Crossroads Celebration Church

I remember as a kid how fascinating it was to drive by an airport. All those magical lights spread out on a field. Some solid and some flashing. Of course the airport was an unusual place, since I had not stepped inside one till I was thirty years old to go on my first plane flight.

This morning I was driving back from an early morning walk in the downtown sky walk and driving past the Ankeny airport. It was all lit up and still very magical to me, even though I have flown several times now. That huge maze of blue lights some orange and some red and an occasional blinking light.

Here’s what I was thinking about those runway lights. For those of us on the ground and will little flight experience the lights look like a field of lights and depending on our angle on the ground usually don’t make a lot of sense. But to those up in the air and having the flight experience, they know which end to start their descent and where they will come to a stop. It makes perfect sense for those in the air looking down on the runway. It’s their guide.

How often do we as human beings look at our world and start to wondering what is going on? We can’t see the future or we don’t know our purpose. Our world can be that runway of lights on the ground and be confusing. But up there – God looking down. God knows our future and our purpose. God is not confused by our existence.

So like the pilate who looks for the lights to guide him/her safely to the ground – let God be the guiding light in your life. Trust that God has a different perspective of our life and knows what is best for us. Seek that light and trust!

I have been enlarging my territory in philosophy this semester and something I have just learned has made some connections for me.

Scholasticism is a technic of training that makes an effort to put philosophy and theology together. It later took on criticism from Humanism that brought a tighter technic of training on philosophy and education and left out theology. Have you ever heard of someone being called a “Dunce”? Duns Scotus was a Scholatic and was made fun of for his applications of philosphy and theology and thus the nickname, dunce.

Without going into great detail, the simple thought for me is that Scholasticism had a focus on God, while Humanism has a focus on man. An example of this is evolution focuses on man, while creationism focuses on God. We could apply this to many other thoughts or philosophies. But the crux is where do we put our focus.

No wonder so many people doubt the authority of the Bible, because those who doubt are placing their focus on man or themselves and not on God. If we put our focus on God we see the authority.

I see the large church in many of our now mainline denominations being very Humanistic. We see that for some it is okay for homosexual unions in marriage – focus on man and not on God. We see that for some there are various ways of salvation – again the focus on man and not on God.

Not that I would call a Humanist a dunce or any other nickname, but I would be cautious of where I was putting my focus on any kind of research. For me my focus is on God. John Wesley had a formula he called the quadralateral: Primary – Scripture, then tradition, reason and experience. Note the focus is on God and God’s Word, then on man’s thought and experiences.

I guess I am a scholastic who sees a correlation between philosophy and theology. But I would be in good company with Aquinas, Augustine, Anselm and Duns Scotus. Call me a dunce if you want to, but remember that God is on my side when you start your name calling.

Since I am on a roll with people of fame and the context of oxymoron. Remember an oxymoron is something of contradictory terms.

Let me ask you this question, “If the head of your department at work, bragged about having sexual relationships with several staff people, wouldn’t they be fired for sexual harassment?” So how does David Letterman get by? Isn’t that the same thing? Except for the world it’s funny – ha ha. It’s boosting the ratings of his show. No one from CBS has said anything about a sexual harassment suit charged against him. He hasn’t been put on leave until things can be sorted out.

If you or I made an announcement like that at our place of work, we would be out reading the help wanted ads by now.

I thought we had ethical considerations for how women are treated in the work place? If it’s not sexual harassment, it would at least be power abuse. C’mon what’s the world coming to!

I recall the woman caught in sexual sin and the Pharisees were about to stone her to death. Jesus commented, “Those without sin cast the first stone.” Jesus came to her aid. [And by the way where was the man who was part of her sexual sin? How come he wasn't about to be stoned to death?]

I recall the woman who poured a year’s worth of perfume on Jesus and was ridiculed by the disciples. Jesus came to her aid.

I recall the woman with a twelve year flow of blood who touched Jesus garment for healing and Jesus came to her aid.

