my report from annual conference

from the East Ohio Conference UMC website: the bio from my report, given Tuesday, June 14, 2011.

Congregational Development/New Church
Tim Beck, chair of the New Church Start team spoke of years of coming to Lakeside. He reminded the audience that we reach Lakeside via many different routes, but with a common destination. He likened the church to that journey to Lakeside. “As a denomination and a conference we’ve been on just one road.” Beck stated that it is time to find “fresh expressions of church to grow and prosper; creative chances to reach and connect with the un-churched, the de-churched and those on the fringe.”

Beck spoke of the thirteen new church plants and vital mergers. There are new ministries that are laity driven, alternative worship communities, cell churches, youth churches, multi-site, video driven and many others. But much more is needed.
Where is God leading us?



here is the full transcript of the speech:

NEW CHURCH START TEAM REPORT. Annual Conference 2011

East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church

Tim Beck

Chairman, New Church Start Team

June 2011

We are one. And we all travel along the mainline together.

Bishop Hopkins, Members of the East Ohio Annual Conference:

As a kid I took many trips to and from Lakeside, for Annual Conference, vacations and the like. We all know there are many ways to get to Lakeside. You can take the turnpike or any number of Interstates. Hop on Route 2 west and you’re bound to get there. You can even cut over 224, head north on 58 (or any other northern route) and weave your way through the small towns of northwest Ohio. I promise you, your car will wind up in Lakeside. It has that kind of draw.

Members of the East Ohio Conference have journeyed together year in and year out, for 40 plus years, gathering here for our annual meeting. Even though we’ve all come different paths to Lakeside, as a denomination and a conference we’ve been on just one road. The path of our church has been steady and consistent, marked with many highlights along the way. We’ve seen magnificent movements of God, professions of faith and deep spiritual growth in and among our congregations; mile markers along this great mainline. But perhaps we’re missing the mysteries that lie along the on and off ramps of the mainline, where paths less taken lead to opportunities for new faith communities to spring up; ripe circumstances for fresh expressions of church to grow and prosper; creative chances to reach and connect with the un-churched, the de-churched and those on the fringe.

In the midst of the 21^st Century we know that the church no longer holds the same status as it used to. We know that attendance among mainline denominations have been in steady decline for decades. In the past 10 years alone, the United Methodist Church has lost 7% of its membership (600,000 people.)* As a result, I firmly believe that we are in desperate need for something fresh, something new; something different. These “Fresh Expressions of Faith”, I believe, will ensure our conference and denomination will not just survive – but thrive!

It’s time for the East Ohio Conference to blaze a trail; to lead the world, not lollygag behind. The movement of the mainline church in America appears to be stalled at times, but I believe we have an opportunity in front of us. These fresh expressions of church are mile markers on a road we’ve not taken with frequency. And though they may be off-shoots of the mainline, they are still connected to the heart of Methodism and the heart of Christ. These new roads lead to new ways of doing church. This is no doubt terrifying to some but I believe the best is yet to come.

1. Let’s build on what has already been planted. Currently there are 13 new church plants and vital mergers who, under the fervent direction of Dirk Elliot have produced a crop of new Kingdom followers. They are all growing and persevering, striving to grow the church. This year we highlight the new vital merger of East Glenville & Warner – becoming Celebration United Methodist Church. We also celebrate 2 new faith communities given life by Church of the Lakes in Canton and Church Hill in Youngstown.

2. Let’s explore “out-of-the-box” methods of ‘doing’ church. Like 0², East Ohio’s first laity driven church plant. Like Impact, the new worship community out of Lakewood UMC. Laity in that group are expanding outside the church walls, aiming to take their worship to people who won’t step foot in church.

But we need more - We need new - We need fresh: Alternative worship communities. Cell churches, Mid-week congregations, Youth churches, Multi-sites, Video-venues, Starfish laity-driven models, Pioneer models, Creative groups or perhaps even connected House churches. Whatever it takes, with the resources given to us. These fresh ideas are right off the beaten path – but still connected to the main road. They are Christ-centered communities focused on serving. They are small groups of disenfranchised individuals who have been burned out on religion, who would never grace the front steps of a church, let alone enter in. They are organized gatherings aimed at making the lonely feel apart of something greater than themselves. They are people who will worship in interactive ways. Frankly, some will be churches that don’t look like churches. These fresh expressions of faith will aim to provide unique opportunities for people to connect with a loving God, while growing the United Methodist Church in the process.

3. Let’s work together to support each other on the journey. We are one. The on and off ramps of the mainline lead to new unknown paths, but we must take risks, continued leaps of faith or suffer our ultimate demise. Maybe, if we adjust our mirrors and our vision, we’ll see an old, dirty, dusty trail, off the beaten path, leading us to a new way of growing the church, a modern approach to making disciples, a fresh technique of winning souls to follow Christ.

We know where we’ve been. Where, now, might God be leading us? East Ohio, God is doing a new thing. Isaiah 43:19 reminds us of that. May we “freshen up” together! Perhaps if we can tap into that freshness, God will show us church growth that will take our breath away, not because of what we might do – but because of the path the Spirit is already blazing ahead of us.

It is my prayer that the East Ohio Conference will support and embrace with it’s full heart exploring and implementing new, fresh expressions, Wesleyan faith communities that will carry the church for decades to come.

