Lifting Others Up

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

- Matthew 6:7-8

We have been in the process of launching new inclusive small-groups where homes are opened to people of mixed abilities; sharing meals around a common table, learning more about God and each other; praying, living, serving, celebrating life together; and partnering with other small-groups in community initiatives and externally-focused service opportunities.

This week I met up with one of our small-groups with another pastor of our church. This pastor loves joining any of our events for the affirmation that he gladly receives, after another debilitating week of criticism leveled at him from all directions. We walked into the room with everyone waiting for us. Their faces lit up with boundless joy, and they all burst out into the celebration of recognition, for the simple reason that we were there. They were so happy to have us we could have been forgiven for the mistaken assumption that their group could not exist without us.

At the end of the evening we sat down in our wide circle of friendship and listened to each other's requests for prayer. One man was quick to stick up his hand and asked that the group pray for myself and the other pastor. Another lady was just as quick to volunteer to pray for us. 

"Lord..." she prayed with serious deliberation, "they are good guy's", she paused and then continued praying with deep concern, "but they need our prayers", she paused again, carefully crafting her words, "well, I really don't know why they need our prayers", and then collected herself, "but Lord, they need our prayers". I couldn't hold in the laughter any longer, as one of those it's-so-honest-it's-funny moments got the best of me. We laughed until it hurt.  

Afterwards, our ministry assistant observed that this lady's straightforwardness is what prayer is all about: simply lifting others up to God. We don't need to explain it all to God, when after all, He knows us best, and we can trust that He has our best interests in mind. The power of prayer can't be explained away by our babbling. We need each other's prayers, though I don't usually know why, but Lord, there's not a doubt in my mind, we need you now.      

      

A Personalized Letter

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ...written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

- 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

We were privileged to have five people with developmental disabilities stand up in front of our congregation and share with us the "Father's Love Letter" (www.fathersloveletter.com). One lady painstakingly memorized her lines while the others read assuredly of God's unfathomable love for us. 

A hush swept over the sanctuary as they shared line-for-line: We were created in love, purposed in the image of God and under His watchful care where no detail is left unnoticed, "even the very hairs of your head are numbered." (Matthew 10:29-31)  We are loved personally - intimately - as if there were no other, even chosen from on high for this very purpose, "You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book." (Psalm 139:15-16) 

God loved us into being, "I knit you together in your mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13) with an everlasting, extravagant love, "And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. Simply because you are my child and I am your Father." (1 John 3:1) Jesus has stretched out his wounded hands to us in crucified, self-surrendering love, reaching out to us with God's extended grace and cross-shaped heart, suffering with us in solidarity with the human condition;  "Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.  His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love." (2 Corinthians 5:18,19; 1 John 4:10; Romans 8:31, 32)  

When they had spoken the last word, inviting us to receive the Father's love, "My question is...Will you be my child? I am waiting for you. Love, Your Dad, Almighty God" the members of the congregation erupted into applause. In two out of our four worship services this weekend they received standing ovations. It was obvious to me as I unreservedly rose to my feet and praised God for this love beyond belief, that people were not moved by a showcase of condescending pity ("those sweet and special disabled people up front") but by a genuine take-your-breath-away move of God. 

God moves in as many ways as there are moments in time, but I couldn't help but wonder, at this time, if we weren't being moved to a new way of experiencing God, a new way of seeing each other and being church. With a church our size we have developed high standards of professionalism, but I wonder if, at times, over-professionalization has a way of dominating and stifling the Spirit. 

To be sure, we need to challenge each other to give God our best and raise our standards, but at the same time, our normative standards should not be unquestioned and unquestionable. If our standards are defined by productivity and the ability to achieve, if those standards are disabling by excluding those with disabilities who can't measure up to our unattainable standards, maybe it's time to put those standards into question. Here's a question: do you need to be a professional to lead others in worship? Are we offering a performance or leading others into the presence of God?  Is it normal for most of the congregation to assume their inability to lead others in a place of worship, at any capacity, due to their inability to perform?  

Is it possible within our worship settings for God to "(choose) the foolish things of the world to shame the wise" when, after all, if we were all to be entirely honest with ourselves, "God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" and to emphasize the point, "He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are" (1 Corinthians 1:26-28). 