We say pornography is wrong and yet look at how large a business it is. We turn the other way when president’s say, “I didn’t have sexual relations with that woman.” or celebrities reveal their dirty laundry just to keep from having it twisted and aired by the media.

What is wrong with us to say it’s bad for one and yet good for another? October is Breast Cancer awareness month and we have our women in our lives covered in pink to show our support. How about next month we continue to show our support to women who are manipulated in the work place by power abuse and sexual harassment. How about support for women who are abused in domestic violence. How about showing our support for women who are enslaved into prostitution.

How about the next time a comedian talks about their multiple sexual conquests we say, “That’s not funny!” Tune out what is wrong in this world and speak up for what is right!

I agree with those who suggest that President Obama doesn’t deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. It seems weird to get a prize before you do anything. Let’s just go ahead and hand out the Super Bowl prize for 2010 to the Green Bay Packers.

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that is contradictory to terms. Which is how the Nobel Peace Prize came about anyway. The Nobel brothers were inventors of dynamite and one got tired of being known for death and destruction, so he decided to award prizes for peace and prosperity of life. That’s an oxymoron. So is President Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize. That’s an oxymoron.

But then again maybe I should be used to the oxymoron. In Christian faith we are told the last shall be first and the first shall be last. Jesus came to turn our world upside down. Like the physician, Jesus came to heal the sinner, not the saint. And the ultimate – we receive life from death. How cool is that! I am grateful that Mr. Nobel saw an opportunity to make lemonade from his lemon. Peace from death and destruction.

How about this. I nominate Jesus the Christ for the Nobel Peace Prize. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14.27 I know it is a peace that I’ve already received, many times over. How about you?

Let’s give thanks for those who have really shown us peace! And pray that our president will follow through with his promises of peace.

We are reading Stormie Omartian’s book “The Power of a Praying Church” and this weeks chapter struck me with this very simple concept. We don’t storm a person and intimidate them with our prayers for them. We come alongside someone and wait for an invitation to pray with them.

See the difference between praying for them and praying with them. It is team effort and not just me praying. It is not intimidating but it is by invitation. We come alongside them. I love that word, “alongside”.

I see that as the same with the power of prayer. God is a gentleman, never pushy with us. So if we want the power of the Holy Spirit to be a part of our prayers, it is with the invitation for the Holy Spirit to come alongside us in our prayers, needs, concerns, praises, etc.

I am looking for some prayer partners to come alongside me in prayer this fall. [Something else I learned in the chapter] – I confess my lack of skills in planting a church, of evangelism. We have been at this church start for over two years and the best we have is twenty people in worship. I want to test the waters of seeking the power of the Holy Spirit in prayer. I believe that Crossroads could easily have 30 plus people in worship for four Sundays before 2010 rolls around. I also believe that we could easily go over 100 in worship during 2010. This will require partners in prayer. “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.” Matthew 18.19

Is there anybody out there who will commit to praying for Crossroads Celebration Community, a church plant in Ankeny, Iowa? Would you come alongside me in prayers? Would you call upon the Holy Spirit to come alongside us?

I don’t see this as a fleece, I see this as a fulfillment of Christ’s offer for us to go to the Father in prayer. To rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and to do so in the name of Jesus. Malachi 3.10 reminds us that God will bless us and pour out those blessings if we put God to the test.

So will you come alongside this pastor and this church in prayer? Will you invite the Holy Spirit to bring the power to change our direction at Crossroads? Those of us in the study are praying for our church to be fervent in worship and to be a praying church. Isn’t that why Jesus turned over the tables in the temple, because it was no longer a house of prayer. We want to be a house of prayer.

If you will come alongside me in this prayer request for Crossroads, reply in the comments. Or email me at sacredmessage@gmail.com I would love to know of your commitment.

Crossroads Church has been in a new bible study called “The Power of a Praying Church” by Stormie Omartian. It has really gotten me back to a new and a different understanding of the power of the Holy Spirit. I have some life long addictions that plague me and I find different seasons that I am not troubled by these addictions and seasons I am troubled. I have been going through a troubled season this fall. I could not shake this problem.

