joining God in the Messy Places

What an incredible time we’ve had during this week of Christmas! I was absolutely blown away by the Praise Team’s ministry on Sunday morning and the children’s presentation on Sunday evening. As I sat and soaked in the presence of the Lord, I could not help but notice the smiling faces of so many people who were once lost in the messy world of sin, now lifting up their voices in praise to God. How Christ must have smiled as He saw the children innocently and unabashedly portray their rendition of the manger scene. Hollywood may not have made any casting calls that evening, but who cares? To all of us, it was absolutely splendid! And the best parts were the ones that were unrehearsed, spontaneous, and came straight from the heart.
That’s the way life should be for those who are children of God. I think we often get so caught up in trying to produce perfection and programming that we miss out on what God wants to do in and thru our lives. I sometimes struggle with this myself, especially when it comes to the issue of church growth. Of course we all want the church to grow – more people in church (God’s family) equals less people in the world (Satan’s family). And the more involved we can motivate each other to be in finding our place of ministry, the more effective the body can be in reaching others. But quite frankly, it seems like a lot of the ministry efforts of churches have been reduced to strategy and outcomes and production. It’s all about the “Big Show” and how “professional looking” you can pull it all off during the “performance”. Frankly, I believe we’ve lost the focus of what it’s all about. We do the things we do under the guise of presenting Christ, but many times our primary motivation is about making ourselves look good. We put the spotlight on us, not on Him. And if we can make that choir sound like a 1000 member ensemble or pull off a “Hollywood” type production of hype and drama, others will be attracted and may even want to emulate what we’re doing. And if we can reproduce what we’ve done and sell it, who knows – we might get a book deal! At the very least we’ll gather a larger crowd to see the newer, bigger, more polished performance we put together next time. But is that really what it’s all about? I’m not saying it’s wrong to write, or publish, or attract larger crowds, but our motivation has to be for the glory of God, not for our own glory. Christ’s call is for us to minister to “the least of these”. That takes more than a spiffed up performance for the masses. It takes Holy Spirit infused ministry and worship. It means we may have to get off the stage and get into "the ditch" of some people’s lives where we won't be noticed for what we do. The call to minister to "the least of these" is about engaging people and meeting them where they are right now… and sometimes that won’t happen in a nicely packaged or neat way… Sometimes it will be rather messy. I’m so glad that Mountain View is a place where people are still willing to go into the messy places. That’s the example Jesus gave us when He came to earth. He wasn’t born in a pristine hospital. He was birthed in a barn! As a newborn baby, He was laid in a feeding trough, right along side all the slobber, the food droppings, and the animal manure there on the stable floor. Jesus came to a messy world to minister to messy people, as part of God’s messy plan of redeeming grace. And we must never forget that He has called us to do the same. That’s where real ministry takes place anyway. And it’s the kind of ministry that offers the love and grace of Jesus in the messiest places of this world. The result may not be a “book deal”, but it will produce the kind of joy I saw in the faces of those who were singing praises to the Lord last Sunday at Mountain View. And that joy is contagious! It spreads outside the church as it flows into all the messy places around us… and I think that’s real ministry. Sometimes I wonder if God is at work inside the church at large. I’m not sure, but I do know He’s working here… And He’s definitely at work outside the walls of the church. Let’s not hesitate to join Him in the messy places He came to reach.

