10 Rules for Ministry Leadership

Ministry is tricky.  It's about love, patience, tenderness and compassion, right?  Yes, absolutely.  But sometimes in ministry we actually find ourselves leading people.  In fact, for many people in ministry, they lead people often...like everyday.  That's not easy and it requires a certain kind of moxy.  It demands a certain kind of integrity.  I don't know that we often take the time to really evaluate key principles of what it means to be an effective ministry leader.

The following is a short list that I belive will help a ministry leader evaluate their capacity in leading those that they've been entrusted with.

10.)  If you break it, you own it.
This doesn't mean that if you break a piece of equipment you need to pay for it (though it might).  Actually this means that if you botch something, PLEASE have the integrity to name it.  Don't try to juke and jive to get out of it.  Raise your hand around your team and say, "That's on me.  I own it."  Chances are they already know it, but your stock goes way up as a leader if you have the courage to take responsibility.

9.)    If you don’t know it, don’t say you got it.
There are few things more frustrating for a senior leader than someone that is inexperienced always trying to ensure others, "I got it, I got it."  There is a reason that senior leader is having a conversation with you.  They can tell, "You don't got it."  Coaching is a part of leadership development but requires a teachable spirit.  If you are bound and determined to convince people you know how to do what you have no experience doing, you will be destined to repeat mistakes.  Ask questions when you don't know.  Admit weaknesses when you have them.  You will do much better on the learning curve.

8.)    If you are struggling with it, name it.
No one's life is perfect.  This tends to be one of the glaring and most unfortunate misnomers about leadership.  "I can't let people see me sweat."  We assume that ministry leadership requires us to put off a pristine persona.  NOPE!  A lack of vulnerability leads to a crash.  A strong leader finds a trusted confidant and a trusted supervisor and shares struggles.  They have the capacity to name needed intervention early rather than damage control after the fact.

7.)    If you forgot about it, don’t justify it.
Excuse my language for a moment.  We all have a "brain fart" from time to time.  It's normal.  However, when you lack the courage to name what you forgot, you force your team to spend a great deal of time navigating around your error wondering if you knew you had an error.  Likewise, don't make an excuse for why you forgot.  We all have excuses and generally few people care what they are.  Say, "It slipped my mind and I'll work to do better next time."  Then move on with your bad self.
 
6.)    If your team blows it, don’t pass off blame about it.
DON'T throw others under the bus.  You know what makes leadership hard?  At some level the responsibility lands with you.  That's why so few people want to lead.  If your team messes something up, a strong leader steps in and owns responsibility.  It doesn't mean they don't have a conversation down the road, it just means they take the first shot for their team.  Much ministry is voluteer based and the last thing volunteers need is to feel like failures.  You take a bullet for your team and you gain loyalty.

5.)    If you are frustrated about it, be careful where you complain about it.
Ministry leaders don't have the privilege of "running off at the mouth."  Unfortunately in my nearly 15 years of ministry this is often forgotten.  Peopel listen.  When you communicate your frustration with "so and so" or the other leaders or even the board, those listening will run with that, twist it, and you can quickly find yourself in a mess you never intended.  Leaders have the moxy to go directly to the person with whom they are frustrated and understand the prudence of where to speak, when, and with whom.  If you are running your mouth in the lobby, it will hit you like a truck later in your ministry.

4.)    If you start your week unsure of what you will do with it, you will waste it. 

This is specifically for pastors.  Don't go into Monday completely unsure of what you are going to get into.  Make and keep a calendar.  Block out your time.  If you have an administrator share it with them.  This ensures you have a game plan, steward your time well, and don't arrive at the end of the week wondering what on earth happened.  

3.)    If you’ve got something to say to them about it, do it, time it, be appropriate about it.

There is nothing worse than a leader that does end arounds or takes passive agressive stabs.  Both of these tactics are cowardice.  Yuck!  No, have the kind of mojo where you will take the Bible seriously about going to the person with whom you have an issue.  Don't say to others about a person what you aren't first willing to say to their face.  If those following you hear you do this they won't know if you can be trusted and if you are doing the same to them later.  

