All my life, I’ve been saying, “that’s ok.” It started out as a child’s lesson: when another kid says, “I’m sorry,” the appropriate response is, “that’s ok.” It’s an expression of forgiveness for toddlers who can’t quite grasp the full concept of forgiveness yet.

Ideally, wisdom comes with age. While forgiveness is still required, not all grievances are ok. Some are, but not all, and that’s where we need wisdom and discernment. My first exposure to “that’s not ok,” happened two years ago while joking around with some teammates during pre-trip preparation. She was a younger college student who, upon hearing something she didn’t agree with, promptly said, “that’s not ok.” It caught me off guard, and I started laughing. It wasn’t a serious situation…merely an expression of her opinion, but it started me thinking, “How often do I say, ‘that’s ok,’ when I really don’t think it is?” Continue reading…

Reflections of Praise

June has been another full month…so full, in fact, that it has spilled over into July, hence the late update. From our staff retreat in Lake Arrowhead to attending the Lausanne Conversation gathering to being wonderfully challenged to serve God at a higher skill level during WATS (Worship Arts Technology Summit) to being officially trained as a Perspectives Coordinator (I cheated, this was actually in July), God has been speaking very clearly to me about the part(s) of His heart I am to pursue right now. In the midst of all the inspiration , we’ve also been progressing steadily toward our October vision trip (thanks for praying-keep at it!) and the development of another significant option for our international teams. It has been overwhelming at times, but He has been faithful to remind me (especially through music and friends) of His sufficiency to reign over and lead His Kingdom. Continue reading…

If I asked you to quote the Great Commission, what would you recite? Most likely, it would go something like this (if you quote the NIV):

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

It’s a great verse, an inspiring charge to us as Christ’s disciples. If I hear it coupled with an adventurous mission story, I’m ready to hop on a plane to an unreached people group, and I don’t even like flying!

A few weeks ago at our staff retreat, our discussion revolved around a few key passages and how we as an organization could be intentionally living out those truths. Having a heavy emphasis on mission programming, of course we covered the Great Commission. I’ve read it so many times, even memorized it, but God opened my eyes to a new facet of it that morning. Continue reading…

Hello! How is it the end of June already?! Praying God is blessing you with a”summer season” of His light and warmth!

This week, could you please intercede on our behalf for:

• all host dates for our fall vision trip to fall into place by this Friday…we’re hoping to go to 2-3 countries in East Asia to discern God’s place for us in new territory and to experience participation in His ministry there
• a growing interest among our mentors (and support from their churches) to explore how God might use their worship leadership skills beyond their job descriptions
• courage and wisdom as I continue to work on researching and developing a new approach to our international teams…God seems to be moving a little faster than I’m comfortable with in some respects, and I need to let go of wanting to “do it right” when that gets in the way of  being secure in the flow of His Spirit…even if He is a rapid current!
• personally, fearlessness in pursuing intimacy with God…sometimes it feels safer to worship Him from a distance, but I’m starting to wonder if I can really do that and call it “worship in spirit and truth”

So grateful for your spiritual fellowship and support as you pray in our stead…as you do, you are living examples of worship to God (Romans 12.1-2) for me!

What the Lakers showed me about worship, part 3

News coverage of the Lakers during their victory parade kept referring to the team as “local heroes.” I know this comes as a shock, but professional entertainers are rarely worthy hero material, although there are definitely some exceptions. Heroes of that stature come and go pretty quickly. The Lakers’ hero status will only last until their first loss next season…if that long. The winners of the FIFA world cup could easily swoop in and take that position, even though they might not be local. [Don't worry, guys. I'll still make an effort to watch you next season, win or lose, because I like you. ]

The reporters covering the parade mentioned how, especially now when unemployment in Los Angeles is at about 12%, the Lakers have brought a sense of hope by giving the city something to feel good about and rally around. I’m not sure how much weight I can give that, but it was a convicting comment!

Can the Church do better, or have we been replaced in culture by professional entertainers and athletes? Nature abhors a void, so has media and entertainment stepped into a part of culture the Church was meant to fill? God isn’t about making us feel good; He is about much more than that. Still, He is our unfailing Hero who saved us from far more than unemployment. He is the One whom we need to rally around to bring not only hope to our city, but also His rule and reign. He doesn’t need to prove Himself over and over again each year; there is no question about a “three-peat.” He’s proven Himself for eternity by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. Championship teams can’t lower unemployment or solve any of our other social ills. But God can, and He has chosen to do this through His Church.

Our corporate worship is orderly, and that’s good. There’s Scripture to back that up. But so was the parade and, for 2 million people, it was remarkably well-ordered. Yet they had something we’re often lacking: unashamed adoration.We don’t have to express ourselves the way Laker fans do — although it might be pretty cool if we just had a time of unashamedly expressing our love for God — but sometimes I fail to fully grasp this reality of a heroic God, especially when I’m concerned about how well I’m going to pull off my part in our worship set or I’m worried about how to pay the bills.

The Lakers may have paid for the parade, and the City of Los Angeles may have prepared to maintain order, but neither party planned or programmed the hero-worship. Those 2 million brought that all on their own. It isn’t entirely up to the local church to program a worship service that brings adoration to God; it’s also the function of the Church. Those 2 million didn’t dig deep on Sunday night to find enough passion for the Monday parade. Likewise, our adoration for God isn’t something we can muster up on Saturday night and pack it in our bags for the next morning. It’s built on an ongoing and growing relationship. And it can last longer than a single season.