A Good Morning

There are days where I come to my office and spend my time doing things like planning, having meetings, working on this, that or the other...things which don't directly intersect into the lives of people. Those activities aren't bad, far from it; they are needful to position our ministry for its greatest effectiveness. However, sometimes I have days that are pleasantly interrupted with happenstances that give my meetings, preparations, etc. their motivation and reason for being.

Late last night I received word that one of the guys in my singles’ ministry at the church I previously served had been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer that started in his stomach, went to his lymph system and now is in his bones (all this apparently over two weeks). Not surprisingly the oncologist has told him there is nothing they can do.

My friend is a solid, solid believer. Recently, after going to places like Egypt, China and Mexico, he and his wife thought of becoming missionaries. So committed were they to that end they downsized to a smaller house four years ago in anticipation of being ready to leave for mission-work as the Lord led them. Again, they are both great Followers of Jesus. I spoke with him this morning and through a brittle voice and constant pain he said he is humbled that God is using his cancer to impact so many people. He is also trusting the Almighty to heal him either by removing his cancer or taking him home, noting that whatever happens, “Blessed be His name.”

I was both grateful and humbled in speaking with him, and that he allowed me entrance into the blessing the Lord has for him in the present. I took it as a gift. (By the way, if you have a moment, would you say a prayer for my friend? Thanks.)

I also received an email this morning from a lady who has been attending my church. She considers herself a "seeker", someone who is not a Christian but is kicking the tires on who Jesus is. She noted:

I wanted to share this with you and tell you that you and your community have made God and his Son “alive” to me in these last months and I have learned so much. I don’t know how else to describe it, so I use the word “alive” in the context that yes I knew about God and his Son Jesus, but I knew them as a “memories” so to speak and not as “alive” persons (and if that makes any sense at all to you, then you are truly blessed in deciphering me – ha!)

I used to say each morning when I woke up, God thank you for this day, but now I say this, God, please meet me where I am at, and now I’ve added this....God, I ask you to help me to know you the way you want me to know you.

Overjoyed at seeing a person sincerely trying to seek after Jesus, I thanked her for sharing her story, encouraged her to read the Gospel of John to help her in her journey and told her she would be in my prayers this morning. Then I concluded my note with my name preceded only by a Christian blessing so often found in the New Testament letters: Grace to you.

I was so pumped! This is why I do what I do - trying to help people both know and follow Jesus. With her response, my day only got better:

Yes I will read the Gospel of John, thank you for your suggestion, as well as your encouragement and your inclusion for me in your prayers this morning.

Grace back to you too! (I really like that phrase) and hope you have a good day!

Oh, if grace might alight upon the doorstep of her heart and she give it entrance what these words might truly signify someday! And grace has come to me today, in the form of two conversations!

In crossing paths with a friend seeking to glorify God in the throes of cancer and a seeker in the throes of darkness trying to find the Light of the world, I was reminded how this is what it's really all about! Everything I do must revolve around a singular passion of knowing (and glorifying) God through the Person and Work of Jesus and helping others people both come to know and grow in the same.

Thank you Lord for the grace gift of those two conversations this morning and reminding me of what matters most.

It's been a good morning.

The Religious Affections

"Assurance is not to be obtained so much by self-examination as by action."
- Jonathan Edwards, The Religious Affections

This evening I finished reading Jonathan Edwards' book The Religious Affections. Edwards was a minister from the Puritan tradition who served in the New England area during the 18th Century. While he's arguably (and somewhat unfortunately) most famous for his sermon "Sinners In the Hands of an Angry God", his writing in Affections on the nature of what real faith looks like is a Christian classic. After completing it tonight I find myself joining the chorus of praise.

I'm amazed that a book well over 250 years old is as relevant today as it was when it was penned in 1746. I found myself hearing words from this New England divine that would hit the mark with contemporary issues like prosperity theology, seeker-sensitive church strategies, the "free grace" movement, etc. Not only did I think Edwards to be relevant, often he was better than anything I'd read by modern-day authors.

Frankly, one of the by-products of reading works like Edwards and others from the riches of the historical Church, is the growing awareness of how vapid and shallow most contemporary "Christian" books really are. In a world where many believers are bombarded with well-touted books which are overly sentimentalized, doctrinally weak accounts which seek to move us more emotionally than spiritually, Affections easily stands out with it's robust theology and penetrating expositions, not to mention its archaic language, demanding use of logic and sentences that are intricately composed. And it's all a joy. A hard joy due to my powder-puff abilities of both concentration and cognition which have been honed to a dull, blunt "edge" thanks in no small part to the ADD culture I've allowed myself to be too influenced by, but a joy nonetheless.