2.)    If you succeeded in it, pass off the praise to your team for it.

This is the flip side of Rule #6.  Everyone like kudos, but teams like "we win."  Leaders who are self-aggrandizing "stars" who love to see their names in lights are annoying to the teams that put them there.  Leaders pass off kudos.  True leaders don't need to be the center of the spotlight.  Instead they are like a prism that reflects the spotlight to the team that surrounded them.  

1.)    If you are passionate about it, you will be careful how you treat it. 

News flash...MINISTRY ISN'T A JOB!  It is a CALLING!  When we treat ministry like a job we are constantly worried about upward mobility, time clocks, and compensation.  Yep, that sounds like the Jesus model, right?  NOPE!  In fact, a calling is something shaped by passion.  We don't hire "ministers" we call them.  We don't merely recruit "volunteers" to plug our organizational holes, we are helping people discover their full-redemptive potential.  That means some late nights.  That means you might not get paid enough.  However, when a passion for the Kingdom usurps the calculations of job performance, amazing things can happen.  

I hope this short list helps you to evaluate your ministry effectiveness.  Are you the kind of leader people will follow?

It May Just Depend on Prayer

We often hear that it all “rises and falls on leadership.”  Though I believe that God leverages influence, position, authority, social intelligence, and vision to move and shape organizations and churches, I’m not all that convinced it all rises and falls there.  In fact, I tend to believe that it all rises and falls on prayer. 

I know, I know…this sounds like a preacher getting all churchy.  Maybe that’s true.  However, the longer I walk this journey, the more convinced I become that true transformation, the kind that God longs for through his redemptive vision of Jesus Christ is only possible as the people of God humble themselves, acknowledge they don’t within themselves have the influence, position, etc. to bring about change, and pray will God’s dream become a reality. 

This morning a few pastors (Grace Methodist, Pekin Congregational Church, Salvation Army, and Bridgeway Community Church) from all over Pekin gathered in front of City Hall for prayer.  Why?  Because we are passionate for our city.  We are passionate to see the kind of healing in our community that would bring about substantial change in the lives of the hurting, the broken, the weary, the addicted, the forgotten, and frustrated.  We are passionate for Pekin to become the kind of community with a story that people love to tell…a story of hope, healing, and possibility.  We know that doesn’t begin with city leadership, mayors, councils, or initiatives.  It begins with prayer.  God will use all those various entities in our community…but PRAYER first. 

Through the passionate commitment of Pam Cochran, minister at Grace United Methodist in Pekin, the ministerial alliance has reconvened in this last year.  Pam said, “When I arrived in town and found out that ministerial alliance had disbanded, I wept.”  She believes it’s only through unity can this community become all that God has called and created it to be.  A huge part of that commitment to solidarity and unity is prayer. 

Each Tuesday Morning, we intend to gather throughout our city for a time of prayer.  8am each week, we will ask God to move in the city of Pekin and throughout the county of Tazewell in a powerful way.  For the next several weeks, we will be standing just outside the steps of city hall.  We would love to invite any pastor or parishioner that is passionate for their city, has the time available on Tuesday mornings, and would like to gather for a time of prayer to come and join us.  There is no agenda and there is no “denominational” division.  This is a time of prayer,  solidarity, and unity for the sake of our community. 

God is moving.  This isn’t the only movement of solidarity happening throughout our community.  Monthly the “War Room Men” meet at the building at Sabella Street for a unity breakfast led by Tim Sorrells.  This last month nearly 200 men from over 30 churches gathered together to encourage and strengthen one another.  This is another witness to the way in which God is at work, uniting Christians throughout the community for the sake of our community. 

Let us lock arms, fall on our knees, and join our voices together, calling upon God to work out His will and His way in our community.  May God mend the broken hearted, comfort the afflicted, release the bound up and addicted, grant wisdom to our leaders, and pour out the full force of his blessings and grace in the city of Pekin and the county of Tazewell.  

Breaking Silence - "Trumpism - The Emergence of an Ideological Cult?"

