Category Archives: Musings

church, Matthew, Musings, Scripture, Sunday

Thoughts from Last Sunday’s Text

This Sunday was the first time in awhile I didn’t really give a sermon. We had an open mic time of sharing about the events of this past week in Baltimore, how we are processing, what we need to pray for, etc. It was a beautiful time and I was very proud of our church family.

We then read Matthew 10:16-23 and I gave 5 thoughts which came up as I read them. I wanted to just share them, without much commentary.

When Jesus sends us out, we are promised authority and presence, not safety. (v. 16a, 17-18)
We have a responsibility to be wise and to act with integrity. We need to act in peace, but act strategically. (v. 16b-17a)
We cannot avoid conflict as we seek to proclaim and embody the kingdom of God. (this is hard for me) (v. 21-22)
The only way we will be successful in our mission is if we go empowered by the Spirit. (v. 19-20)
Our work is never done, until Jesus returns (v. 23)

Any thoughts?

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Jesus, Musings, parable

A Retelling of a True Fictional Story

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This is a retelling of one of Jesus’ parables from Luke 18 that I told in conjunction with our focus on the “Judge not” passage in his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7. My desire was to try and capture the intensity of the story as Jesus would have told it and to find ourselves as those who really need to hear and learn from it. We are most certainly those “who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else” (Luke 18:9)
I shared it this past Sunday. Would welcome any thoughts. I call it a true, fictional story because that is what parables are.

On one particular Sunday morning, at one particular inner-city church, a faithful church member showed up early, as he did every Sunday (for almost 30 years of Sundays), to pray faithfully and earnestly for his church and community. He sat in his normal seat, (which was in the back row, of course) and it seemed to have, over-time, almost formed to his frame. As he continued to pray, he would kneel, the carpet worn and threadbare in the same spot as a result of his faithful and frequent intercession.
Moments later, a local city councilman walked quietly and sheepishly through the main doors of the sanctuary, hoping to not be noticed by a single soul. He was searching for a quiet place, and in many ways he wasn’t even sure why he left his luxury, rehabbed townhouse in the first place. After all, this was not just a councilman. This was the city councilman, or rather that city councilman. Ever since the news broke of scandal and his recent indictment on charges of multiple counts of fraud and bribery, he had just been buying his time. He was out on bail and awaiting his trial, a trial in which he knew a guilty verdict was inevitable; he was going away for a long time. In deciding to go out for an early morning walk, he, somewhat absentmindedly, happened upon this church. He was going to continue on, but something within him compelled to step inside. So, he risked it and, finding the door unlocked, he stepped inside.
As he did, he saw the older gentleman praying in the back row to his left. The councilman tried to ignore the combined looks of recognition and the angry glare which came over the old man’s face, as he continued to mutter his whispered prayers under his breath. Sensing the anger of the older man, the councilman quickly looked away and took the furthest possible spot, on the other side of the sanctuary, in the front pew.
The old church member felt a fire in his gut as he continued to pray, reflecting on what he knew this councilman had done. He began to pray with thanksgiving: thankful that God’s justice had won out over this man’s evil. Thanksgiving for those whose money would be returned as reparations were made. He thanked God for the fact that this old man had never stolen a dime in his whole life. He thanked God that he had never lied under oath, gotten caught up in politics, or made promises he couldn’t keep. He lifted his head from his prayers, glared over at the councilman and said, perhaps even out loud, “Lord, thank you so much that I am not like this corrupt, thieving, no-good politician! He steals from the poor, and has removed people from their neighborhoods, but I serve at the shelter twice a week!”
Meanwhile, the councilman was doubled over, shaking ever so slightly. He held his face in his hands, and quietly wept. He folded his hands so tightly, his knuckles turned white and he couldn’t stop shaking. The only words he could force out were between sobs were, “God, if you really are there, can you ever forgive me for all the wrong I’ve done?” “Will you forgive me?” was all else he could say…
The councilman left, even before the worship service began, and as he did, he left right with God. Though the consequences of his actions still lay ahead, he had the peace of God’s forgiveness. The church member, however, who stayed at church until he shook the very last hand, left thinking that he was right with God, mostly because he had seen someone else who wasn’t, and was glad to not be them. But he was not right with God, merely convinced in his mind that he was right, and many others were quite wrong.

