A Relevant Worship Experience...

I saw God today (and a few weeks ago) as I was reflecting upon a recent worship experience much different than any other...

Like hymns? These MC's freestyle hip-hop in worship to God.
Like liturgical dance? These guys break out in the sweetest dancing before God I've ever seen.
Like to hear God's word preached? How about proclamation in a style of rhythmic poetry?



It's called Tha House. Its location? The projects of Chicago. It's congregation? Any child of God.

We embarked upon Tha House Church in Lawndale, Chicago as a part of my senior capstone mission experience. This worship experience was quite remarkable. The leaders of this church had a clear idea of a felt need in their community, and they also had a desire to bring Jesus Christ to the neighborhood. They understood the language of the neighborhood, and the culture as well. I sat and listened to a culturally relevant worship service that was astonishing. The music leaders were MC’s who could rap fluently about the way to salvation. Their pastor was educated in scriptures, but was able to place his message contextually to his church. (Satan was referenced as a "pimp" who needs to get out the neighborhood).

I was dipped in the midst of a culture different from my own, but was welcomed as if I was a long time member. When we first arrived I heard from a rehabilitated convict who spoke of his exhaustion after attending three different funerals that day. He greeted us with “welcome to God’s house.”

I later became engaged in conversation with one of the MC’s named Paul. Paul came and sat next to me, and immediately I confessed my ignorance to him. He was more than gracious in explaining his ministry and the amazing things God has been doing in that place. But when I really gripped the work of Jesus Christ in a new way was when I went up for prayer at the end of the service. I don’t know why, I just felt led to go pray with my brothers and sisters in Christ…

I found myself praying with one of the MC’s for Tha House who was joyfully responsive to my prayer requests. I simply told him I was seeking the Lord's call... But in that moment the Spirit was working in a way that I haven’t felt in quite some time. As he prayed, I realized he was praying as if I had told him everything that had been on my heart in the last few months.

Something inside of me clicked after worshiping at Tha House. I’m not sure it would even be possible to put a finger on what clicked, but it was as if a spark rekindled the flame inside. I’ve had this desire to reach out, but the knowledge of God’s Word has become so academic that I've often lost touch with THE CHURCH. Its like I've been in my little seminary bubble. I've LOVED my seminary expirence and am so very greatful for it, but I know that God has amazing things planned for me when I get back into the 24-7 down and dirty ministry. And I can't wait to witness the Lord's action amongst His people as I continue this journey!

Check Out The Church's Promo Video...



Check Out The Site
www.thahouse.org/

Psalm 127:1
Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.

Quack!

I Saw God Today...

Well I saw God a few weeks ago too... But its been a busy time since then! Jen and I went to Colorado over Christmas this year! It was a great time... I saw God a lot on that trip, but I especially saw God when we went Duck hunting. The river was foggy, the snow was still on everything, and it was warm compared to Iowa weather! Here's some pics...

Empty and Beautiful

I Saw God Today... And if you haven't noticed by now, I often see God through music! Matt Maher's song "Empty and Beautiful" really spoke to me this morning. This song, along with this scripture reminds us that Jesus is the one that "fought the fight" for us.

Colossians 2:13-15 "you were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins. He cancelled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destoryed it by nailing it to Christ's cross..."

How awesome is that? When we can't fight the battle, God has already gained victory for us.

GOD BLESS!

Lyrics to Empty And Beautiful :
My past won't stop haunting me
In this prison there's a fight between
Who I am and who I used to be

This thorn in my side is a grace
For because of it the flesh and blood of God
Was offered in my place, my place

You fought the fight in me
You chased me down and finished the race
I was blind but now I see
Jesus You kept the faith in me

Where did my best friends go?
In my defense they disappeared
Just like Your friends did to You, oh Lord

But You were there, You gave me strength
So this little one might come to know
The glory of Your name, Your name

You fought the fight in me
You chased me down and finished the race
I was blind but now I see
Jesus You kept the faith in me

Awaiting, set apart like incense to Your heart
A libation I'm pouring out
Empty and beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

You fought the fight in me
You chased me down and finished the race
I was blind but now I see
Jesus You kept the faith in me

You fought the fight in me
You chased me down and finished the race
I was blind but now I see
Jesus You kept the faith in me
Jesus You kept the faith in me
Savior, You kept the faith in me

Unsuccessful hunt?

I Saw God Today... And Pretty Much Every Day This Week...

Hunting can be frustrating. This year it included sitting in a tree stand or ground blind for hours on end in negative temperatures. Iowa's winter can be unforgiving. Each day I would wake up and pray for a safe hunt, and a successful outcome. And each day I came back safe, but unsuccessful. And yet, the week long hunt taught me many things. I realized how much I enjoy staring at God's nature. I saw a fox, a coyote, squirrels, does, and bucks (too far for an ethical shot obviously). I noticed the intricate details of a snowflake on my glove and of ice hanging off the tree limbs surrounding me. I sat for days listening to the crisp wind blow through snow covered trees; as owls, woodpeckers, and hawks sang praises to God. And I couldn't help but hear God's voice.