Breaking Silence

“Trumpism – The Emergence of an Ideological Cult?”

As a pastor, I try to stay out of politics.  Religion is often divisive enough, let alone add politics to the mix.  Likewise, I have no joy in poking around in my people’s political affiliations.  But occasionally there is a time when I must for the sake of conscience and faithfulness break silence to preserve the integrity of my call.  Since people hate when preachers “get political,” I thought I would take a look at Donald Trump from a “religious” perspective.  So here goes…well whatever.

If Donald Trump were espousing a rhetoric of religion, he’d be considered the leader of an emerging cult.  That alone should cause us to pause and think deeply about the interior condition of our country and our souls.  To blindly be swept up in the fascination and propaganda of Trump’s machine could very well mean the giving away of our souls to the abyss and desolation of religious, ideological, and political nihilism…or nothingness.  It is nothingness that could steal our souls. 

Cults gather around a charismatic leader, one that often emerges from out of “nowhere” as an answer to the prevailing despair felt by many.  Their charm, boldness, and brazen promises endear them to the hearts of those seeking a “messiah-like” figure, someone to save them from this wretched place.  Their brilliance and power is not found in appeals to reason or intellect but to emotions and tugging on heartstrings, emotions frazzled by a culture of crisis, division, uncertainty, and “lostness.”  They swoop in with the promise to gather “all” under their wings, shielding them from all that’s wrong (whether the “bad” politicians, the lying media, or by building a wall.) 

When the hearts of a critical mass have been captivated, the cult leader moves to a spiritual control of the imagination.  They say little of substance, but what they do say they say with a vigor and passion making it appear as though there are only two choices, perdition or their way.  They become the only viable option.  Their control and manipulation of truth is insidious.  They ensure that all other voices are doubted.  Everyone else lies.  The cult leader is the only one that can be trusted.  The cult leader is the final arbiter of truth.  “You can trust me,” they say, “because I’m the only one with your best in mind.” 

They take on the martyr complex, the cult leader against the world.  All naysayers are members of the establishment who refuse to accept the cult leaders’ hope.  The media, pundits, and other politicians (all of which are needed by the cult leader to spread his version of truth) have in mind to crucify him.  They begin to tout, “All voices of truth must suffer.”  However, he assures he has the power to overcome the forces of deceit that launch attacks. 

They lay the groundwork for a systematic dismantling of all freedom and forms of public discourse that call into question the agenda of the leader.  They begin to quarantine their followers from outside influence.  Trump has already said he would seek to immediately modify libel and slander laws to ensure it is easier to sue the media.  How long until he prosecutes bloggers who disagree with his policy or restricts freedom of assembly in protest to his programs?  He’s already said he wishes he could censor the internet.  He seeks to limit religious freedom, first for the Muslim, but in taking on the Pope, how long before he levies attacks against pastors and Christian faith communities that refuse to buy his version of truth?  Their restriction of freedom is always done “for good of the people.”  People need to be protected from themselves.

They use religion as a means to serve their ends.  Playing upon the emotional and psychological power of religious language, symbols, and traditions, they “take on the role” (the cult leader shifts identity to meet the needs of the time) of religious participant and even one who “reads the bible more than anyone else.”  No regard is afforded to the disparity between one’s espousal of faith and the lack of congruence in life and example with that espousal.  

They seek to discredit, dismantle, or destroy supposed adversaries like school-yard bullies.  Their rhetoric is taken from the playgrounds of America.  Others are “dumb, stupid, weak, basket-cases, chokers, or failures.”  They play on the physical characteristics of others in hopes of picturing opponents as cartoon characters that can be easily dismissed.

They operate in the realm of dualisms.  They are “good” and others are “bad.”  They know the “truth” while everyone else “lies.”  The rhetoric will intensify as time goes on, as hearts are captivated.  They will begin to talk in terms of “righteous” and “evil,” as well as “light” and “darkness.”  A person’s place on the dark side of the dualism will give the leader all the right they need to silence, demean, or eliminate opposition. 