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Musings

Holy Places and Different Faces

I had an incredibly holy experience this past Tuesday evening that really caught me off-guard (as such experiences often do).

In order to enrich and inform my calling as a pastor in my neighborhood, I have begun to take classes at a local, ecumenical seminary. They have been incredibly life-giving to me and I have learned so much already in my short time there.

This past Tuesday was no exception as I sat in a room with a few others to learn about and discuss christian ministry and faith formation. We could not be more different from each other in faith tradition, background, culture, and calling. Yet in sharing our stories of “calls” to ministry, something profoundly sacred happened in our midst: we became more known and we saw ourselves in each other.

As we each recounted our stories, we discovered two characteristics in common: we were created for a purpose that burned within us and we have struggled deeply with it. As we all had the realization that we were united in these ways, the room seemed quieter yet more alive at the same time. We could see and appreciate God’s hand of mercy on all of us. We could sense his enduring grace and loving patience in each person in the room. It was magnificent.

And for the first time in a long time, my view of the Church and her God was widened significantly. As much as we were different, in that moment, we were very much the same. As much as we could disagree on this and that, we dare not argue the validity of each one’s call.

We were all loved. We were all aware of our weaknesses. And we were all in awe of the God who wanted to use us for his kingdom in this world.

In hindsight, I should have removed my shoes because it was an encounter not unlike Moses and the burning bush: where God’s call meets human weakness, brokenness, and struggle and He overcomes it with a call to go and an assurance of his presence.
Holy ground, indeed.

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Life, Musings, Neighborhood, Rooted

Putting Down Roots

It has been far too long since I have taken the time to write here, but I feel like I am headed back into a season of writing. Usually this happens for two reasons: 1) I have a lot to process and 2) the weather will soon be getting cooler. There is something about writing in the fall and winter that I just love.

Anyway, one of the largest developments in Kara and I’s life has been moving into our new place as first-time home buyers! We have now planted ourselves more firmly in the Highlandtown neighborhood after renting here for about two years. This is the physical evidence of a lot of struggle, prayer, joy, and trust. As with most big life changes, there is often much going on beneath the surface.

We have both become convinced that being fully invested in a focused area is the way we can come to see things be renewed and restored. And by renewed, we don’t mean the other negative baggage that can come along with that word (gentrified, suburbanized, etc.). We just really want to see all relationships restored: those with each other, with the land, and with God. And we know we must be a part of that.

Secondly, our church family has found a more permanent home in the former Patterson Park Baptist Church building on Eastern Avenue. To make a long and wonderful story very short, the 100-year old church voted to give their buildings to us to continue on the legacy of kingdom work in our neighborhood. While buildings are not necessary for the church to be the church, it does communicate something very real: we are really and truly here. And there is something to be said for that (actually a lot of things to be said, in a later post).

These are two of the huge developments that cause us to see that we are being called to put down roots here in the nighborhood and just seek the wellness of those around us. I think Jesus wants us to take the “love thy neighbor” thing seriously and literally. So, here we are.

What do you think about where you live? Do you feel rooted, uprooted, awkward, scared…? I would love to know your thoughts, so feel free to comment below.

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Musings

Don’t Use Your Imagination (like that)

As I belong to part of the generation that was raised by Mr. Rogers, I have been taught the importance of using my imagination. I was shown that is it can take me to a wonderful realm of small trains and creepy hand puppets. And for some reason, I always remember the episode that showed me how crayons were made.

Recently, the concept of imagination is something that has intrigued me again. Perhaps it is because it is not as socially acceptable at this age to use it, or talk about using it. We are all encouraged from an early age to use our imaginations. It is talked about it a good way. It is good, healthy, and right to use your imagination (even if it means you have an imaginary friend named Frank).

But could the use of your imagination ever be bad? Could it ever be really unhealthy?