*The Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches (2011)
published by the National Council of Churches in the USA

church: dream release risk imagine

from the book, ‘The Shaping of Things to Come’ by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch:

“We need to dream again, and to do this we must cultivate a love for imagination. Before we can do it, we need to dream it...Considered philosophically, all that a great visionary leader does is awaken and harness the dreams and visions of the members of a given community and give them deeper coherence by means of a grand vision that ties together all the ‘little visions’ of the members of the group...My task as a leader is to so articulate the vision that others are willing to embed their sense of purpose within the common vision of the community...It is this capacity to articulate a preferred future based on a common moral vision that allows people to dream again. This is true of all true apostolic leadership. And in a profound sense the leader is the key person in the release of the spiritual creativity and innovation in any setting – the catalyst for reconceptualising the mission of the church (p.188).

But imagination takes courage, as it involves risk. In fact if there were no courage, there could be no imagination. And if there were no risk, there could be no apostolic leadership, only priestly maintenance and more of the same boring stuff that is keeping people from getting in touch with that most radical and dangerous person...None other than Jesus (p.189).”

make stuff

time to turn inspiration into action!
make something.
create.
seek newness + freshness.
go.
be.
do.

innovate.
associate.
invigorate.
communicate.
celebrate.
investigate.
demonstrate.
eliminate.
accommodate.
anticipate.

i'm desperate for change. i only wish it were in our DNA.
and so we must fight to bring about change.
we must strive to bring about greatness.
success or failure, no matter what the outcome.

how much more time do we have?

simple twist of color

simple twist of shade

Book Review: Big Sur

Big Sur by Jack Kerouac

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Big Sur is at times a beautiful, at times a tragedy. Kerouac's time @ the Big Sur cabin, alone, with nature, with the sounds of the sea, with his troubling thoughts were mindlessly beautiful to me. i found myself clinging to his every descriptive word.



and then he'd heed the call back to San Francisco and with that his unkown sense of his true self would creep in and his disruptive, binge drinking life would spin out of control.



at times a train wreck, at times brutally honest, at times hard to follow, Big Sur ends like a whirlwind as the reader is taken inside the mind of an insomniac alcoholic and the tragic visions that rip away at Jack's soul.



Big Sur is a cry for the way things used to be... before fame... before money... before being known.



in the end, Jack Kerouac longed for hope. but i doubt he ever found it. there in lies the tragedy that plays out in Big Sur.



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find your voice.

[with respect + thanks to troy @defy the gray for inspiring this post]

what do i believe about myself? about you? about the world? about what you + i may be capable of doing... i don't think about that enough.

am i waiting for someone else to believe it first?

Believe, that you can change the world
Your dreams, have been living in a code of silence
So let them out

Find your voice, find your voice
Make a noise

i don't believe that message enough. i don't live it enough. i don't proclaim it enough.
i have many dreams and sometimes my many dreams collide and intersect and knot together into one giant ball... and i get frustrated and i sulk and i remain silent.

perhaps what i am missing is that all of my many dreams are connected and intertwined and knotted for a reason because my many individual dreams are actually part of one giant dream... one giant plan that has been laid out before me. but my eyes are closed and i don't see that.

am i waiting for validation?

You try, to find the words you want to say
You might, be looking much too far away
To recognize, we’re all disguised

Find your voice, find your voice
Make a noise

and these dreams of mine, my many dreams, tend to silence me in the sense that they don't go public. they remain within my soul or at least within my home (where my wife gets to put up with my repetitive bantering about this dream or that).

but maybe all i'm missing is a megaphone and some courage.

am i waiting for permission?

You can’t have the peace you’re looking for without a fight

who said anything about a fight? but apparently things don't just happen, dreams don't happen, don't come true, can't be lived out... without... a... fight.
but why would i want to go and do a thing like that? why would i want to fight?

maybe because i'm 37 years old and i'm most fearful that my time to do something meaningful and productive and beyond what i am now capable of doing may be fading.

i don't want to have lived my life and have thought - how many years did i waste doing this or doing that, attending this or attending that, unfulfilled, not near the point of my full potential.

what am i waiting for?

Find your voice, find your voice
Make a noise

can i muster enough courage to make some noise? have i found my voice? have i discovered how my intersected dreams can work together, united as one? i don't believe i have. but i think i am inspired to put more time, more energy into figuring that out.

because i think i know deep down that God has something on the horizon for me that just... might... blow... me... away. i think that about you, too.

find your voice. grab a megaphone. you can be in my dream if i can be in yours.





make a noise by katie herzig.
[lyrics] [song] [youtube]

Book Review: Mission-Shaped Church

Mission-Shaped Church by Archbishop's Council on Mission and Public Affairs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


i think any church planter or developer of new worship should read this book. obviously this is written for the Church of England and it's Fresh Expressions of Church project - but this book, i believe, is very applicable for church planters in America.



what is most intriguing about this book is the path the Church of England took in order to grow the church. they were willing to implement new ideas - empowering new forms of church and worship to develop.



Mission-Shaped Church explores each of the different models of new church growth - and gives case studies to back up each one. this book hits the nail on the head. it should be required reading for any new church start training program.



i would love to see the church in America try more and more new, fresh ideas. the mainline church is dying - but what if we were given the freedom to explore our own 'fresh expressions' project? what if? what might come? how might we grow?



i can only imagine.



this book was written for me... i hope others discover its usefulness.



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Book Review: Mother Night

Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Mother Night is the second Vonnegut book that i've read (the other being Slaughterhouse-Five). i think that i enjoyed Mother Night better... perhaps because it took reading SH5 to get used to Kurt Vonnegut's style. i think i hated that style at first... now i am thrilled by it. craving more.