There is an apocalyptic vision at work, a rhetoric of the absolute.  Like quoted in a recent speech, they are the only ones able to take us into the “promised land.”  The cult leader is ushering in a new age of peace, harmony, and prosperity, a world built in the image of the creator, in this case the cult leader or demagogue.  Any means are justifiable in accomplishing this end.  Those that align themselves with the leader are a part of the true remnant of all that is good, true, and right, while others have already chosen their own demise.

As a pastor, I am amazed that what would be condemned outright if this were an extremist religious cultish sentiment would be tolerated in the name of partisan politics.  It speaks to the soul of our country and each of us individually.  Fear makes us the prey of alluring leaders who promise the world, but we must remember this is a world they’ve fashioned to serve their own agenda.  Religiously we would call this the supreme case of idolatry. 

We are better than this.

As a country we are better than this. 

We’ve fought too long in the preservation of freedom from tyranny and narcissistic leaders.  We’ve refused to give our souls away to substance-less leaders who “make it up as they go.” 

We must refuse the temptation to acquiesce to the culture of crisis.  We must refuse to drink the kool-aid.  It is time to shake off the stupor of fear and reclaim the spirit of courage that has long been part of our culture and society.  It is time to say no, not now, not ever!  

  

The Fallacy of Grace

There are two errors about grace.  Both are errors about how vast, wide, and all-consuming the grace of God is.

The first error is the unfortunate belief that grace is for everyone...EXCEPT ME.  This error seems to suggest that the unwarranted favor and boundless love of God, a love that meets us in spite of ourselves, is good for everyone, works for everyone, is given to everyone...but ME.

"I am too far outside the scope of grace."

"I've done too much, failed too much, let down too many, struggled too often, slipped up too many times, and am too insignificant, and I ALONE fall outside that vast grace of God.

The second error is similar to the first.  It seems to suggest that grace is for ME or for US (any randomly, narrowly or arbitrarily defined crowd) but not for THEM.  For ME/US grace is a delight.  For THEM grace is leniency, clemency, or softness.

"I know I need grace and I'm thankful for that grace, but THEY need to be held accountable, dealt with, treated in a way that constantly reminds THEM of the magnitude of their actions."

Even when grace happens for THEM, THEY are on grace probation, the terms of which can be withdrawn at any time.

Grace is only grace if it is grace for ALL, for ME and for THEM.  Grace left in our hands has boundaries and limitations, divyed out according to our fickle categories.  It goes "this far" and no further.  Grace left in the hands of God transcends all boundaries.  That's what makes it grace.  Grace is the posture of God towards ALL.  It is His loving, forgiving, patient, compelling, sustaining disposition to all people at all times.  Grace is the limitless reserve of God's favor and good will toward us.

Grace doesn't begin with stipulations and regulations, but with the hopefulness that ALL will embrace it as gift.  Grace is God's arms flung wide open in expectant embrace.  It is His readiness to call ALL, to love ALL, to forgive ALL, to rescue ALL.  Grace is by nature God's inclusive design.  Grace makes space for ALL.  Grace is God's "yes" to us.  It is God's, "You've been invited in."

But with any gift lay the invitation.  "Will you accept it?"  Will you embrace grace, for YOU, but not only for YOU, but for ALL?

Awake Dreamers

What this world needs now is more young dreamers, artists, and poets, creators and collaborators, risk-takers and status quo questioners. This world needs young hearts and minds not constrained by the artificial limits of power, prestige, and prejudice handed down to them by previous generations of defenders of hard-line agendas.

We need Wing-Spreaders.

Those that will swoop down into the depths of human brokenness, tasting its bitter drink, only to soar to the heights of hope, painting the skies with the vivid colors of love and peace, healing and compassion.

What this world needs desperately now are young women and men who refuse to be lulled asleep by the endless monotony of entertainment and earning potential, but who are awakened to their purposes of beauty-making, bridge-building, peace-nurturing, world-healing possibilities. The hope of our future is not found in the posturing, power-asserting diatribes of today's politicians but in the hearts of our young people. Young people, that if we would encourage them to color outside the lines, might just conceive of a world incomprehensible to those of us limited by decades of cynicism and collusion with imagination-stealing powers of money, military might, and the molds of success and social status.