W. P. Young in his book, The Shack, uses a conversation between Jesus and the main character to say something incredibly profound about imagination:

“Exactly,” Jesus interrupted, “You imagine. Such a powerful ability, the imagination! That power alone makes you so like us. But without wisdom, imagination is a cruel task master.” (emphasis mine)

Without wisdom, imagination is a cruel taskmaster.

Think about it this way: how much time do we spend thinking about the future? Many of us can plan out what we imagine will happen to us. We can trace different trajectories, see different outcomes. And for many of us, this develops stress and anxiety and worry. For others, it can be truly paralyzing, keeping us from engaging in the world around us because we are so afraid.

But in our imaginings, where is God? Do we imagine that He will provide for us like He has already? Do we try to think of creative ways in which He may work in us and around us and through us? Do we really think he knows better than we do?

If we are honest, we don’t include God in our imagination; because it is our imagination. It is our way to say we trust God when we really trust ourselves. It is our way of nominally confessing our dependence on him while leaning on our own understandings. Because, if we’re honest (and I am being honest here about myself) we think we know best and we are scared of what could come our way, especially if it means being out of control.

Proverbs 26:12-13 says it this way:
“Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.
A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!””

Really? A lion roaming the streets? That is quite an imagination! But we do this all the time.

Now, imagine if we took that creative impulse and channeled it with these truths in mind:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph 3:21-22)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

So, yes. “Grow ideas in the garden of your mind.” But don’t worry about pests, crop production, weather patterns, or whether they are growing fast enough. Trust that if you plant them, God will grow them exactly how they need to grow. Those are all things you could never control, not even in your wildest imagination…

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Musings

My One Political Post of the Year (or hopefully decade)

I usually do not enter into the political discourse, and you will probably (hopefully) never see me endorse a candidate or wave a political banner here. We will never have a savior on Capitol Hill. (Derek Webb wrote a great song about this, by the way).

However, what does interest me more is the way discourse occurs concerning both politics and religion. As was said in a conversation with a  friend yesterday, it makes really smart people look really unintelligent, petty, and sometimes just plain mean. So I offer two things I have read that may offer some different ways of thinking, or maybe provoke some conversation. By viewing the way campaigns are run, debates are had and religion is “sold” by coercion, it may help us see into our own selves and how we participate in the very things we condemn.

The first is an extremely funny and sobering blog called The Guide to Dimwitted Discourse (warning: this is satire, so react accordingly; that is, laugh and then realize you are guilty!).

Second, there is a quote that I read from Thomas Jefferson, and at the risk of misquoting, I checked the source to make sure it was legit, as listed below. In the first line, you could easily substitute “religion” for “politics” (and, let’s be honest, many do already).

“Difference of opinion is advantageous in religion. The several sects perform the office of a Censor morum over each other. Is uniformity attainable? Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned: yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth.”
–Notes, ed. Peden = Jefferson, Thomas. Notes on the State of Virginia. Edited by William Peden. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1955, 160.

So what do you think?

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Musings

City Uprising Set-lists

What an incredible week we had with City Uprising! It was such a joy to share in worshiping with such a servant-hearted group of volunteers and my church family.

It took me awhile to recover! So here is a list of all the songs we did this past week. A very special thank you to my Gallery band who took a ton of time off to help lead during these times. I filled up almost every night for a week! (pray they don’t quit on me!)

Sunday Gathering

God’s Children Aaron Niequist
You can get this song from http://www.aaronniequist.com or http://www.anewliturgy.com. Buy all of Aaron’s music! 

Doxology Traditional

Mighty to Save Hillsong

Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble? Martin Smith/Deliriou5?

10,ooo Reasons (Bless the Lord) Redman

Savior King Hillsong

Monday Gathering

Those Who Trust 100 Portraits/Waterdeep

I Am a Seed Crowder
This is from David Crowder Band’s last album “Requiem”. You should buy it! 

It is Well With My Soul Spafford

One Thing Remains Black, Johnson, & Riddle

All the Poor and Powerless All Sons and Daughters
I have fallen in love with this group from Nashville. They just recently released their full-length album “Season One”. You can find it on iTunes. 