Mother Night is the story of an American in Germany who serves as an accidental spy on the Nazi regime. but the confessions of Howard W. Campbell Jr. are of a man who has lost all emotion and all knowledge of who he really is or was... or will ever be. he is a man who has trained himself to act. to perform. with the war in the world's rear view mirror, Campbell because a quasi-celebrity of Marxist and Nazi's who desire to bring change to the nation.



Elements of his past come back to him which leads to him being placed on trial in Israel - for war crimes against humanity.



What is the truth of who Campbell is? does he even really desire to know? or is he/was he just a pawn in the game of world wide war?



the most poignant commentary on life and civility comes close to the end when Vonnegut's Campbell speaks of evil with nemesis Bernard O'Hare.



'evil is when one finds good reasons to hate without reservation, to imagine God Almighty hates with you, too.'



hate without limit. hate with God on its side. where man finds ugliness so attractive.



perhaps more poignant is mankind with no hope. with no recollection of who he is. war is hell. it seems to strip away any man's true soul.



Mother Night is Vonnegut's commentary of such life.



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it's the end of the world as we know it (but i feel fine)

in 1999, alternative rock and grunge music lost its decade long reign on American radio. with that came the demise of WENZ 107.9 'The End', a Cleveland based alt-rock station. on their final day of broadcast WENZ played R.E.M.'s cult classic "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) on a continuous loop for 24 hours. some thought and hoped it was a joke and never would have predicted its end but it wasn't a joke. the times had changed and so had musical taste. the next day, the day "The End" became an urban R&B/Hip Hop station and by and large - across the nation alternative music died.

all good things must come to an end... so they say. when there's too much of a good thing - things are bound to crash and burn... to burn out rather than fade away.

but with that has been man's attempt to understand the in's and out's of this God-given planet. with that comes man's attempt to predict the future. listeners couldn't predict the end of 'The End' but the money makers in radio saw the writing on the wall and knew when to make a change.

Remember Y2K? the entire planet was in an uproar over the potential and predicted world wide shutdown of all things electronic. banks would certainly fail. Power grids would shut off. Chaos would no doubt ensue. but this time, retro R.E.M. music was not needed because the Y2K hypothetical didn't happen and the joke was on us.

and now we turn our attention to the here and now... the present tense... a religious group out of Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania is claiming that on May 21, 2011 The end is near. eBible Fellowship claims to know the end is coming at the end of this week. That's the end of the world. so enjoy your last few days on the late great planet earth. get your bucket list out. do what you got to do.

but i hear it's supposed to be nice this weekend. Sunny and in the 70's. Saturday, May 21st sounds like a good day to mow the lawn but now i'm wondering if that's even going to be necessary. of course, whether those end of the world predictions come true or not might not matter. the forecast could change to rain and ye ole weather man's predictions could be wrong, too.


predict, predict, predict. we spend so much time trying to figure things out... trying to come to our own conclusions before the rest of the story plays out. but what if we gave up predicting and just lived life, day in and day out... to the fullest. this life we were all given, after all, is a gift, isn't it? (John 10:10 says so). choose life. the movie Trainspotting taught me that.*

Also, Mark 13:32 tells us that we can't know when the end will actually end. but we can waste our time predicting and we can waste our time on scare tactics... we can waste our money on billboards and the like. we can even blow it all listening to lame political pundnets or watching old reruns of I Love Lucy on television while eating popcorn and ice cream on the couches of our lives.

or we can live. and come what may, even when things don't go our way - we can carry on. there is a plan for our lives that we may need to tap in to. Psalm 20:4-5 reminds us of that:

⁴ May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
⁵ May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the LORD grant all your requests.

if you take the time to read Psalm 20 in its entirety, you'll see that all it takes is trust.

don't predict. trust. in God.

i am reminded of that great scene near the end of The Shawshank Redemption where Andy says to Red "Get busy living or get busy dying."

life is short. too short to predict. too short to let opportunity pass you by. to short to not poke the box. to short to not ask questions and seek answers. too short to not play soccer or take that extra long bike ride through the countryside.

drink good coffee, have meaningful conversations, say 'I love you', cherish quality music, etc. because you never know when it might be taken from you. but why waste time trying to figure that out? embrace the life given to you. and trust God's plan for your life, too.

let's not spend time waiting for the end - only to realize that this gift of life given to us had never been fully opened and appreciated.

Choose life.

poke the box

Book Review: At Eternitiy's Gate: the Spiritual vision of Vincent van Gogh

At Eternity's Gate: The Spiritual Vision of Vincent Van Gogh by Kathleen Powers Erickson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Vincent van Gogh was a complicated, yet simple individual of deep faith and great ability whose life was interrupted by uncontrollable mental instability as a result of epilepsy.