Frequently, I found myself putting Affections down simply to more deeply ponder a sentence I had read...not because I didn't understand it...but because it so effectively and efficiently highlighted the Christ-honoring truth it was trying put before the reader. Even quotations from other Puritan pastors Edwards cites had me reading (and pondering) them over and over. I also wrote notes in the margins, something I never do. But I started this practice because I felt like I would better comprehend the flow and content of Edwards' thought.

The truth is I didn't want to miss anything because this book is rich stuff. I'm both grateful and hopeful in finishing it. Grateful that God's grace brought me to reading this fine work, hopeful that Affections will find itself bubbling into my life and ministry over the years. If it does I will be more than well-served both personally and ministerially.

Now if I can just crank Dostoevsky back up... ;)

No Drumroll Neccessary

I don't promote this blog. I don't send my URL to other people. In fact, I originally began this blog to get my thoughts out somewhere I could read them. The only place I think you can even access my blog is from my Facebook account (which that alone was a step for me).

However, things change. I'm under no illusion that most people don't know the identity of GLP. On the contrary, I think most everyone does. So with that, plus the fact that enough people have chastised me for not putting my name on this blog, I just thought I'd make the obvious more...well, obvious.

As for promoting the blog, I'm generally sticking to keeping my mouth shut for the present.

Yancey (a.k.a. GLP)

Ruminations of a Tome

For quite some time I've had a folder on my computer at home entitled "Ruminations of a Tome". In it are ideas, articles, outlines and rough draft of a preface and first chapter of a book I started writing...three years ago (if not more). Frankly the folder should be called "Reminder of a Disappointment" because I had intended to complete a book before I was thirty. Seven years from my 30th birthday and I'm face-to-face with the same haunting challenge.

For the past several weeks the gnawing in my gut and the promptings from more people than my two hands can count has got me thinking about re-booting my writing endeavor. So I think for the next month or two I'm going to seriously sit down and noodle through the "what" and "how" of accomplishing that feat. I think putting this in a blog post kind of gets my toe in the water commitment-wise (which is somewhat ironic seeing that I began blogging partially to see if I would like writing at all).

So there you go. Now only time (and discipline) will tell.

PS. - What's funny is I'll post this and think to myself, "Man, why did you do that?!?!"

The 'Burbs Get Some Lovin'

A few days ago I got word that a couple guys have started a website dedicated to churches who want to be "missional" in a suburban context. (For a great definition of "missional" see Joe Thorn's post here.) The website is called sub•text and I'm pumped it's here!

For quite some time it seemed that most of the talk about missional churches centered on urban congregations. This naturally gave birth to helpful conferences, articles and messages detailing how those churches could be positioned both theologically and practically "for the city" (an oft-repeated rally cry). While I believe it's a very important discussion, at times it may have left some suburban church leaders scrambling to figure out how to apply what they were hearing to their own environmental contexts. Not that it was an entirely huge issue (good leaders often do well at discerning and implementing what they are learning to their own contexts...that's what makes them good leaders), but I must admit it's refreshing and exciting to see ministries created like sub•text.

Now growing numbers of suburban churches have a place to dialogue about trying to reach souls and contextualize the Gospel "for the suburbs". Only time will tell if it is an effective instrument in helping suburban churches become more Gospel-centered in who they are and what they do, but I think it's a promising start.

Go get 'em sub•text!

Another Reformation, Please

For quite some time I've been an enthusiastic proponent of local churches writing, recording, producing and publishing music to be used in corporate worship. There are a lot of reasons behind my thinking. Here are some off the top of my head:

1. There is greater theological and doctrinal accountability with the leadership concerning the lyrics. We start moving away from having "free agents" leading and writing music for the local church which they, in all honesty, may have little to no accountability with. I realize there are those who do. I fear they are the exception rather than the rule. (This goes for "speakers" as well but that's another post)
2. Songs don't need to be "one size fits all" but explicitly shaped by experiences and distinctives within the specific community of faith. Thus the lyrics don't have the requirement to be vague and doctrinally bland so that multiple strands of Christians (Methodists, Baptists, etc.) can be able to sing them (a likely requirement for many Christian radio stations and industry subscribers); on the contrary, songs created by a local church's music team may be so specific that those who don't subscribe to that congregation's distinctive beliefs might just pass on that tune. For example, how many worship songs have you heard on the radio that exalt God for the grace of election, the beauty of believers' baptism or the gift of prophecy? Now while that might not make it available for airplay on KSBJ (which isn't and should never be the aim of music written for corporate worship), it is a song tailor-made for the congregation that produced it. Oh how we need more music which doesn't play to the lowest common denominator of Christendom but leverages the richness of the work of Christ in the local church!
3. It can help galvinize an important relationship between two ministries in the church - teaching and music (which is not as separate as some might think - music always teaches). Music leaders and teaching leaders can team up for an incredible "one-two" punch of helping teach through music as they work together to create songs (I'm assuming the teaching team gets to help with the creation of lyrics), which I believe with only serve to strengthen the relationship both personally and pastorally between music team and teaching team.
4. Songs aren't created with the goal of being a chart-topper but an instrument for the local congregation to better expresses musically their corporate worship to God. There's less temptation to be seduced by everything that's wrong with the moden-day "worship" movement: no one's got a table selling t-shirts and various Christianity, Inc. pieces of "flair" in the lobby as the "leader" speedily pulls up his stakes ready to move to the next "gig" as soon as possible.
   

Like I said, there's more in my grey matter on this issue but you get my drift. We need another
Reformation, one in which the church takes back that which rightly belongs to her, namely, the music that is sung when she gathers to adore her bridegroom. Why would we want it any other way?

I know not every local church has the resources or giftings to become publishing houses (my church has no excuse with all the musicial thoroughbreds God's blessed us with...just know we're working on it), but maybe one of the ways we can apply this is by looking at the church first when we're searching for good congregational music instead the Top 25 section of Lifeway Bookstore. I'm sure someone out there will find a great way to network like-minded churches in this venture (The Vineyard is the only denomination I know of that seeks to do this. I love their motto: By the church, for the church.). However until then, it will take a little more work to discover songs for your congregation but I believe it can be very much worth it...for you...and your church.

With that, I'd like to heartily recommend Sojourn Community Church's "Behold the Throne". It's the best CD I've heard this year. While you might not be able to use every song, one can't help but appreciate what the church can be and do when it comes to helping her worship our great and wonderful Savior. Thanks for leading the way Sojourn. Hopefully more of us will follow.

I'd be remiss if I didn't add a few links of guys who I think are trying to make headway into creating music for the church by the church.

Think Worship by Brad Loser of Clear Creek Community Church, Houston, TX
Doxologist by Tim Smith of Mars Hill Church, Seattle, WA
Sojourn Music by Sojourn Community Church, Louisville, KY
Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin of Covenant Life Church, Gaithersburg, MD

Let the Reformation begin.

Meet Me In Saint Louie

"The City of St. Louis has affected me more deeply than any other environment has ever done,
I consider myself fortunate to have been born here, rather than in Boston, or New York, or London."
- T.S. Eliot

I had the pleasure this past weekend to preach at a wonderful church in St. Louis known as The Journey. Not only was I able to speak but, more importantly, I was able to reconnect with friends both new and old. Making it even better was the fact that my wife was able to accompany me. It was the first time in years that we left our kids and got away just the two of us. This had all the makings of a highlight for us in 2008. It didn't disappoint.

I was able to renew my friendships with beloved college friends (Kevin & Nikki Rutz, Andy & Julie Kerckhoff) and build upon relationships that have come to me later in life, namely Darrin & Amie Patrick. Darrin is the Lead Pastor of The Journey and done a remarkable job guiding his church to accomplish the mission of Jesus in the world, and Amie is truly as genuine a person as they come! Spending time with them along with my old college roommate and his wife (another college friend as well) was completely refreshing for my soul. Most of my weekend was taken up at my roomie's lake house with boat trips, sleeping late, good food and great conversations simply being par for the course.

The end of the weekend had me preaching five times (my only regret being that I wished I would've taught better...oh, well...that's where faith comes in), catching a Cardinals game and meeting the great guys that serve at The Journey. My wife and I returned Monday afternoon worn out but deeply blessed. Here's to doing it again in the future!

Some pics of the weekend: the lakehouse group (I was a dunce and didn't get any pics with the Kerckhoffs...my apologies) and of course, baseball pics!


We stayed in my college roommate's lakehouse on Lake Perry which was a little over an hour south of St. Louis. It was relaxing, beautiful and refreshing for the spirit.

I must say, New Busch Stadium is both a beautiful and entertaining experience. St. Louis is, without a doubt, rightfully dubbed "Baseball City". While it's an added benefit that the Cards are in the pennant race, you get the feeling this town would root for them regardless of where they are in the standings.

Much blessings and thanks go to The Patricks, Rutzs and Kerckhoffs for making our stay in the Gateway City a memorable one!