Awake Dreamers! Awake Poets! Awake Artists! Awake Creators! You, by the grace of God, are the hope of a world whose elders are too busy protecting and defending party lines to imagine the alternatives that God has already placed in your hearts.

Celebrating God's Faithfulness

Greetings and Happy New Year!!

                Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the life of Bridgeway.   At the outset of every New Year, we begin to ask the question, “What might God have in store for Bridgeway and the communities that God has given us the privilege to impact in 2016?”  But…before we ask that question, it’s important that we pause and give glory to God for what He has done!

                Without a doubt this has been an intense year of ministry.  We’ve grown in some extremely exciting ways and felt the shifts and strains of that growth.  We’ve been pushed in some areas.  We’ve watched as some of our systems have broken down or needed tweaked in response to our growth.  We’ve developed new systems to meet the challenges of growth in some areas.  However, in all areas God has been faithful and you’ve weathered the changes with grace and perseverance.  I thank God for that and for you.

                Has it been a bit disorienting at times?  Has it been stressful at times?  Have there been moments when we’ve wanted to cry out, “Ummm, God I’m just getting used to the last change could you give me a moment before you change something else?”  Sure on all accounts.  There are seasons of ministry when staying in step with God’s Spirit and dependence on His sufficient Grace is a day by day, moment by moment necessity.  God is leading us through that kind of season! 

Think about what’s taken place in this last year…By the grace of God…

1.       We’ve added staff and move part-time staff to full-time status.

2.       We’ve changed our scheduling process church-wide to Planning Center.

3.       God has blessed us with nearly 50 baptisms.

4.       We’ve added a Saturday Night Service that weekly reaches about 100 people.

5.       We’ve added another campus in Marquette Heights, as a team of people gave countless hours to renovation at the same time sending dozens from the Pekin Campus to M.H.

6.       Watched as God has enabled an increase in giving.

7.       We’ve started a Backpack Program that now reaches over 200 kids weekly at Wilson School.

8.       We’ve set the foundation for Celebrate Recovery which will launch in 1 month.

9.       God’s empowered and raised up new leaders in every area of ministry.

10.   Witnessed many saved and lives changed.

11.   Changed our formatting in both Youth and Children’s ministry.

12.   Validated the call to ministry of nearly a dozen people.

13.   Celebrated a number of people gathering at the Pekin Campus every morning at 5:30am for prayer since October.

14.   Launched a Church-wide App. 

15.   And…(I’m sure you could add a few there.)

                To God be all the glory!  There are churches that would love to see any 1 or 2 of these in a given year.   For some reason, according to God’s wisdom and grace, He has entrusted us with this and for that I am both overwhelmed and thankful.  You’ve been a huge part of all that God has done in this place!

                With all that has taken place, there are some key elements that we must be attentive to.

1.       Unity – We must guard against anything that could creep in and challenge the unity of Bridgeway.  The Devil loves to look for any fissures or cracks that he can slide in and disrupt things.  We won’t always agree on every detail of change, however, if the Kingdom of God is driving our changes then, in prayer, we can learn to respect one another in the process and maintain the unity of Spirit, mission and vision of Bridgeway.

2.       Communicate, Communicate, Overcommunicate – Anytime we are on the kind of journey that BW is on, we much be intentional in communication.  We can’t assume that everyone knows what we are doing or why we are doing it.  This requires work from all of us.  Don’t allow any unvoiced or unexpressed concerns to become issues that create bitterness or doubt in your Spirit.  Communicate, ask, reach out to leaders and staff in your area of ministry.

3.       Prayer is Priority!! – People have asked me how long we will keep up this prayer at 5:30 in the morning.  Honestly, I have no idea, but I know we are nowhere close to it being over.  We regularly have 5 to 10 people each morning and I believe more will come. Prayer is the way in which we continually reorient ourselves to God’s direction and timing for all of life and ministry.

