Cast Your Net on the Right Side

Recently I was in So. Cal. for session two of the Adventist Community Services Non-profit Leadership Certificate Program that focused on community development. I found my tribe there: teachers who have personal stories of churches connecting meaningfully with their community to the clear glory of God and attendees with dreams and experiences in the same vein.

This is why I came to work with REACH Philadelphia. Deanne and I were so inspired by the vision here that we turned down a more comfortable position out west with confidence God was leading. But after two years in this ministry house in the midst of the community we hope to reach with Christ’s love, things have not turned out as I expected. Why are there only a handful of locals attending sporadically? What have I been doing with the precious time I have here? I found myself reticent to share with the other tribe members what I’m doing because I’m disappointed by the lack of progress I see. We discuss and work and assess but are we getting anywhere?

Today I praise God for His Word that is living and speaks into our lives. In John 21:1-14 NKJV I read about Jesus’s third appearance to his disciples after a fish-less night of fishing on the sea of Tiberias. He called out from shore, ““Children, have you any food?”

They answered Him, “No.”

And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.”

In the Desire of Ages, it says these disciples were hoping to catch fish to provide food and clothing they needed. Jesus asked if they had any food and they couldn’t claim one measly flounder. He told them (against their common sense and current motivation) to cast on the right side of the boat and they netted more than they could haul in. One moment they had none, the next counted 153 flopping future fillets.

I’m sure these pros could have taught effective fishing seminars and boasted some amazing practices, but after a sacrificed night of sleep for empty work I’m sure morale was low. I’d go so far as to say that God kept them from catching fish so that He could show them something more effective, just as God is calling me (a trained fisher of men) deeper still.

Ephesians 6:12-13 NKJV says, “...we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God...” It’s not as easy as it looks because it isn’t only about what we can see. This is why I must learn to follow the wisdom that doesn’t come naturally to me from the God who knows and loves all and wants me to be successful and full of stories to tell in this work.

Ellen White says, “Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, "Follow Me."”

“There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice. Accompanied by the power of persuasion, the power of prayer, the power of the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit.”

I could restate what the paragraphs above say and hammer every point but I encourage you to simply read them again and see where you see your life intersect with the counsel. Does it? How much? God is calling me to stop doing it my way and to build trusting relationships covered in prayer and love, to humble myself and walk His way. I need to spend less time in the office and more time hanging out outside of my comfort zone. How about you?

Since my family has been here in Philadelphia we have witnessed God working amazing miracles and He has taught us so much. We’ve never been part of a church with such a high average of first generation SDA’s. Never been part of a church that has a tutoring center or throws block parties, hires interns to lead out in health or urban agriculture ministries. It’s an amazing place. But I believe we’ve just seen the beginning of what God wants to do just as the disciples, after 3.5 years with Jesus, had only seen the beginning of His miracles.

Jesus wants us to be bursting with excitement over what He’s doing in and through us but we have to follow His simple, unconventional directions/methods that cut across our natural knowledge that CANNOT BE WITHOUT FRUIT, or fish or souls. May we the fishers of men listen to His perfectly wise words.

-Nick

There's a time to...

Ecclesiastes 3 is a famous passage that basically says there's a time for everything. In my REACH Philadelphia intern's meeting today we were encouraged to make up our own on the fly. I didn't think these through in great depth and they aren't as deep as Solomon's words but here's what I jotted down in the moment.

There's a time to work and a time to rest.

There's a time to speak and a time to listen.

There's a time to correct and a time to soothe.

There's a time to remember and a time to forget.

There's a time to plan and a time to flow.

There's a time to walk and a time to run.

There's a time to be busy and a time to be still.

There's a time to feast and a time to fast.

There's a time to learn and a time to apply.

There's a time to smile and a time to frown.

There's a time to dream and a time to get real.

There's a time to compare and a time to be content.

I would encourage you to take a few minutes to make your own list.

Finally, I pray that God will give you the wisdom to know what time it is and for you to allow God space in your life to be present with you in the moment.

-Nick

Encouraged at El Rey

A few nights ago Deanne and I went to El Rey in center city Philly with our dear amigos the Shaws. It was the first time we hung out as just the couples and we laughed a little after my prayer over the food and for God to be with our kids. Not something I’ve prayed in that same sense a whole lot since they’re usually safely nearby us parents. We both own camera monitors that actually allow us to watch them while they sleep from our iPhones. Handy huh?

The most memorable parts of the dinner were the amazing food, the story of how Tyson and Esther became the Shaws (you should totally ask them about the exotic origins of their love in Spain that could really be made into a romantic comedy), and how being a part of REACH Philadelphia has impacted them.

They are about to move to D.C. and at one point started sharing about how they will miss the church community we have. I know it hasn’t been convenient to meet with us because of having a young daughter, and living 30-40 minutes away. but it was very encouraging to here what they went on to declare.  

They don’t view belonging to a church the same way anymore because of their time here. Looking forward they don’t want to join a church that is well smooth, comfortable and established, they want to be part of another church plant. They want to dive into another growing community focused on the basics of christian faith and discovering how to live all out for God together.