So with the suggestion of Stormie, I have been praying for the power of the Holy Spirit to help me overcome these addictions. I have had a couple of successful weeks. I have been realizing the power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power I need to be tapping into. I have known about the Holy Spirit but just never have fully relied on the Spirit of God. And it is something Jesus has called us to utilize after his resurrection and ascension.

So I have been praying for others. One on meth and another an alcoholic. If there is a power to utilize here, it is certainly not something human. It is the power that raised Jesus from the dead. I am concerned for a 17 year old with cancer. If there is healing, it is not from the hands of the medical staff [not putting their expertise down] but to cure and heal 100% it will be the power that raised Jesus from the dead. So since I have personally experienced a simple healing in my life and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit, I will keep trusting this same power of the Holy Spirit will do these much bigger things.

I had a liberal pastor one time tell me you don’t have to pray in the “name of Jesus”. How wrong he was. Jesus in the gospel of John tells us to pray in his name. Just look at the times Jesus prayed and the teaching and example of prayer that he gave. Why would we not call on his name. He is the way to the Father. So pray. Pray often. Pray calling upon the power of the Holy Spirit, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. And do so in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen and Amen.

I was standing at the Crosswalk this morning again. It’s been six weeks crossing kids on their way to school and standing with four 6th graders waiting for the bus to pick them up at this corner. Kaylee said, you have your ear pierced. 30 days of standing together for ten minutes a day and she finally realizes my ear is pierced.

Observation. I remember vividly twenty years ago standing at my living room window one wintry Sunday morning. A squirrel passed by with what seemed to be a mouse in its mouth. Then came back empty. Again came by with something in it’s mouth. I finally realized the this was a mother squirrel moving her babies. It is the only time I have seen something like this. I was moved to tears at this scene. What a thing to observe.

One vacation morning we packed up the camper in the dark and headed out onto interstate out west before the sun rose. As the sun was rising, the sage brush had this emerald glow to it like the Wizard of Oz. Had we travelled this highway in the day it would not have been so amazingly beautiful. What a thing to observe.

Are you awake? Are you alive? Are your senses alert to the movement of God all around us. Even in our own back yards [and front yards] we can see things out of the ordinary, life happening and God moving. Are you experiencing life? Try going a different route to work today. Turn your head and look left if you happen to always look right. Be aware of your surroundings and ask God to reveal Himself in the things around you. Ask God to reveal new and fresh insights in your self.

God is still at work. God is still mysterious and miraculous. Pray for God to breath new life and insight into you today.

This spring and summer I have been out walking the lake area with my friend, Doc. Both of us enjoy a good walk and both of us have had some scouting experience. I know the sight and sound of a blue jay, robin and cardinal. But Doc knows way more birds and bird sounds than I will ever know.

He has records of bird songs and has memorized them. In fact, Doc, knows so much trivial kind of stuff I told him he needs to be on Jeopardy or Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Or I can go on and he can be my lifeline.

Doc showed me birds, local birds, that I was not aware of. I had my camera and sure enough there was a bird high up in the trees that Doc heard and then we spotted. This happened several times on our walks through the woods.

This got me to thinking about God and creation and the mysteries of the universe. It seems like those who do not believe in God or think there is some kind of evolution are like me. I know a few things, a couple birds and bird songs, but am very limited. Doc, is like those who have had more experience first hand with God. They’ve studied a few more things and memorized certain things that increase their knowledge.

I think if those who do not know God would do a little more research, expand their local world, and be open to knowing that there is more to this world than they might know or see, they might find God. I am amazed at what Doc knows, but even he is human and limited. What if I learned from others who know more about birds, I would find further knowledge about birds. What if we took this approach to finding out about God? All this time I was satisfied with knowing a few birds and bird songs, but now I know there is more, even in my own back yard.

God is a God of great mystery, but to those who have the interest, God is a God of great revelation. God gives glimpses of Himself as we need. Not any more than we can handle. If we had the full revelation of God, we could not handle it.