At Eternity's Gate digs deep into his religious upbringing and his inner-spirituality - made evident through his letters to his brother Theo and through his paintings. in his young life, van Gogh wanted to follow in his father and uncle's footsteps. both were pastors. but Vincent had a different outlook on ministry and service and was ultimately rejected by both the local and institutional church. this defeat lead him down a path of self discovery that never sadly fully came to fruition.



van Gogh did, however, before heading down an artistic path, spend some time serving the poor and needy, as he strived to follow and imitate Christ. as a matter of fact, The Imitation of Christ and Pilgrim's Progress were his two favorite books.



van Gogh witnessed to and served coal miners of the Belgian Borinage - particularly after a mining disaster. He also gave away his possessions and clothes to those whom he felt needed it more. Despite being rejected by the church and despite feelings that the pastors and people within the church were hypocrites, van Gogh lived his faith through acts of service similar to St. Francis of Assisi.



the splendor of his capability as a painter may not have been realized until the latter years of his life and beyond. As mental instability crept in, he spent time in and out of asylums. it was during this time, particularly the last 5 years of his life (he took his own life in a wheat field at the age of 37) when his artistic talents took shape.



throughout his paintings and drawings, you can see examples of his spiritual devotion to Christ. you can also see his disdain and brokenness that came about after his dismissal from the church.



this is noted in his famous painting Starry Night, where the buildings and homes are well lit - yet the church and spire in the center are dark and ominous. this is also prevalent in my favorite van Gogh painting The church at Auvers.



Kathleen Powers Erickson does a fabulous job retracing a more accurate history of Vincent van Gogh including his most intriguing story. there are so many layers to van Gogh and his art. i'd highly recommend this book. it really fascinated me. Sadly, only one of van Gogh's paintings ever sold before his untimely death. had it not been for his brother's wife - who collected his works and brought them to the public's attention, the world may never have noticed the majesty found within van Gogh's work.



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going. going. gong.

going. going. gong.
ring the bell, to there and back.

the road trips of life... on foot... bike... or minivan. adventures, none the less.

where are you going?
take care. take care.

leave home. poke the box. venture on.

in light of death...

interesting verses in light of last nights events.

God is Doing a New Thing. Are We?

God is Doing a New Thing. Are We?
by Tim Beck
New Church Start Team, East Ohio Conference
(originally published in the WINDOW bi-monthly newsletter May-June '11)


One of the most chilling paintings I‟ve laid eyes on was painted by Vincent Van Gogh, the famous 19th Century Dutch post-impressionist painter. The title of the painting is The Church at Auvers and it was painted by memory in 1890, shortly before his untimely death. The painting depicts a church north of Paris. What is haunting about Van Gogh‟s interpretation is that the foreground is lush with green grass and signs of life, but the church is cast in the midst of a dark, looming shadow. The windows are dark and closed and there is no visible door. In his own words, Van Gogh described the church as follows: “it neither reflects nor emanates any light of its own.”

Sadly, this impression of the church is not exclusive to Van Gogh. For many, churches are more haunting than wel- coming; more closed than open; more dark than light. It‟s not that we (the church) don‟t have good intentions. It‟s not that we (the church) intend to shun, but the harsh reality is this: people in America feel less connected with the church building and the church body. We know this because by-and-large mainline denominations have witnessed a steady decline in attendance and membership over the past 10 plus years. The United Methodist Church has had a 7% drop in membership since 2001. That‟s 600,000 people who have left.
This is haunting. But it‟s also nothing we didn‟t already know.

This begs the question: what can we do to reverse such a pattern? I realize I‟m hardly the first person to point out the obvious nor am I the first to ask such a question. None the less, it‟s worth exploring, examining and engaging.

Let‟s face it, while the lights might be on inside the church; while worship and study might be taking place inside the walls, darkness might be perceived to be shadowing the church. We might not see it that way - but to those who have no desire to enter in, how do we suppose they see it? How do we suppose they see us? Kester Brewin, the English author, teacher and church planter refers to those not connected to a faith community as the „Other‟. To the „other‟, church is the same as it always was. Why should they bother?

Maybe what we‟re offering isn‟t fresh enough. Perhaps we‟re missing out on the new things God has in store for us (the church). If we hope for the Gospel to reach the world around us then we have to be concerned with how we are perceived, no matter if the world‟s view is right or wrong. We need a fresh church, a new church. Remember the words of Isaiah “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way...” (Isaiah 43:19). God is doing a new thing, but is the church?

Am I suggesting that we change the Gospel? Absolutely not. I am, however, suggesting that our approach to the ministry of the Gospel might need to be „freshened up.‟ If we the church can tap into a fresh approach, perhaps our shadowed perception might fade away and the light of Christ would shine through.

In what ways could you and your church "freshen up‟?

Book Review: Poke the Box

Poke the Box by Seth Godin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


poke the box. the picture on the cover tells the story found on the pages bound within. from what approach are we looking at life? from what approach are we looking at productivity? Seth Godin compels you to NOT maintain 'status quo' but to 'poke the box' to take risks, be willing to change - all for the sake of sanity and production.



it's not just enough to have good ideas. it's not just enough to dream big. what are dreams if not acted upon? Starting, he says, demands finishing.



this is the kind of book that can be read again and again. repeat as needed. if that's what it takes to get new ideas seen, heard, understood and produced then so be it.



Godin reminds us that we are 'trained to fit in, not to stand out, and the easiest way in the world to fit in is to never initiate.' (page 79) We wait for permission to start... and thus nothing gets started. new ideas remain... just... ideas.



Godin compels the reader to claim self confidence. "it's essential" he writes.



despite the fact that innovation and inspiration are unpredictable, when momentum builds - it breeds new ideas and more productivity and ingenuity.



i am an ideas guy... i've claimed that enough times in my life... but all too often my ideas remain drawings or sketches in notebooks, or words on a blog page. not often enough do they become realities. but the moments when they do... the moments when the juices flow and the momentum comes - it feels great... great to produce something i can be proud of.



this book isn't anything new - but it became a necessary read for me. at the right time. it's time to poke the box... to create and to inspire others.