4.       People are the Priority – The programs, the campuses, the ministries we start are never the priority.  People are!  We must ensure that in our busyness and excitement about “doing new stuff” we don’t miss the people that we can affect with the gospel, people that need encouragement, people that need a friend. 

5.       Selflessness is a Priority – We must remember this is bigger than any one of us and requires all of us to come under the authority of God and the Scriptures, ensuring our hearts represent the humble call of servanthood. 

6.       Spiritual Growth is a Priority – We mustn’t ever become a 100 miles wide as a congregation and a half inch deep.  We will work to deepen our commitment to Christ, understand the call of God to be the Holy people of God, and strengthen our commitment to those practices that deepen our relationship with God. 

7.       Hugs and Laughter are a Priority – Huh?  This is huge.  We mustn’t ever take ourselves so seriously that we forget to laugh together, hug one another, and just enjoy sharing life with those we minister alongside.

                I am truly amazed to think about all that God might have in store for those communities that BW finds itself.  You are an integral part of that!  Please know that you are loved and appreciated.  As a staff we ask that you bear with us at times.  Much of this is new terrain for all of us.  We are seeking God, learning what we can from who we can, and trying to ensure our hearts are always in the right place.  If we mess up, please forgive us.  If you see us struggling, be a problem solver and not a problem spotter.  Love us as we love you in this journey. 

                On February 6^th and 7^th, I will again (one year from the last time we did this) stand before Bridgeway and not only celebrate what God has done but dream about what God is yet to do.  As I do that I want you to know that I am celebrating the faithfulness of God, your faithfulness, and renewing my commitment to you as your Pastor.

·         I renew my commitment to seeking the Kingdom of God first.  I ask God daily to orient me to things that concern Him and not my own agendas.

·         I renew my commitment to be your shepherd.  I am not a CEO.  I’m a pastor.  I love you and consider it a privilege and honor to walk alongside of you through the joys and struggles of your daily lives.

·         I renew my commitment to growing and learning.  I definitely don’t have all the answers.  I am trying to learn what I don’t know from people who know far more than I do. 

·         I renew my commitment to guard my heart.  I want nothing more than to be a faithful witness to God’s Kingdom.  I ask God to protect me from temptations and evil, lest I get lazy and stumble.  I ask you to pray for me as well.

God is up to something amazing here at Bridgeway.  I can’t believe I get to be a part of this.  I celebrate that each and every day.   Know that Angie and I love you.  We care about you and look forward to more years of God’s faithfulness still ahead. 