Everlasting God Tomlin

Wednesday Gathering

They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love Scholtes

Bend My Knee Niequist

Be Thou My Vision Traditional

Changed Niequist 

Jesus Paid it All Grape & Hall

God of This City Bleakley, Boyd,  Aaron,  Comfort, Jordan,  Kernaghan, and McCann

One Thing Remains Black, Johnson, & Riddle

Feel free to share any thoughts or reflections in the comments section!

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awakening, church, city, Musings, Suffering

Suffering | Two Quotes

I’ve had some conversations with friends about the concept of suffering. This is a great mental exercise until you actually have to go through it, and then…well…it’s pretty terrible.
I would love your thoughts or experiences on this issue as it relates to the following quotes:
Two quotes:
The first is from a very conservative professor that I had. He said some pretty quotable stuff (i.e. at the end of class, he said the following: “‎If God spares the United States of America, he will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. Be safe.”)–but that’s not the quote I want to focus on…it’s this:
“If you have never shaken your fist at the sky, do not covet the experience; it will come. Never look into the eyes of someone suffering and say “God has a reason” or “Someday you will understand”. Both are lies. It is a grave invitation to offer comfort that is not true. The Lord comforts those who are in pain, but he does not do it through deception. The answer to human suffering is that there are no answers. We are not going to understand. The result of living in a fallen world where everyone dies.”
And the second:
“The truth that many people never understand, until it is too late, is that the more you try to avoid suffering the more you suffer because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you in proportion to your fear of being hurt.”
— Thomas Merton
Thoughts?
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Baltimore, church, city, gospel, Movement, Musings

My Letter to the Church in Baltimore

As some of you may know, I was ordained into gospel ministry by my church this past weekend. It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life! As a part of the questioning time, one of the pastors on my panel asked me this question: “If you were to write a letter to the church in Baltimore, like Paul did, what would you say?”

I decided to actually write a letter. I pray it encapsulates much of what I feel as I am stepping into this new season of life.

Feel free to respond in any way in the comments section below.

Derek;
A grateful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ
and a fellow laborer in the vineyard of our Master,

To the saints in the city of Baltimore;
my fellow workers in the harvest of our Lord,
Those he has purchased with His very own self,
Those who he has adopted into His family,
Those who serve the Body of Christ and the city,
Those who are endeavoring to see the reign of our King extend over our city and to the ends of the earth;

Greetings.

I thank God that I am counted as among you, that I get to be named along with you as the Church in Baltimore; a planting of our God in the city, for the city. Ever since my time in coming here, I am continually amazed by the work that God is doing here. I have had the joy of learning so much from many of you who have been working faithfully for our God in our city for years upon years. I know many of you have been praying for God to do a special work in our neighborhoods, on our streets, in the hearts of our neighbors. I want to rejoice with all of you, whether we be sowers or reapers, that we can rejoice together that the time for the harvest is now!

And it is happening. God is moving. The questions I would pose to all of us (myself included) would be:

Are we awake? Do we see? Are we ready?

Are we awake?

We see groups of people everyday; in our churches, neighborhoods, communities, and jobs. As we live and work and play in the city, sometimes these crowds stay just that: crowds of people with no personal identity. I would encourage us to see them differently.

The disciples seem to really reflect our attitudes when it comes to crowds of people. They wanted Jesus to send them away. They saw overwhelming needs, mouths to be fed, wounds to be healed, and maybe even moods to appease so that they don’t get too rowdy! You may even find your prayers being something like this: “Jesus, these people need much and demand much and, sometimes, frustrate and frighten me. I feel overwhelmed. The ground is hard.”

But Jesus response to seeing the same people we see was markedly different. He had compassion. He saw what was lacking. They needed people to lead them and care for them.

So Jesus turned to the disciples and said, “It’s time for a harvest. Pray that God sends more people because there is a lot of work to do.”

Do we see? 

A harvest. Where we see barren land, hard ground, and no growth, Jesus sees an opportunity to harvest. Could it be that we are not seeing our city the way Jesus does?