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Absolutely Blown Away

This time of year the Bennett family, not unlike your family, is scurrying around trying to prepare for Christmas. We want this season to be festive, meaningful, as well as a time when we give gifts to those with whom we are closest. In saying that, however, I have a confession to make... “Over the years, there have been times when I haven’t put as much time, effort, and thought into getting a meaningful gift for some of the people who mean the most in my life… I’ve actually taken the presents I have received from years past, rewrapped them, and passed them along to some of you… Of course you don’t know who you are unless I happened to mess up and give you back the same gift you gave to me… I hope not!” Why did I suddenly have the urge to confess that to you? Probably because of what I have experienced this past week... I have been overwhelmed with the generous gifts of several people this past week. Wait… Overwhelmed just doesn’t convey the correct picture of what has happened… I have been absolutely blown away!
Something happened that has profoundly affected my attitude towards giving this year. I believe I have experienced something akin to what Donald Miller writes about in his book Blue Like Jazz. A certain incident in his life changed his perspective on giving forever. He writes: “For my mother that year I had purchased a shabby Christmas gift—a book, the contents of which she would never be interested in. I had had a sum of money with which to buy presents, and the majority of it I used to buy fishing equipment... I drifted in and out of anxious sleep, and this is when it occurred to me that the gift I had purchased for my mother was bought with the petty change left after I had pleased myself. I realized I had set the happiness of my mother beyond my own material desires. This was a different sort of guilt from anything I had previously experienced. It was a heavy guilt, not the sort of guilt that I could do anything about. It was a haunting feeling, the sort of sensation you get when you wonder whether you are two people, the other of which does things you can't explain, bad and terrible things. The guilt was so heavy that I fell out of bed onto my knees and begged, not a slot-machine God, but a living, feeling God, to stop the pain. I crawled out of my room and into the hallway by my mother's door and lay on my elbows and face for an hour or so, going sometimes to sleep, before finally the burden lifted and I was able to return to my room. We opened the rest of our gifts the next morning, and I was pleased to receive what I did, but when my mother opened her silly book, I asked her forgiveness, saying how much I wished I had done more. She, of course, pretended to enjoy the gift, saying how she wanted to know about the subject.” (Blue Like Jazz, p.9-10)
How many times have we done something like Donald describes? Aw, come on now... You might as well admit it... Even when we know that we're supposed to think more of others than we do ourselves and give unselfishly at all times, we still mess it up - at least I know I do... But every now and then we meet people who consistently do more than just talk about the life of Christ and the principles of Christianity – they live their words. Such is the case with the FM radio station, 106.9, The Light. Over the years I have been associated with various entities who claim the name of Jesus as their “Marque”. Unfortunately, many of these organizations use the banner of Christianity as a “lure” to raise funds for their own selfish pursuits. How refreshing to know that the people at 106.9, The Light are not that way. In fact, I truly believe they epitomize the unselfish love and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. These folks truly believe that God has given them the privilege of giving, supporting and enabling the ministry of grace in far reaching circles... and they're willing to "get their hands dirty" to see it happen.
Tuesday, Dec. 11th, I spent the day with Matt Stockman, Carol Davis, Jim Kirkland, Tom Greene, Alice Knighten, and many other people from 106.9, The Light, raising support for Vision Nicaragua, a local mission organization that ministers to the people of Central America – specifically Nicaragua. It’s amazing to me that a radio station would feel compelled to give away their air time to assist another organization in receiving support from their radio audience. What’s more amazing is that the entire 106.9 team joyously participated with us in promoting, assisting and receiving the thousands of dollars in donations - and 100% of the funding was turned over to the missions efforts of Vision Nicaragua! There was no hidden agenda. Vision Nicaragua wasn’t a “Marque” to drum up more support for 106.9, The Light. Everyone at the radio station was genuinely behind this effort and saw the entire event as an opportunity to return a portion of that which has been entrusted to them, back to the “Kingdom of God”. As a result, more than 2000 children, orphans, and homeless youth will be ministered to in the unknown villages of Bethel, Trojillo, Santa Maria, La Breeza, Mocoron and Chonco, Nicaragua. The radio station 106.9, The Light didn’t give from their “left-overs” or rewrap a “White Elephant” gift they wanted to get rid of… they gave from their hearts – liberally, joyfully, and sacrificially.
I’m reminded of a comment from another Christian Radio host who said, “I can’t believe you all give away an entire day of your Sharathon to another ministry!” Well, believe it pal! They did… And I know God is going to open up the windows of heaven and continue to pour out blessings upon this station and the BGEA. Folks, this is the kind of Christian radio station we should stand behind 100%. They definitely promote the truth and the light of Jesus Christ – not just in their words, but also in their deeds. They have my support, prayers, and loyalty. I am humbled by their heart and love for the ministries of Christ. Thank you all for your kindness…
Now I think I have some Christmas gifts I need to purchase… I also have a few “White Elephants” I need to unwrap.

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What happened to Christmas?