Those were thrilling words for this young pastor. Before I was home for 60 seconds I was already telling Pastor Tiffany (our babysitter for the evening) about it. As a church of mostly young transient members, we must bring in new members frequently to at least stay the same size. This has often reminded me that we must get roots in our community if REACH is to continue to exist. But that conversation showed me that this place really is a training ground for all who experience it before launching into the world as agents of change, building healthy communities wherever they go. 

As Jeremiah 29:11 says, God is always working in more ways than we could ever plan. He has good plans for us,  to prosper and not harm us, for hope and a future. Let’s trust Him and follow where He leads and leave what it looks like up to Him.

In closing, here’s a little paragraph from Ellen White to consider. “Many families, who, for the purpose of educating their children, move to places where our large schools are established, would do better service for the Master by remaining where they are... It would be vastly better for their children, for themselves, and for the cause of God, if they would remain in the smaller churches, where their help is needed, instead of going to the larger churches, where, because they are not needed, there is a constant temptation to fall into spiritual inactivity.”

-Nick

Going to Church Doesn't Make You Better

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” John 19:1-6a NIV

As I mulled over this passage this morning the thought kept reoccurring to me that Jesus didn’t have to do this. At any moment He could have hit the eject switch and by human standards He would have be justified in doing so. 

Everyone knew He did nothing wrong. Pilate tried Him and found no fault in Him but hoped beating Him would pacify His accusers. Nope! When Pilate brought bloodied and bullied Jesus out and appealed to a basic sense of justice the chief priests and their officials just shouted their demands for death all the louder.

A couple of days ago I spoke with a 89 year old neighbor lady who said going to church doesn’t make anybody better than anyone else. “They’ll rob you just the same.” 

I told her I agreed with her. It doesn’t matter how many sermons we sit through, how loudly we sing or if we regularly make donations to good causes. That doesn’t get us holiness points with God and it doesn’t automatically change the way we treat others. Only inviting Jesus to be closest and letting Him live and love through us counts.

Real love isn’t easy. It is the stuff of real character. It surrenders rights for God’s cause at times and confronts injustice at other moments. It seeks reconciliation and lets people go the way they choose. God’s way of love is higher than our ways and it is only through ceaseless prayer, constant dependence on Christ, that we can know and live Jesus’ way.

There are hard things in your life right now. Some you endure, others you reject. Where you evade the right simply because it is difficult or undesirable you find what John Maxwell refers to as cracks in your character. I often find myself counting up holiness points on an easy path to tell myself I’m alright before the Lord. God help me and forgive me! I need to get off Facebook when I should be working with God to save souls even if it’s something humble like desk work. Everyone of these small decisions lets Christ in and forms a character like His or pushes the eject/reject button.

I praise God that Jesus fulfilled His mission to save all who would believe though it cost Him everything. Following Jesus wherever He leads will bring life to you and to others. Let Him fill in the cracks.

Love Does Review

Love Does by Bob Goff is a New York Times best selling story book that kept me coming back for extra helpings. I don’t think a day went by from the time I picked it up that I didn’t read one or more of it’s brief 3-10 page chapters during a really busy week. I bought it for Deanne’s 26th birthday and we both finished it before her gifts stopped coming in...if they’ve stopped coming in. Filled with everything from blunders that actually made me laugh out loud (a rare occasion when I’m reading) and capers inspiring a great desire to go all out in a Jesus style love re-imagined and refreshed, I highly, strongly recommend it. I think God used this book to truly lift the mood in our home. In multiple situations I wondered out loud to Deanne, “What would Bob Goff do?” I see a lot of Christ in this whimsical man. My heart is drawn out and compelled to do because I want to, to dream rather than sleep and to hope in what God is doing in the lives of His children, even in my own life.

I’ve started to respond to this grace with a face book by pondering the question Bob asks in the epilogue. He writes, “[i]f you’re like me, I’d ask myself at the end of a book called Love Does-so what do I do?” I’ve started dreaming again. I’m encouraged to dream dreams beyond what seems possible, to pray and ask what the next step is. I believe the, “out there” is in reach because God has the whole world in His hands. It’s going to require putting one foot in front of the other and pressing on towards the mark of the high calling of Christ. It’s also going to have to involve friends I meet along the way and wonderfully revolve around Jesus.

One thing that really got my attention in the book was the story of his kids requesting meetings with world leaders after 9/11 at Bob’s encouragement. They had no agenda but to make friends with them because they believed that if they could all just talk and share their hopes together there would be a much better level of understanding among them. They were invited and ushered into the presence of the rich and the powerful and gave the gift of friendship to them as well as a key to their home in Cali to let the leaders know they are welcome to visit them at their house in the U.S.  Apparently one actually accepted the invitation.

I’m not sure what exactly people are hoping for when it comes to the marches for justice and what not, but I bet if all the upset people put their efforts into making friends instead of pointing fingers, this nation would actually be changed.  I think Bob’s family was onto something when they offered friendship instead of arguments and solutions. That’s how bridges are built. The two sides have to want to be connected through a love that does.