Your Pastor,

Jeff Stark  

In a Moment, In a Manger

It changed

                Everything

                as the radiant beams of God’s Glory

                                Leapt up

                From the most humble of circumstances

God’s Invasion of Grace

In a moment

In a manger

God punches through

                the veil that appeared to divide

                the Divine from the Down-Trodden

                the Holy from the Lowly

                the Eternal from the Time-Bound

In a moment

In a manger

God Himself

                In Son Jesus Christ

                Dawns the Fragility of Flesh

                                And…

                                Everything Changes

Because in that moment

In that manger

God would no longer be thought

                Only…for us

                Now…God with us

                God Himself

                                In Son Jesus Christ

                                Walking miles and miles

                                In the worn-through soles of our shoes

                                In the tattered garb of human frailty

                                Through the broken shards of earth-born living

In a moment

In a manger

Distance spanned

Division Eclipsed

The King from on High

                Had now come low

                Condescending to us

                                And we…

                Accosted, scandalized, captivated

                By the simplicity

                                Of the One that Comes

                                Not as conquering ruler

                                But…

                                                Suffering Servant

                                                As lowly peasant

                                                As One…like us

                                                As One…for us

                                                As One…with us

Who in a moment

In a manger

Wearing our Flesh

Filling our Fragility

Sanctifying our Skin

                In Coming to be as we are

                Makes possible

                                Our coming to be like He is

                                Humble

                                Whole

                                Holy

Yes Holy…

For this Invasion of Grace

Is not complete

In a moment

In a manger

                This moment is the set-up

                For moments to come

                                Of teaching

                                Walking

                                Sharing

                                Loving

                                Modeling

                                Calling

                                Struggling

                                Suffering

                                Dying

                                Rising

                                Ascending

                                And…

                                                Sending…of God Himself

                                                In Spirit

                                                That he is no longer

                                                Only God for us

                                                And God with us

                                                But now…God in us

For the One who in a moment

In a manger

Who takes up flesh

Now takes hold of our flesh

Inhabiting our fragility

Laying waste to our resistance

Invading our Space with His Grace

Filling up our Broken Cracks and Empty Places

                With the Glory

                the Radiance

                the Majesty

                of His limitless Grace

                So that in all things

                In all ways

                At all times

                We might become like

                The One who stooped low

                To become like us

In a Moment

In a Manger

Everything Changes

                And that…

                Is the Christmas Miracle.  

Hope Through the Thick Cloud of Depression

Has it settled in like a thick cloud again?  It’s denseness, at times both suffocating and restrictive. 

“Yes.

There are moments…when…every…breath…feels…labored.

When the haze makes seeing beyond this present moment nearly impossible.”

Is it piling up?  When it was just one or two things you thought you could handle it.  But now it feels like everything.

            All at once…

            No let up…

            Really…again.  How much more can a person take?

“Where’s my bed, my bottle, my blanket and remote.  Maybe if I just wait it out here.  Forget about it…sleep it away, drink it away, wish it away…

            it’ll go away?

            Maybe?”

But no, the thoughts – they are relentless.  Even in your exhaustion the thoughts keep coming. 

“Make them stop, will they ever stop?  I’ll do anything to make it stop…”

            Anything?

            “I didn’t mean anything?  Don’t worry, I mean it’s crossed my mind, but doesn’t everyone have that thought?  I’m good though, really.” 

                       

But are you?

It’s thick this cloud.  You really can’t see, beyond now, beyond here…

“What did you say?  You say you are there for me.  Wait, I can’t see you through this cloud.  I’m afraid if you are waiting for me to reach out…you might be waiting awhile.

            I…don’t…know…which…direction…to…reach. 

                                                                                                Man, I can’t breathe.”

“But I’m not the only one that can’t see you, you can’t see me.  You see me, but you don’t see me.  You see me fake laughing at work pretending to be ok.  You see me cheering on my child at the ball game not knowing that later that night I’ll wish I was dead, feeling like a failure as a parent.  You’ll see my smile at church that hide the tears trying to break through.  You don’t see me, partially because I won’t let you…partially

            Because you won’t let yourself.

            You don’t know what to do with me.

            How to talk to me.

            How to walk with me.

            What it means to love me.”

What can be done? 

            “Care.

            …but be gentle.

                        Don’t be trite.  It may not be better tomorrow.

            Care enough to love me through it.

            …but be patient.

                        Depression can make me sound like a jerk sometimes.

                        I didn’t mean to snap at you.

            Care enough to reach through the fog.

            …but don’t let go.

                        I need you, even though I’ll tell you I don’t.

            Care enough to tell me of God.

            …but not of his anger.

His love.  Remind me that God’s not impatiently waiting for me to get my act together, but with every tear drop, he weeps with me.  Tell me that He is holding me –as you hold my hand.  Cause in that moment, God is what I see in you.  Tell me that He is safe…that he can take it, my fears, my failures, my regrets, my worries, my past, my present, my future, my…

            Care enough not to give up

                        To sit with me in quiet when I need it.

                        To endure my awkwardness – believe me it feels worse for me.

                        To laugh with me in those moments when the light breaks through.

            Care.

            …but be tender.

And let me love you back.  Please don’t let this only be about me.  That just adds the guilt.  Share with me.  Let me be there for you.  As much as it is possible.” 

Has it settled in like a thick cloud again?

“Yes.”

Is it still hard to breathe?

“Yes…more…often…then…I…care…to…admit.

            But it’s less lonely here now, knowing you are close enough to see through the haze.

            It’s less fragile here now, knowing God’s hand holds me.”