When you sit alone in the woods, you get a lot of time to think. Hunting isn't about the end in itself (as many might think), but its about the means to that end. I realized that I hunt because it forces me to sit quietly and enter into an intentional conversation with God. I thought about how lucky I am that I have a roof over my head, and a heater that turns on at 68 degrees! I realized how awesome God is that every detail of creation is in His hands. And I thought about my calling as a pastor and how important it is to listen for God's voice. God answered my prayer for a successful hunt even though I didn't see it at the time. My hunt was successful because I saw God in a new way this week. And I learned a lot about myself too...
And as far as the deer go, there will be next year ;)...

Blessings To You This Christmas Season.

"Be still, and know that I am God" -Psalm 46:10

Done...Done...Done...

I saw God today... I'm not sure if it was in the beauty of the snow outside, or in the beauty of finishing that last page on the computer screen, but I sure saw God in the relaxing moment that came when I finished my second to last semester of grad school. It is such a relief to complete all those papers and tests each semester. And yet I wonder... what will be my relief if and/or when I graduate and become a pastor? I suppose it will be finishing those big sermons on Christmas and Easter. Or maybe it will be at the end of some huge mission trip? I guess the point is, we can see God in a new way when we take a little Sabbath. And I plan on taking mine right about now!

"Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest."
-Matthew 11:28

Advent Conspiracy

I Saw God today... Ok well it was a few days ago. But its finals week. What are you gonna do? Have you ever heard of Advent Conspiracy? Pretty much the coolest thing ever. Well let me back up for a second. For those of you who don't know, ADVENT is a season of preparing for Christmas. It’s a time when we celebrate the first coming of Jesus and prepare for the second! But here's the thing, I often lose touch with the essence of Christmas. The heart of Christmas is not about cards, or gifts, or money that we receive. Its not about the snow outside, sitting on Santa's lap, or lighting the Christmas tree. Its about Jesus Birthday! As a great guy named Chris Seay explains, "If its Jesus B-Day who should get the gifts?" Now I'm not suggesting that we give up the beautiful traditions of Christmas. But I think we can consider the things we do and don't do this season. Whose birthday is it? Don't tell me you can't be theologically conservative and socially concerned at the same time. Social Justice is at the heart of our gospel! And I think the video below speaks some heavy truth about what Christmas is REALLY about... Preach on Christians preach on!

Matthew 25:40 (New International Version)

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

A Company of New Pastors

I saw God today, @ the PCUSA headquarters in Louisville, KY! A group of 10 seminarians from every PCUSA seminary came together for a "Company of New Pastors" conference. This group covenants together to read scripture, study the confessions, and be in prayer together on a daily basis.As you can see the headquarters are not "archaic" as I figured they might be. In fact the inside is newly updated with fresh colors on the walls, and a very contemporary chapel. It was pretty neat to see where the work of the church is headquartered.


We were able to meet a lot of influential Christians in our church while we were there. I learned so much from different professors and pastors including the Dean of Princeton Seminary, Dr. Darrell Guder; the Asst. Director of Theology and Worship, Joesph Small; and the Stated Clerk of the PCUSA, Gradye Parsons. I also went to two workshops which were both helpful in developing spiritual practices. The first was "Scripture as the Foundation for Christian Piety"which was taught by John Burgess of Pittsburgh Seminary. In this class we learned about spiritual practices from Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The second class was titled "Public Witness as Spiritual Discipline," and was led by Mark Douglas of Columbia Seminary. In this class we learned all about what it means to use our spiritual practices as a public witness for Jesus Christ.

That evening we all went out on the town and were having a good ol time dancing in the street, when we came across a ragged looking man. One of the seminarians that was with us wanted to take his picture (because he looked so unique), which then led to a conversation with the man. He told us about how he was a Vietnam vet, and began weeping while telling us how many men he had killed. Without knowing who he was talking to he asked "Do you think God could ever forgive me?" And suddenly it was as if the whole world stopped. In fact, the band was done playing and most of the people had cleared out for the evening. And as a few seminarians witnessed God's love to the man, the rest of us stood in the street and prayed for him. The walk home that evening was somewhat surreal. I find God's work interesting, even humbling. We were blindsided by such an opportunity in the street on a Saturday night. And yet most of us had just been discussing how we could use our spiritual practices (prayer) to witness to the world.

Perhaps most striking about this weekend was how we went from discussing our faith, to enacting our faith, to taking our faith into the world. I think we got more than we bargained for! Who knows what will come of the drunken man in the street, but I do know one thing. God loves even that man, and others were able to see God's love pouring into the streets of Louisville that night. How can we use our spiritual practices for public witness? Its an interesting question to consider for us as Christians....

Matthew 28...
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."