The Cemetery Experience Keeps Giving

There was about 6-7 years in a row I would take college freshmen at CU to the great, old cemetery on the hill in Boulder. I would have them wander around in the dark, no flash lights looking at tombstones, the old cool ones, for someone who died when they were 18-20. Then we would speculate about their lives, relationships, dreams and experiences. Then we would open up the Word and see what God's perspective was on life, the shortness of life and what we could be living for that had an impact on eternity.

Today I received an email from Ox, Bryan Gullette, a great young warrior who is loving Jesus, loving others in Romania along with his wife, Alina. They are hereos of the faith after working for a few years, packed up and left for Eastern Europe to love others like Jesus does.

Here is his email. It was an encouragement to me today.

Hi Steve,

I hope all is well. I thought that you might be
interested to hear about how your influence has reached to Romania.
Tonight I led a small group of abandoned Romanian teenage boys to a cemetery to
talk about making life count, like we did for Bible study one night. “It
was classic” and I hope it’ll “change their lives, bro!” * Ah the
memories. Thanks for being an important part of my life, Steve.

As great as the legacy is that you left with Crusade, I pray that
it can’t hold a candle to what the Lord is prepared to do in this next area of
ministry. I am sure that it will look totally different, but I expect
amazing things to come of it. I hope the transition is going well.
If you just remember all the things you taught us, you should be
fine.

I also pray that all is well on the home front with your… is
it 18 kids now? Growing the kingdom one child at a time! Awesome! I
am excited about your family and your kids and I pray that they bring you much
joy and fulfillment. I ask God also for His special blessing on your marriage,
that it would be the firm foundation of love overflowing to the children and the
church and the world. Yeah, I know, it sounds like a lot of love, but we
know it is just a drop of what the Lord offers to us.

Take care,
Steve, say “hi” to everyone for Alina and I.

Bryan

Categories: God, Community

A Great Response!

I came across this post about churches that are helping and responding to the wildfires. These responses have nothing to do with my post yesterday but I wanted to share the great opportunities for those of us who live far away from these fires.

Support these churches affected by the Wildfires

Categories: Kingdom, Church, Community, Prayer

Are we racing to help

I caught this photo on Foxnews.com today and I have been thinking about the fires in So Cal. Yes, I have family living down there but they're in the middle of the concrete jungle, therefore, Safe.

The question that has been hitting me in regards to the church, ministries and the Christian body is "How fast and well are we racing to stop and help the affected by the inferno?" This cuts to the core of who I am, believe and do. In light of the Katrina mess, Thailand devastation and now this horrible disaster we have to think about how we are responding.

It doesn't matter if you're all about traditional church, big building, powerful programs or simple church, eating together, worshiping in your home and have no costs. It doesn't matter if the disaster hits poor countries, ethnic minorities in our south or rich countryside homeowners. It doesn't matter if you're a conservative or republican and are angry or happy in the way our government has and is responding. In stead of passing blame, worrying about who is going to teach our next Bible study, does our youth group room need a Nintendo WI or Xbox 360 to match their 5 flat panel TVs, or should our outreach flyers be in yellow or blue paper we should be spending our time, energy, money, time and talents as the body of Christ to plan, prepare and respond to the current tragedy or the one that will hit your community.

This hits me right to the deep of my heart and really tests what I believe about Jesus. If He really did come to give life, love and forgiveness to a lost and hurting world then how is that world experiencing Jesus through the Christians who hold His message tightly. We share it loudly on our streets and through our evangelistic booklets and preach it boldly in great 3 point sermons that challenge our allegiance to God yet I wonder if we're loving those who really need love. Can I believe and share the love of Christ in a language and with hands and feet that the world can hear and respond? Or is my message all about joining the holy club that thinks its theology is correct?

One of the areas I believe God is calling me to put forth my leadership efforts is to help the church (large and small), para church, and the informal body of Christ to be equipped, prepared and ready to help a world that really needs help; to help them in ways that really meet their physical needs. My guess, assumption and prayer is that if the world were to see the Church as the first ones on the ground (before the Red Cross), providing food, shelters, opening their homes and buildings, staying until the final moment, setting aside tons of cash to give freely all without the strings attached of "come to our worship service," WE MIGHT JUST SEE A RESPONSE TO JESUS LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

I really do believe that if we started raising money, setting aside building projects, calling our congregations and groups to action, and worry about sharing the Love of Christ with our hands and feet as well as our mouths the rest of the world, those who have already 'kissed us off' will respond with "who are these people and what do they believe?"

One of the issues our leadership team in Mexico City, Mexico talked about often was if we are launching hundreds of spiritual movements led by students yet they are not ready to respond to the physical needs of a hurting world, then are we relelvant? If we're planting hundreds of churches, big and small, yet not meeting the physical needs of those around us than are we really all that impacting? I guess Jesus modeled and answered this in feeding the 5,000 and on His Sermon on the Mount.

Lets start the race with fellow Christians to stop the inferno that is affecting people who need to be loved and cared for. Talk to you friends, congregations, small groups, and families about what you could do and then do it.

The American Red Cross Link to the Wildfire if you need it.

Categories: Community, Kingdom, Culture, Prayer, God, Movements, Church

Needs all around us

Living in Greeley, CO we have seen a whole different way of living. We are in a much smaller community than Mexico City (28 million) and Boulder/Denver (2 million) as Greeley has about 100,000 people, half of which are Hispanic. We have enjoyed the smell of cows, the open space and the lack of cars piling up in intersections.
Steve has been coaching the boys’ soccer and football teams and has been spending time at our local rec center getting to know the people of Greeley. They are no different from anyone else. They too have marriage problems. They also struggle in finding meaning in life. They too are busy hustling kids to and from school and practice.
Yet what we observed is that there are few ministries that are serving outside the walls of the Church. Boulder and Denver are such popular places to live that many ministries call these places home. Our hearts are broken for the families, youth and neighborhoods that are not targeted specifically to hear the message of Jesus.
We feel God is calling us to start some fresh ways of expressing the grace, mercy and love of God to our community. As we walk forward in this we ask that you pray for us, support us and challenge us to follow Christ more intimately. Join with us in praying that we can be a loving presence in Greeley.

Categories: God, Prayer, Newsletters, Family, Movements, Ministry, YouthSports, Community, Kingdom

Big Ideas n Brew

This Friday and each one following I'm hosting Big Ideas and Brew. If you like one of those this is the time for you. You may not have any big ideas but you like Brew than come over for some stimulating conversation and community. If you really don't like brew than come share some big ideas that you have been learning, pondering, reading about and practicing. If you like both then you'll be in heaven. You also may be just looking for some good ideas and want to be around some other men, eating, drinking and enjoying all that is good about community.

If you're intersted, drop me an email. It will be Fridays 5-7pm at my house. What to bring? An article, a book, movie clip (in your brain) or any other big idea you may have. There will be food, drink and fun.

If you're feeling guitly and needing to bring something than bring a sixer.

See ya on Friday.

Categories: BigIdeas, Community