We were not only cheering for the message, God was speaking to us through these uncomplicated messengers, conveying our belovedness and choseness and togetherness, writing to assure us that God loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). It's written all over their faces.

At the end of the day, thank God for the professionals, thank God for abilities and achievements and standards of excellence, but let's not forget that simplicity is reproducible. Today we were cheering for the multiplying simplicity of community - a community we can all fully participate in, even the non-professionals among us. And those five individuals, simply loved by God and response-able to God's call, were cheering for us - if we can stand up in front of you and share God's love letter written on tablets of tender hearts, why can't you open your hearts and join us in re-writing out the story for all to read?    

The Everyday Life of Thanksgiving

I thank my God every time I remember you.

- Philippians 1:3

This Thanksgiving weekend has had less to do with Turkey and Stuffing for me and more to do with our life together.  One of our community pastors rephrased Thanksgiving today as "Thanks-living" and the word was embodied and alive as I prayed together with a few men after our worship service. One man asked us to pray for his new girlfriend. As we settled into our time of prayer he lifted his heart to God:

"Thank you God for my new girlfriend. And thank you that I'm her boyfriend - every day - tomorrow I'm going to her place for Turkey dinner and then Tuesday I'll take her out for lunch and then Wednesday we'll see each other again, and next Monday will be the start of a new week to see each other again. So thank you God for my new girlfriend.  And thank you that I'm her boyfriend - everyday." 

As he thanked the Giver of every good gift, with economic turmoil looming over us, communities threatening to fall apart, divided and divisive nations calling for war, I joined him in thanking God for faithful relationships, our families and loved ones first on our minds and closest to our hearts. Yes, thank you God for your everlasting faithfulness - everyday.   

Almost Famous

In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

- 1 John 4:17-18

I was walking down a hallway of our church when I met up with a faithful member of our church and a core member in the Volunteer Work Experience Program of our Special Needs Ministry. He's a conscientious worker in our cafeteria, week in and week out, and is especially gifted in customer service. Right then he was finishing up his day cleaning the windows with focused attention, but as I crossed his path his welcoming eyes called out to me with the kind of contact that unusually draws you away from a world accustomed to averting glances of withdrawal and rejection.  

I introduced myself as the new Lead Pastor of our Special Needs Ministry. "Oh" he said with a deep breath of exhilaration. "You're the new pastor!" eyes growing wider with each carefully pronounced word. We cheerfully talked about his work and contributing roles in the life of our church, and he was full of enthusiasm as he shared how he was participating in the mission of God. He will be joining our Short-Term Missions trip to Mexico, giving his time to advocacy work for people with disabilities, which will include some public speaking engagements. 

The director of our Volunteer Work Experience Program had dropped in on our conversation and asked him, "aren't you afraid to speak in front of others?" He looked a little puzzled by the pointless question. "No" he said unquestioningly, changing the subject, perhaps not realizing that most of the world is more frightened by the prospect of public speaking than by death.

Though, perhaps, it's not public speaking so much as public "judgement" that threatens us, which is why he lacks the fear that plagues most - he doesn't cast judgement and generously assumes others hold the same "do not judge or you to will be judged" ethos, after all, "in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1,2)

Later that day I bumped into our Director of Food Services. "Dallas" he said with a smile,"he (the man I had met cleaning windows) just told me, 'Guess who I just met? The new pastor!'" Our laughter filled the air and grounded me again. "I thought he had just met a rock star" he said, shaking his head. "How's that for an introduction", I thought to myself. 

 

I had been trying so hard to earn people's trust and approval with my new leadership position. This would be a year where I could prove myself, I was told. Interestingly enough, it was that pressure to succeed that was holding me back. Shouldn't he also evaluate my core competencies first, before rolling out the red carpet? After all, what if I let him down and fail this ministry. 

That may be the spirit of the age and how the organizational structures of the world operate, but his unconditional acceptance reminded me that's not how how God calls His adopted children to relate to each other as a much-beloved family. The fear of failure, betrayal and judgment hadn't even crossed his mind, apparently. On that note I made my decision and accepted his invitation to celebrate our life together amidst God's gracious and inviting love.