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Book Review: One.Life

One.Life: Jesus Calls, We Follow by Scot McKnight

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


it really is a simple book. Jesus calls. We follow. that is the message found within One.Life by Scot McKnight. We have one life. what will we do with it? How will we live it?

what i appreciated about this book was how Scot took an honest look at questions... the questions of faith that lead to more questions... which lead to more and more questions.
as the questions arise, McKnight paints a picture that describes kingdom, love, justice, peace, wisdom, the church, commitment, eternity, etc.

God's plan is for our one.life to intersect with those things and McKnight wets the appetite for more. after reading, i want more... i feel compelled to share with others what it looks like to follow Christ... truly follow Christ.



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Book Review: The Story of God, the Story of Us

The Story of God, the Story of Us: Getting Lost & Found in the Bible by Sean Gladding

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


the Story of God, the Story of Us is really a magnificent telling of a magnificent story. it's storytelling at its best. plain and simple. Sean Gladding has taken the meta-narrative found in the Scriptures and has written that story within the context and probability of how that story was once told, shared and remembered.
the imagery found in this book really is compelling. the Old Testament stories, the stories of God's chosen, the Israelites, their plight, their exodus, their worship and their wandering, told by an old man sitting 'round the campfire was a beautiful image. i connected with this old man reminding the people how and why God has been with them - even while in Exile. in my life, i've generally been drawn to the New Testament stories of Jesus and the church. Gladding helped me connect the dots of the Old Testament. for that, i am grateful.

the NT stories of Jesus are just as compelling. Gladding is a great storyteller. while reading, it was easy to insert myself into the story.

even though it took me months to read, this book was easy on the eyes. i took my time with it... casually reading here and there. every them i picked it up, i was drawn in.

if you want a new, fresh perspective of the story of the Bible - read this book.



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(lent) 0

Resurrection Day!

nothing can ever be the same again, not after resurrection... choose life! Rescue is here!

(lent) 1

#1.

one love. one life.

one.




One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other




one.



one Messiah. one who saves. one who died. one who took my shame.
one sadness. one humiliating day. one sealed rock. one cold, dark cave.

for 40 hours, a figurative shadow spread was cast across the land... the One who was supposed to triumph took the path less traveled.

and the world would never be the same...
but for now, one darkness remained...

until...

(lent) 2

#2


The lowest channel of television in the United States.

number of animals of each kind in Noah's Ark.

in the Jewish tradition, the number of witnesses needed to offer testimony, required to verify and validate events.

number of pencil most commonly used in America.

point conversion. in football, after scoring a touchdown the offensive team may choose to kick the extra point or go for 2.

2.0 = a 'C' average.

2 is better than one. so says Solomon.
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.

You'll Never Walk Alone. emboldened upon the crest of Liverpool FC in England. Two are better than one.
Adam & Eve. Moses & Aaron. Joshua & Caleb. David & Jonathan. Naomi & Esther. Mary & Joseph. Jesus & John (the Baptist). Peter & John. Paul & Silas.


the number of criminals crucified on crosses to the left and right of Jesus. it happened on a Friday. one, stubborn even til his point of death, mocked Christ on the cross. the other cried out.

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[d]”

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

from Luke 23

such is life. we can be stubborn or we can cry out. we can mock God or claim His name.

on this dark day, this Good Friday - what will we choose?

Remember.

^44-46By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, "Father, I place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed his last.

⁴⁷When the captain there saw what happened, he honored God: "This man was innocent! A good man, and innocent!"

^48-49All who had come around as spectators to watch the show, when they saw what actually happened, were overcome with grief and headed home. Those who knew Jesus well, along with the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a respectful distance and kept vigil.

from Luke 23 (the Message)

innocent yet crucified. Holy yet sin-burdened.

and what do we gain? nothing, if we neglect to claim it.

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

though sorrow may last for the night, joy comes in the morning...

because He didn't stay dead...
but that's another story...

(lent) 3

#3


the number of Babe Ruth. although, at the start of his career he had no number. at one time players didn't have uniform numbers. It is believed that Ruth was given the number 3 becausae that was his position in the batting line-up. Ruth hit 3rd (and wore the number 3) while Lou Gehrig hit 4th (and wore the number 4).

the first odd prime number.

is the Magic Number. one of the original Schoolhouse Rock songs. covered by the likes of Jeff Buckley, Blind Melon and Jeff Johnson. De La Soul sampled it on their debut album 3 Feet High and Rising.

R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.


number of semicircular canals in the human ear.

number of primary hues (red, green, blue) that, when mixed, is perceived to be white light by humans.

atomic number of lithium. also a song title by the 90's grunge group Nirvana with the opening line "I'm so happy 'cause today I found my friends their in my head..."

in Bowling, 3 strikes in a row is called a 'Turkey'


In Ecclesiastes 4:12 Solomon states 'a cord of three strands is not easily broken.'

the make up of the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

chapter and verse in John: where Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

born again. more than a song.
born again. dead to sin. new life to live. and life to the full.

how does this happen?

later in John chapter 3 is possibly the most famous passage in the Bible: John 3:16. more than the banner held up in the end zone at football games. more than words. John 3:16 is the pathway to life.