But what’s different…what was done?

“You cared.

            And reminded me…

                        God cares.

            In that moment…

            That was just enough.” 

Bringing Gifts to Jesus

Bringing Gifts to Jesus

On Christmas Eve all across America, churches will fill with worshippers eager to celebrate the coming of Christ into this world.  Bridgeway, we will join those thousands for 4 services at our 2 Campuses, 3:30 and 5:00pm at each campus.  The theme of this Christmas Eve will be, in keeping with our Making Peace Series, “Bringing Gifts to Jesus.”  We will be focusing on the journey of the three Magi and the gifts they carried to Jesus. 

However, beyond a message, you will have a special opportunity to “Bring Your Gifts to Jesus.”  This year, we will be taking a special offering in all four services.  NONE, I REPEAT, NONE will stay at Bridgeway.  I’ve identified three projects as part of our Nazarene Network of Global Partners to bless with what I’m praying will be somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 dollars.  Each of these projects will receive an equal amount of whatever comes in the offering. 

Project 1:  I have a close friend, a real Peace-Maker, that is serving as a Global Missionary in Australia, planting a church that is attempting to deal with the Global Refugee Crisis in Brisbane.  Australia is a hub of immigration and their church wants to stand on the forefront of engaging those that have been displaced from their homes.  Emman and Jade Chapman and their two children, Caleb and Savannah Zoe are evidence of the sacrifice of Peace Makers. 

Project 2:  Education for Children IN Syria.  Our Global Ministries is engaged in educating the young children in the war-torn country of Syria.  This is our opportunity to engage the work of Jesus instead of listening to the talking heads on TV. 

Project 3:  The Global Refugee and Immigration Fund for the Church of the Nazarene.  This fund helps missionaries all across the globe to engage the Refugee Crisis.  Friends, we have boots on the ground making a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable.  We have a chance to join this Kingdom Work. 

I would like to challenge you to start praying now.  How much might God challenge you to give during this Christmas Season to impact the mission of Peace-Making in this world?  Bringing our gifts to Jesus is a way to make that happen. 

Let’s see God astound us on Christmas Eve with an offering like Bridgeway has never before seen for the purpose of giving it all away to our Global Partners. 

Thank You 

Pastor Jeff 

#ChoosePeace

Hate fuels Hate

Violence begets Violence

Evil prompts Evil

This is the dance of the devil

Who lures us in

To the very actions we loathe

We become participants

In Fear

In Irrationality

In Bigotry

In Thought

In Glance

In Spreading the Death-Dealing Agenda of the devil

We cling to our reasons

Freedoms

Justifications

Political Ideology

And Religion

Yes…Religions of Violent Propaganda

And Demented Yearnings for Armageddon

And forget

Neglect

Write-Off

Dismiss as untimely, unsafe, unproductive

The words of the Savior…who we attempt to protect

With our “Merry Christmas”

And Nativity Scenes on Public Ground

Who suggests that 

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Cross-carrying trumps Sword-Wielding

Love conquers Hate

And Sacrifice is made Holy

In Advent we proclaim Peace

From our pulpits in church

But cry out “kill the bastards”

From the streets

We are getting permits to pack instead

Of getting on our knees to pray

We post

We tweet

We meme

But…refuse to deny ourselves

Take up our cross

And follow the one

Who reaches out in risk

Shares tables with betrayers

Crosses bridges with the outsiders

Forgives the unforgiveable

Whose agenda is Life and Love

Grace and Peace

Hope and Transformation

May God Break the Fear in our Hearts

With the Perfect-Love of Christ

May we refuse to

Dance with the Devil

Choosing Hope

Instead of Hate

Loving

Instead of Loathing

Friend-making

Instead of Fear-Mongering

Brotherhood

Instead of Bigotry

Reconciliation

Instead of Reactionary Evils

It’s that kind of love

That could get us killed

Certainly

But we might be

In good company

With the One

Whose Love Triumphed

Even in Death.

Or it could

Be the difference

Between the brutality of today

And the blessings of

Tomorrow.