I hope you are open to finding out more about this world, even starting in your own back yard. I hope that you find interesting people who have a different knowledge base than you, so you can learn from their knowledge. And in being open to all things, I hope that God reveals more of Himself to you. Whether you know God or not.

I am glad to know Doc. I you want to talk with him, come and join us in our place of worship – Crossroads Church in Ankeny, Iowa.

I am about to embark on a new and scary adventure for me. I have been teaching Ethics and Philosophy for over two years at our local community college. I have really enjoyed Ethics for it seems to be right up my alley. But Philosophy scares me.

The history and concepts of Philosophy are vast. My boss said he has a hard time finding people willing to teach Philosophy and so I told him I would find a way to love teaching it. So here is the adventure for this fall semester. I am scraping the big books, sticking with a simple book that seemed to work last spring. I am using movies as story illustrations to get us thinking about philosophical things like: is there a God, how was the world created and what is the meaning of life. I am thinking about asking the students to blog or journal about there thoughts and trying to answer these bigger than life questions.

So why did I bring this thought about teaching Philosophy to our church blog? Well, I have been thinking about what I would put in my personal philosophy blog would be: what is my life verse [what scripture do I not only have memorized, but how and why does it help me live my life], how do I put into thoughts and words my belief in God, why do I believe in creationism and so forth. One of the things that I am trying to add to my class outline is critical thinking. I need to better understand my beliefs so I can explain them to others. It is not so much an argument, but just being able to tell my story. I think it will help me be a better witness to my faith and to my christian life.

So what is your favorite song and why? Does it honor God? Who is God to you? Creator? or Some higher being? Do you worship God? Can you worship some less known higher being? Do you honor that being or is it some obscure point of interest that just sits at the back of your mind once in awhile? Is there eternal life? What is it like? How do you get there? Do nice people go to heaven if there is a heaven? What about not so nice people? Do dogs go to heaven? Are people who claim to be agnostic really atheists? What’s the difference? And so much more……

So what is my life verse? Revelation 3.16 [Mark's version] If you’re not radical, you’re spit! Jesus doesn’t want us sitting on the fence with our faith. He can handle – hot on fire for God and he can handle those who could care less for God – but those who claim to be hot, but do nothing and act as if they are cold; Jesus will spit out of his mouth.

It’s not being radical for radical’s sense, but being radical for God and living out everyday in every way one can.

So what do you believe? Why? What are you doing about it? If you were on trial for your belief, would you be witness enough to prove it?

While I was away at camp our 5 month old miniature daschund puppy learned how to escape under a fence gate. Now this spring when she was smaller I had to add some chicken fence to the gates to keep her from getting through. Last week she got smarter and learned how to nudge her way under.

So today. I felt like the farmer going out to mend fence and keep the livestock in. I was thinking sheep because that’s pretty biblical and I remember when my father-in-law rented out some of his land for another farmer to keep sheep in. They were constantly getting out.

Anyway, here I am lowering the gate hinges; boarding up to different ways to keep this little corner from being flexible and securing some more zip ties to more of the fence. All the while, Lily, our precocious puppy is watching me and in my pile of tools and things. She then watches as I go out front to get the mail, while she is stuck behind my new Fort Knox fence. Ha! I laugh and taunt her. Try to escape now you lively little puppy. So far so good.

I was thinking of the parable Jesus told of the 100 sheep. 99 were secure and one got lost. How did it get lost? Was the gate open? Did the shepherd not secure things enough? or Was the sheep as precocious as my little puppy? I guess we may never know the answer to that, but sure enough the shepherd went after it. Could have been happy with 99 but went the extra effort to get the one lost lamb. Aren’t you glad the story is about the Good Shepherd and we are so often lost and Jesus comes to search for us.

I wish the church had a Fort Knox fence to keep the flock in and out of harm. But the government my have their say if I started locking up church folk. So I will simply trust Jesus to search for the lost and I will do my best to keep them from getting away. And I do have a big flashlight to help in the search. I don’t want anybody lost either.

So for now Lily, the puppy is securely in the back yard. Wait, maybe I should go check again, she is very precociou………………………………………………………………