^16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. (The Message)

how is one 'born again?' given new life?
1. belief. that Jesus is the One able to grant us this new life. He came to make the world right again... to restore it... to mend it... put it back together. on the middle cross of three, he bled and died - crucified but innocent. our sin, a burden upon His shoulder.

2. trust. in Him. and we are acquitted. found not guilty. our sin... our punishment taken away. our slate wiped clean. trust that He is who He says He is. trust that only He is able to purify us.

belief and trust. sounds so simple. the path to life is marked with a light shining on belief and trust in Him... in Jesus. it's so simple. yet we often make it so difficult. we take other roads... other paths... paths in darkness... roads in disrepair. because we think we know what's best.

but God knows how to fix us... how to fix the world. and we get to play a apart in it... if we choose to believe and if we choose to trust.


belief and trust. it all plays out and comes to a head on the third day... Resurrection day.
to be continued...

(lent) 4

#4


number of Gospels (according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)

There are four human blood groups (A, B, O, AB).

Virtues, according to Plato: Wisdom, courage, self-control, and justice.

Virtues, according to the Sioux: bravery, fortitude, generosity and wisdom.

Virtues, according to Christianity: prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude.

number of elements: Fire, Air, Water and Earth.

In Tetris, a game named for the Greek word for 4, every shape in the game is formed of 4 blocks each. How many hours of my youth was wasted playing this game...

number of nations of the United Kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.

number of suits of playing cards: hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades.

The Beatles were commonly known as "Fab Four": John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney.

number of corners on a piece of paper.



chapter in John where Jesus reaches out yet again to a marginalized woman at the well. with no concern of his reputation, Jesus, at the noon hour, dares ask a Samaritan woman for a drink of water.
there are so many things wrong with this encounter... this experience.
first, Jews didn't cut through Samaria if they didn't have to. they'd prefer to walk around that region. Jews and Samaritans weren't exactly on friendly terms. as John 4:9 says 'Jews in those days wouldn't be caught dead talking to Samaritans'. at the time, most Jews considered the Samaritans to be dirty and below them. but Jesus takes a shortcut.

second, it was the noon hour. in this desert area, the women didn't draw water at the noon hour, the hottest time of the day. they'd come in the cool of the morning or evening. which begs the question, why would this woman, then, be there, drawing water? Jesus points out why she would be there mid day... in verse 17-18 when Jesus points out her 'loose' way of living... this woman was a prostitute. perhaps shame prevented this woman from coming to draw water when the other women would draw.

third, Jesus allows this lowly woman to serve him. a dirty, unclean, impure Samaritan woman on the fringes of society... in the margins... lost... alone... by herself...

and it's almost as if Jesus takes this shortcut through Samaria just so he could reach out to this lost one. again, like the demon possessed man of the region of the Garasenes... the Good Shepherd leaves the 99 to get the one.

the woman gives Jesus water to quench his thirst... what does Jesus give her? living water.
"Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (vs. 14)

the woman responds by acknowledging her understanding that salvation was coming: “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

Then Jesus spoke, “I am he.”

what happened next? what is the rest of the story?

the woman went and told the townspeople all about her Jesus-encounter.

(vs. 40-42)

So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. ⁴¹ And because of his words many more became believers.

⁴² They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

just what might happen if we went and told others of our Jesus-encounters?

and if you haven't encountered Him - ask yourself this: are you thirsty? are you satisfied? do you fully understand real love?

think about it.

(lent) 5

#5


second rule. the amount of time food that is dropped on the floor is allowed to be consumed without facing public ridicule.

Bands with "five" in their name include The Jackson 5, Maroon 5, Jump5, Jurassic 5, We Five, Five for Fighting, Zanussi 5, The Click Five, MC5 (short for "Motor City Five"), Ben Folds Five, Five Man Electrical Band, The Five Keys, The Jive Five, The Count Five, The Five Satins, Five Iron Frenzy, Five Finger Death Punch, and The Dave Clark Five.

Johnny 5 - the lead character in the 80's movie Short Circuit, who easily would have won the Oscar for Best Robotic Actor in a leading role, if such a category existed. "Johnny 5 alive!"

number of interlocking rings that make up the Olympic logo, representing the 5 inhabited continents represented in Olympic play.

in baseball, many Hall of Famers and greats have worn the jersey number 5: New York Yankees Joe DiMaggio, Cincinnati Reds Johnny Bench, Kansas City Royals George Brett, Detroit Tigers Hank Greenberg, Cleveland Indians Lou Boudreau and Baltimore Orioles Brooks Robinson.

common number of gears on a standard shift automobile.


The Torah contains five books—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—which are collectively called the Five Books of Moses, the Pentateuch (Greek for "five containers," referring to the scroll cases in which the books were kept).

The book of Psalms is arranged into five books, paralleling the Five Books of Moses.

the 5th Amendment permits a defendant from having to give 'self-incriminating' information, also known as 'pleading the 5th'.



chapter in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus makes a special trip to the region of the Gerasenes. upon arrival he and the disciples encounter a demon possessed man living among the dead - in the tombs. the man fell to his knees at the foot of Christ and acknowledged His power.

"What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?"

Jesus took time to speak with the man - eventually casting the demons within him into a herd of pigs nearby. the two thousand pigs then ran wildly over a cliff, into the sea and drowned.

the towns-people were not happy to see what had happened to the pigs and they were surprised to see the man, now dressed and in his right mind. and they were terrified. the people were not happy with what Jesus has done and so Jesus and his crew got back in their boats and left.