Today, before writing this, I took my morning bike ride through the city. This is quickly becoming a wonder-filled experience for me; a sweet time to reflect, to pray, and, hopefully, to get in shape! Today, it was the same route, the same pot-holes that never get filled, the same rows of abandoned homes, the same neighborhoods that seem to change from one to the next in the blink of an eye, the same groups of day-laborers by the 7-11, the young professionals on their way to work, the panhandlers trying to find daily bread, and the same crazy drivers that almost run me off the road (bless their hearts)! Today’s ride was the same, but, in a moment became totally different.

I saw the city with a fresh perspective. (There is something to Jesus healing so many blind people.) In reflecting on this passage from Matthew 9, I was awakened to the fact that Jesus sees this city as ripe for harvest. The issue is not the ground. The issue is not the seed. The issue is not the growth.

He asks us to pray for workers.

My desire with my ordination this weekend is to say that I am joining your ranks as a worker in the field of Baltimore and as a shepherd of the shepherd-less.

But, we all know that the work is not limited to the “professionals”, those who have been called into gospel ministry by profession, calling, or giftedness. We all are ministers in the Body of Christ. We are all co-laborers.

So the call remains: pray that God will send workers. And from where do these workers come?

Are we ready?

That is the final (but most central) thing I would admonish us to do: make disciples and teach them to work!

As a Church, we work on many things. We host incredible events to meet tangible needs in our communities, we fix up schools and parks, we show those infected of/affected by HIV that they are loved and valuable, we speak prophetically to our leaders in the city to call them to God’s way, we mentor and love our children, we fight against sex-slavery, and we seek to proclaim the reality that Jesus is Lord.

And these are all wonderful, God-honoring, Kingdom-oriented things that we should continue in. Indeed, God has prepared them for us that we should walk in them.

But let us not forget the core of our mission: we must make disciples. If we do not, we will fail in our mission as a Church, fail our King as it relates to our obedience, and there will be no one left to carry on the works God has for us when we are gone.

Our city needs committed disciples of Jesus who make committed disciples of Jesus.

I know I have much room to grow and learn as it relates to this. My prayer for us is that we never lose sight of the centrality of Christ’s call on us and that we may always partner together for the furtherance of this mission. I look forward to gleaning wisdom from you all in this area.

Are we ready?

Are we ready for the messy, difficult task of discipling? Are we positioning ourselves for life-to-life interactions? Who have we called to follow us? More importantly, are we proving ourselves, by God’s grace as people worth following?

These are all questions that I face each day, praying that God allows me to both answer them and be the answer to them!

May God’s will be done in Baltimore as it is in heaven.

The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, so that His Greatness may be known in our city and the world!

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Musings

Sunday Setlist: 4/22/12

(Other people do this here.)

It was great to have Ellis back teaching us again from Mark 9 concerning Jesus healing of the “unbelieving man’s” son . You can listen to the podcast here (it’s usually up on Tuesdays). 

Harbor East 10am Gathering

Mighty to Save Fielding/Hillsong

Deliver Me Crowder

This was a song that allowed us to dwell on how God saves us from whatever we are facing. We read parts of Psalm 69 as a way to prepare us to sing this well. It was very meaningful for me, personally.

Great is Thy Faithfulness Chisolm/Traditional

Came to My Rescue Hillsong
Lauren did a wonderful job leading on this one!

Saviour King Hillsong
I still get crazy excited when we sing the words “Let now your church, shine as the Bride, that you saw in your heart as you offered up your life”.

Help My Unbelief Newton/Wells
I happened upon this song as recorded by Red Mountain Church and thought that it fit so well with this week’s passage. Also, the fact that John Newton, a former slave trader, wrote this as he struggled through his ongoing journey of faith seemed very applicable to us all.

Highlandtown 5pm Gathering
This was my first Sunday back leading here in almost a month! I enjoyed being able to sing with Allison and Colter and do some music in Spanish again!

Sing Sing Sing Tomlin
There is something about singing this with our congregation and us all clapping together that I just love!!

Healer Guglielmucci

Majesty Smith

Feel free to share any thoughts or reflections in the comments section!

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