When you drive thru the towns and villages dotting the landscape around our area, it’s easy to see that the thrust of the commercial establishments is to get you to purchase their goods as your gifts for Christmas. It’s almost as if the day we celebrate Jesus’ birth has been reduced to about the same significance as “May Day” or “Labor Day” or some other secular holiday when we’re enticed to shop because of the holiday sales to mark the occasion. We shouldn’t be surprised. Especially when we see attempts to take any reference to Christianity out of Christmas… You figure that one out! I don’t mean to be disrespectful in any way, but that’s about like taking any reference to cattle out of beef… it’s impossible! You can’t have one without the other. We are very blessed to live in a section of the country where Christians are still able to express their beliefs without too much danger. But there is no doubt the world is changing. We are living in a post-Christian time. I read this past week about a man named Richard Ganulin of Ohio who is suing Christmas. His case involves removing all symbols of religion from public display. I guess that means he wants no more manger scenes, no more stars, no more wisemen, no more Christmas trees even, to be shown in public... how ridiculous is that?!!
But you know what folks… I’m not sure the holiday we call Christmas resembles Christ much anymore. It has become all about greed, covetousness, jealousy, envy, commercialism and receiving instead of giving. And even when we give, we do so with an expectation that we’ll receive something in return that's at least equal to what we give. Is that really what Jesus’ birth was all about? I wish for just one year that we would represent the attitude of Christ when it comes to Christmas. Our world would be forever changed. If we tried to work together to bless those who are less fortunate than ourselves with something more than a new yoyo, can you imagine the difference we would see? Maybe we would experience a little less fighting over that last Video Game on the shelf. If we could focus on how to bless others instead of what we can get out of Christmas, don’t you think our attitudes would change? I do. I’m not one for taking Christ out of Christmas. I still think that’s a ridiculous idea. But the truth is, I think we did that a long time ago… We’re just now getting around to taking His name out.
This year let’s do something to change that. Let’s resolve to celebrate Christmas by being more Christ-like. Why not select a family in a less fortunate situation than your own family and bless them with a special Christmas this year? Don’t buy a bunch of cheap stuff for them… write poems, take them a turkey, cook a meal for them. Why not get a group together and go sing carols at a nursery home? Or what about going to the homeless shelter and serving food? we can all do something that demonstrates the unconditional love of Christ. One way you can do that is to make a generous donation to a ministry or mission like Vision Nicaragua. You have a great opportunity to do that this month - December 11th, WMIT, 106.9 is devoting their mission emphasis to Vision Nicaragua. Why not join the effort by supporting this worthy cause?
What a difference we could make if we refused to get caught up in the commercialism of the culture and return to the vintage principles of Christianity… What a wonderful change we would see in this world if we all could remember and live by what the Bible says? “It is better to give than it is to receive…” So what are you giving this year?

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Mountain View Rocks!

MAN! Mountain View Rocks! I am glad to be back, hopefully on a more frequent basis, after another season of football and hunting. Although I have been able to be with you on the weekends, the weeks have been very busy with a lot of other stuff. That being said, the past couple of weeks back have been wonderfully encouraging to me personally. You all are taking this place to a "Whole Nutha Level"! How great to see you allowing God to use you in new and innovative ways. There is such a change in attitude and passion for the world around us. Instead of just doing church, the church is being the church. How wonderful that is!
What an incredible time we had at “The Call”. It was exciting to see our youth so involved with the dramatic skits. You all are such a talented group! The tapestry you created with a black canvas and white paint was absolutely awesome! It makes me smile every time I look up at the side wall of the worship center and see the abstract of Jesus’ face staring over our congregation! I sense God is doing a new and wonderful work among us. He is rebirthing a passion in hearts that have grown cold and bringing life to those that have never experienced the fire of His Spirit. Every day brings an even greater sense of excitment and anticipation of where God is going to take us from here!
In this season of Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. We sing new songs, share gifts, fellowship together over meals piled high with ham, turkey, casseroles, pies, fresh bread – you name it! Suffice-it-to-say, we certainly get our stomachs, and hopefully our hearts filled to the max during this time of year. As we experience that, let’s not only celebrate the life of Christ around the Christmas tree. Let’s take every opportunity to encourage each other in the family of faith. Call your friends just to say, “I’m thinking of you.” Stay in touch with the members of your small group. Share a smile and a word of encouragement with everyone you meet. You and I are Christ’s ambassadors in this world that is usually so caught up in the business of Christmas that they miss the reason for the season. Let’s make it our aim to share the Christ in Christmas as we share His love with those we see.
My friend Brent Besosa shared an idea with me today about something he has started doing in restaurants. Before he says the blessing, he tries to always ask the waiter or waitress how he can pray with them. He simply says, “Hey, we’re going to ask God’s blessing before we eat and I was wondering if you have anything you’d like for us to pray about?” Brent told me that it is amazing the reactions he has received. Some of the waiters and waitresses have been very indifferent, while others have been overwhelmed. I believe God is very providential and purposeful in our lives. The people He allows us to meet on a daily basis are people who may need to hear that they are important to Him. Why don’t you try sharing that news with the next person that waits your table?

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