The once-demon-possessed man, now freed from that bondage, begged to go with Jesus - but Jesus gave him other instructions:

“Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. (vs. 19-20)


such a compelling story at so many levels. in some senses it reminds me of the Good Shepherd leaving the 99 sheep to go after that lost one. Here, Jesus goes after the one... the lost one... the abandoned one... the hopeless one. overcome by evil, the man can not save himself, yet the second Jesus appears on the scene, he runs to him and cries out.

at no other time in scripture do we read about Jesus going to this region and based on the towns-people's response, i doubt he would have been welcomed back. so in essence, Jesus went to the region of the Garasenes for one man... to save one man. to heal one man.

how inspiring is that? Leaving the 99 to rescue the lost one. that's the Jesus i cling to. can you fully grab ahold of that? what love the Savior has for us - no matter how far we wander - he pursues us, wanting to rescue us. do we run from him or do we hear His voice - the good Shepherd - and do we run towards Him?

lastly, i find it interesting that Jesus doesn't let the man come with him and the disciples... instead - he empowers him to go and be a disciple... or an evangelist, perhaps. a missionary in his home region... to go and tell the people of his new freedom. to tell his people of the mercy and grace of God, found in Christ Jesus, the Savior of the world.

and how did the people respond?

and all the people were amazed.

had the man gone with Jesus, who would have preached to the Garasene people? to go with Jesus would have been the safe bet - but Jesus compels the man to do greater things... to risk it all and to share the love of God with others.

and the man obeyed.

see what can happen when we embrace God's grace and mercy? see what can happen when we obey?

what a compelling story. one of my favorites...

(lent) 6

#6


the name of Blossom's best friend on the late 80's early 90's tv sitcom Blossom.

number of strings on a standard guitar.

number of basic holes or keys on most woodwind instruments.

Flags. an American theme park chain.

Degrees of Separation - refers to the idea that everyone is on average approximately six steps away from any other person on Earth.

Degrees of Kevin Bacon, a trivia game in which a player tries to connect any one actor to Kevin Bacon within six steps. It rests on the assumption that any individual can be linked through his or her film roles to actor Kevin Bacon within six steps.

days at the bottom of the ocean. a powerful song by instrumental post-rock band Explosions in the Sky from Texas, U.S.A. the song was written about the Kursk tragedy, a Russian submarine that sunk to the bottom of the sea after a dummy torpedo misfired due to a hydrogen peroxide leak. The submarine spent six days at the bottom before rescuers arrived, delayed by Russian refusal of help. Twenty-three men survived the two blasts but the delayed rescue took away any slim chance they had at survival.
you can listen to the moving song here.

number of points awarded for scoring a touchdown in football.

'the original six' refers to the oldest remaining teams in the NHL: Toronto, Chicago, New York, Montreal, Detroit and Boston.

number of fingers on the characters on the Simpsons. three fingers on each hand (plsu one thumb on each)

number of dots on a Braille cell.


Days of creation.

Day 1: The heavens, the earth, light and darkness.

Day 2: Heaven

Day 3: Dry land, the seas, and vegetation.

Day 4: The sun, the moon and the stars.

Day 5: Living creatures in the water, birds in the air.

Day 6: Land animals and people.

The number of symbolic foods of the Passover Seder meal.

it was six days before the passover meal that Jesus reclined with the newly raised-from-the-dead Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha and the disciples. In John 12, we see an example of high honor as Mary anointed Jesus with expensive perfume. Judas Iscariot takes issue with this, thinking the perfume could be sold and the money given to the poor.
But Jesus recognizes the importance of Mary's sacrifice and honor. I've always looked at this as Jesus showing that our relationship with Him trumps everything. our love for Him should be our number one priority.
it is then from that love for Him that we are compelled to be like Him... serving, sharing the Gospel, loving others and believing.
what makes this extra special is the symbolism that in six days he'd be facing his ultimate challenge - the Cross. Mary's choice to anoint him most honorable and respectable.

how can we honor Jesus today?

do we recognize that rescue is coming? do we realize that hope can be found?

we can't make it alone...

(lent) 7

#7


the lucky number.

On the seven-segment displays of pocket calculators and digital watches, 7 is the number with the most common glyph variation (0, 6 and 9 also have variant glyphs).

Wonders of the Ancient World. Great Pyramid of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria

sides to the 50 pence coin in England.

Up - a carbonated citrus beverage (only useful for days when the kids are home from school sick)

-Eleven. a convenience store chain once opened from 7am-11pm every day, until becoming a 24 hour store (which begs the question, if they are open 24 hours, do the doors have locks?) 7-Eleven is the worlds largest franchise, with 39,000 stores. On a per-capita basis, Norway has one 7-11 for every 47,000 Norwegians.

number of dwarfs with Snow White.

movie title of the 1995 film directed by David Fincher. Se7en starred Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt and Gweneth Paltrow. this hauntingly chilling tail of a Detroit serial killer has one disturbing plot twist after another.


The figurative number of seas.