-Nick

P.S. If you want to buy the book you can get more info here: http://bobgoff.com/lovedoes/.  All the proceeds of the book are given to help people in Uganda through Restoration International. Very Cool.

ONLY a Test

Just this morning during the time our housemates habitually meet to pray, I was sharing with Jane Takahashi that I think God is teaching me that I am finite. There are a lot of large events coming up for our church within the next three weeks and I must confess that I’ve been stressed over them. 

On the 4th of July my church, REACH Philadelphia, is hosting our second block party on the street in front of my house. The very next day our church is launching into the “wilderness” of New Jersey’s Belleplain State Park for our annual campout. One week after that our Vacation Bible School program starts. I’ve felt the responsibility primarily falling on me and it’s been heavy. Anxiety has sapped my appetite. I’ve been moody and a high percentage of the breaths I take have been sighs. I’ve been putting long days in to focus on these work priorities and have neglected to take responsibility for my daughter so Deanne could experience more moments of sanity. We had a very important conversation about that last night. God is teaching me and I’m all ears at this humble point.

I promised that I would watch Eden until 8 AM this morning and that I would watch her again from 3 - 5 PM this afternoon. I left the house to have worship at the quiet church building in Chestnut Hill before starting my office work.  This is the passage I read for today. 

...Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward [H]im, [H]e said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for [H]e already had in mind what [H]e was going to do.

Philip answered [H]im, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

Another of [H]is disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,  “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

When they had all had enough to eat, [H]e said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. John 6:5b-13 NIV

Here’s the part that grabbed me, Jesus ONLY asked Philip where they would get the food to test him. What kind of test is that? I think Philip’s realization that purchasing food for all those people was outside the realm of their human possibilities at that moment was an important one. I wish Philip hadn’t stopped there. I wish he had offered some morsel of faith to Jesus as Andrew did. 

Though it was illogical, Andrew brought a boy and his lunch to Jesus, not because he thought the child’s meal would be enough food to feed a the massive crowd, but I believe he had a small ray of hope that Jesus could do the inconceivable. He brought what was available to Jesus and Jesus rocked the sides off their small boxes of logic.

So much of what rides on me and the limited time and ability I have to get the deeds done this week makes no sense to me. It’s a test I can’t pass on my own. But’s actually exciting to imagine what God ALREADY has in mind for my challenges while looking at Jesus lesson plan for His pupils in this story. They saw that the problem was WAY BEYOND THEM. Jesus showed that it was NOT A PROBLEM for Him. He was much more than enough. There were twelve baskets of leftovers signifying that Jesus is not only enough for the 5,000 men and their families present that day, He’s also enough for all twelve tribes of Israel. He’s enough for all of us!

May I acknowledge my finitude moment by moment while always praising God expectantly for His omnipotent care for me. One with Jesus, there is not test I can’t ace. Bring on the day! Glory to God!!!

Let's Do It Again, and Again and Again!

You're gonna like this!



My friend Tyson Shaw showed me this hillarious video last night. What struck me was the amazing object lesson. Observing the pranked, cursing and threatening car salesman's quick and total attitude adjustment once he realized the driver wasn't a two-faced old man endangering both of their lives, but one of the most decorated NASCAR drivers in history is telling. It gives us perspective for when our own lives seem way out of control. When his rage turned to delight, he actually asked if they could do it again. I'm sure the second round was much more pleasurable.

Why is it that we hate the feelings that come when we fear an epic fail or total destruction but we love theme parks? Though roller coasters reach speeds higher than we are legally able to drive, and flip and turn, and rattle our brains, we see people get on and we see them get off with smiles on their faces. We know Jeff Gordon has driven souped Chevy's around the raceway thousands of times at much higher speeds than he test drove that Camaro. We know it's safe enough to enjoy over and over again.

Jesus is better at directing our lives than Jeff Gordon is at driving race cars.  He can also design better thrill rides than Werner Stengel. We hear testimonies of the miracles He performs in response to prayer and can see the awe inspiring account of His abilities anytime we read the Bible or take time to gawk at the beauty of nature.

But sometimes we experience moments that don't occur to us as a good idea. Jeremiah even said that God deceived and overcame him to make him do the prophetic ministry in Jeremiah 20:7. Just six verses later he says, "Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord! For He has delivered the soul of the needy one from the hand of evildoers," in Jerermiah 20:13 NASB. In the very next verse he goes on to curse the day he was born. So if you ever feel like you are back and forth with your feelings about how God drives when He's behind the wheel in your life, you're in good company with a prophet who probably followed God's direction more than most.

The wise king Solomon said to, "[t]rust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge [H]im and [H]e will direct your paths.," in Proverbs 3:5,6 NKJV. He wasn't famous for doing what God said, but he too knew what was true. If we put our faith in God, we will have no regrets in the end.  

As the parable by Morris Venden below teaches, God will let us take back "control" of our lives at any point. But after driving ourselves into the ditch time and time again in contrast to His sovereign navigation skills displayed with every obstacle and trial we allow Him handle, I pray that we will repeatedly plead for Him to take over. Let's do it again, and again and again. He'll always say, "yes, let's."

 

2 Chronicles 20:1-30

-Nick