7th Heaven, a TV show about a family of seven, with the father serving as a Pastor. When the show debuted in 1996, I was enrolled in a Los Angeles Film School. Jessica Biel, one of the stars of the show, lived in my apartment building. My roommate and I ran in to her a few times. She was 14 or 15. Then she became famous.

the name George Costanza desires to give his first-born. (see episode titled The Seven)

a strong Biblical number:
~on the 7th day of Creation, God rested, creating the Sabbath... a Holy day of rest.
~Seven days of the feast of Passover
~Seven year cycle around the years of Jubilee
~Jericho's walls fall on the seventh day after seven priests with seven trumpets march around the city seven times
~Seven things that are detestable to the LORD (Proverbs 6:16–19)

¹⁶ There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
¹⁷ haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

~Seven loaves multiplied into seven baskets of surplus (Matthew 15:32–37)
~Peter asked Jesus if he should forgive those who sinned against him up to 7 times; Jesus responded by saying to forgive them 'seventy times seven times'


number of sayings spoken from the mouth of Christ, while hanging on the cross.
1) Jesus Speaks to the Father
Luke 23:34
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

In the midst of his excruciating suffering, the heart of Jesus was focused on others rather than himself. Here we see the nature of his love—unconditional and divine.

2) Jesus Speaks to the Criminal on the Cross
Luke 23:43
"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

One of the criminals who was crucified with Christ, had recognized who Jesus was and expressed faith in him as Savior. Here we see grace poured out through faith, as Jesus assured the dying man of his forgiveness and eternal salvation.

3) Jesus Speaks to Mary and John
John 19:26-27
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother."

Jesus, looking down from the cross, was still filled with the concerns of a son for the earthly needs of his mother. None of his brothers were there to care for her, so he gave this task to the Apostle John. Here we clearly see Christ's humanity.

4) Jesus Cries Out to the Father
Matthew 27:46 (also Mark 15:34)
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

In the darkest hours of his suffering, Jesus cried out the opening words of Psalm 22. And although much has been suggested regarding the meaning of this phrase, it was quite apparent the agony Christ felt as he expressed separation from God. Here we see the Father turning way from the Son as Jesus bore the full weight of our sin.

5) Jesus is Thirsty
John 19:28
Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, "I am thirsty."

Jesus refused the initial drink of vinegar, gall and myrrh (Matthew 27:34 and Mark 15:23) offered to alleviate his suffering. But here, several hours later, we see Jesus fulfilling the messianic prophecy found in Psalm 69:21
.
6) It is Finished
John 19:30
... he said, "It is finished!"

Jesus knew he was suffering the crucifixion for a purpose. Earlier he had said in John 10:18 of his life, "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." These three words were packed with meaning, for what was finished here was not only Christ's earthly life, not only his suffering and dying, not only the payment for sin and the redemption of the world—but the very reason and purpose he came to earth was finished. His final act of obedience was complete. The Scriptures had been fulfilled.

7) Jesus' Last Words
Luke 23:46
Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Here Jesus closes with the words of Psalm 31:5, speaking to the Father. We see his complete trust in the Father. Jesus entered death in the same way he lived each day of his life, offering up his life as the perfect sacrifice and placing himself in God's hands.
[from christianity.about.com]


lastly, there were seven places where blood flowed while Jesus suffered and died on the cross for us all... for all humanity. take 4 minutes, watch and listen and give thanks for His sacrifice.

(lent) 8

#8

considered to be lucky in Chinese culture.

number of days of Hanukkah is a Jewish festival holiday.

in March of 1908, The Collinwood School Fire, near Cleveland, Ohio, kills 174.

Crazy Nights. an animated movie by Adam Sandler.

Mile. a infamous road in Detroit. made into a movie starring Emenem.

Seconds. A true life movie of a professional bull rider, starring Luke Perry.

mm (as in mileometer). a motion picture film format in which the film is 8 mm wide.

Super 8 is also a retired film format as well as a plush hotel chain.

Magic 8 Ball. a novelty toy which, when shook, will give you answers to life's toughest questions. Also available: the Answer Me Jesus magic 8 ball.

chapter in Matthew where Jesus speaks of the challenges of following Him.

The Cost of Following Jesus

¹⁸ When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. ¹⁹ Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

²⁰ Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

²¹ Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

²² But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

count the cost.
pay the price.
following Jesus is not something to be taken lightly.


chapter in John, verse 12 in which Jesus says: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Following means sacrificing. what will you sacrifice in order to be in the light?

there is no magic solution to get you through the trials of life - but there is a light that never goes out... and in that light is life.

cockroaches scurry and hide when the light hits them. don't run from light. embrace its warmth and let it guide you. trials may come but the light will satisfy the soul, while everything else will leave you wanting and needing more.

embrace the light. embrace life.

(lent) 9

#9.

number of days Ferris Bueller was home from school sick. Mom: "9 times?" Principal Rooney: "9 times!" (video)

number of animals that make up a Chinese dragon.

number of innings in a baseball game.

number on the jersey of the 'splendid splinter' Ted Williams. one of the greatest hitters in major league baseball history. He hit .406 in 1941. no one has matched that average since.

number of Chelsea FC striker Fernando Torres, who was paid a record transfer fee of £50 million earlier this year. in the 2 and a half months since joining the Blues he has yet to score. His lore at Liverpool will be hard to match.


number of the Spiritual Gifts as written by the Apostle Paul (found in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10)

To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,^[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.^{[b] 11} All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

number of the Fruits of the Spirit as written by the Apostle Paul (found in Galatians 5:22-23)
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
trustfulness
gentleness
self-control

Against such things there is no law.

which one of these is your strongest? which one is your weakest?


God gives us many gifts. The Spirit is a fruit ripening within us. How are these gifts growing within us? How are you reaping what the Spirit is sowing?

let God work in you. take not how Jesus exemplified each of these fruits and gifts. how might we model that today?