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Walk Inside

Earlier this week I went out for lunch fully intending to go through the Drive-thru and get back to the office. Upon seeing the line of cars I changed my mind and went inside. I actually do this quite a bit. Going out to lunch and moving from sitting at my desk to sitting in the car is not exactly rejuvenating, so I will get out of the car for a walk. I was reminded of a little lesson I thought I’d share.

I was inside for approximately 8 minutes. In that time I was approached about an opportunity for our church to reach out to a group of folks in an area we don’t have great exposure, was invited by a local high school to partner with them on a couple of items, thanked for helping out on the Community Makeover, and given the chance to invite someone to West Ridge who doesn’t attend church anywhere. One morning this week I didn’t ‘Pay at the pump’ for the gas in my car. As I continue to build relationships with the local gas station employees I was given another opportunity to talk church and life with someone who is clearly not a follower of Jesus.

Ok, I don’t do this all the time, but I will continue to try to do it more than not. If I always stay in my car then these conversations never happen. Outreach or Sharing Christ is not a program, it’s a lifestyle that stretches us as disciples of Jesus.

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

Why am I in Brazil

As some of you know, we have been praying at West Ridge Church now for many months about new Missions opportunities. I have had conversations about a dozen different great works by godly leaders in a dozen different countries. Many others have pitched mission opportunities to me in places where God is working. I’ve put a lot of prayer into a lot of different places I’ve never been. A couple of these conversations have stayed with me. I have felt God saying, you have to go see this. Sooner or later I have to get out of the office

So, I’m in Brazil. I’m near Manaus. Less than 200 years ago it was one of the wealthiest cities in the world. The whole world came here for a commodity – rubber. In 1920 some aggressive folks from Europe came and took steps that made this trade move, and many things moved away with it. One thing remains – the River.

We would refer to it as the Amazon. But here, just before the actual Amazon begins there are two, the Rio Negro and the Rio Solimoes. Once they collide the Amazon begins. Down that river there are groups of people who have retreated deep into the jungle to hide from – well – everyone.

Up until the 1980’s there were groups of people making their way into the Amazon killing tribal people because they are different. They are strange. They have peculiar customs, and unusual ways of looking out for one another. They were killing them completely out of fear. And now that same fear has created an environment where no one from the outside is allowed into these villages. It would mean certain death. And in these villages there are over 90 unreached people groups. Each have their own language as can be with hundreds of dialects. Groups of people who have never heard that there is a God who sacrificed His only Son to have a relationship with them.

So how will they know? That’s what I am here to learn about. Recently, a group of Brazilian Pastors secured over 200 acres just a couple of kilometers off of the Amazon River. I walked the property today.  It is breathtaking. From this place they plan to recruit men from the villages down the river, and train them to take God’s message with them. It is a big, multi-faceted vision! What do they need from us? That is what I’m here to find out. Other churches are here from our Atlanta community. This may be another opportunity to work together in meaningful ways.

I am looking forward to seeing even more in the days to come.

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

Eyes Wide Open

There are so many lessons and thoughts going through my head after our Community Makeover Weekend. A Messianic Jew made a statement to me a couple of years ago, and it continues to motivate me to do what I do.
He said, “The poor are invisible to the middle class.” Ever since that time my car rides are different. I don’t just see things differently, I look for things. More often than not, I see need after need. Across every community there are those who are widowed, disabled, out of work, in need of some home repairs, some that have not eaten today…even in the suburbs.

My prayer for all of the 3500+ volunteers from this weekend, and those they influence is that their eyes will be open to the needs all around them, and that you will never be the same.

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

Holy Naivete

I just returned from some sabbatical time that I was granted by West Ridge Church. It’s given to our Pastor/Director Team members every five years. The focus of these four weeks was family and renewal. I have been asking God to restore me to some healthy life rhythms. I had let things get pretty unbalanced recently, and I think it was starting to show.
One of the things I did to renew my spirit was listen to my favorite worship tunes. One of my favorite worship CD’s is from Mars Hill Bible Church. They sing a song called, ‘Enchanted’. Unfortunately, Disney has monopolized the word and turned it into a princess movie, but that is beside the point.
Two words stick out from that song every time I hear it. You guessed ‘em, ‘Holy Naivete’. The word naïve and most of the synonyms are generally used as negative descriptions, but it has some positive meanings. One is this, “Admirably straightforward and uncomplicated, or refreshingly innocent and unaffected.” Another definition is “To have an excessively simple and trusting view of the world.”
For me I want this phrase to be a description of my personal faith. Even when we are trusting God for the ‘big’ things in our life, faith should be relatively simple. Faith that there is a God that can do whatever he wants. Faith that says this same Creator God has plans to prosper and not to harm me, and a hope and a future. Faith that knows even when the Father is silent, He is not absent.
I want to commit to not allowing life’s practicalities and busyness to crowd out my faith.

God give me the gift of Holy Naivete.

http://www.musicatmars.com/worship/lyrics/Enchanted.pdf

Could This Be True Of Me?

I am posting a reading from My Utmost For His Highest. March 4th and 5th he unpacks one of my favorite verses, Acts 20:24. I thought this was powerful. ~Everyone Belongs, Paul

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself.” Acts 20:24

It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires; common sense is your guide, veneered over with Christian sentiment. You will be more prosperous and successful, more leisure-hearted, if you never realize the call of God. But if once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God wants will always come like a goad; you will no longer be able to work for Him on the common-sense basis.

What do I really count dear? If I have not been gripped by Jesus Christ, I will count service dear, time given to God dear, my life dear unto myself. Paul says he counted his life dear only in order that he might fulfil the ministry he had received; he refused to use his energy for any other thing. Acts 20:24 states Paul’s almost sublime annoyance at being asked to consider himself; he was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Practical work may be a competitor against abandonment to God, because practical work is based on this argument – Remember how ‘useful you are here, or – Think how much value you would be in that particular type of work.” That attitude does not put Jesus Christ as the Guide as to where we should go, but our judgment as to where we are of most use. Never consider whether you are of use; but ever consider that you are not your own but His.

Wanna Be In A Movie?

I got a call yesterday from a hollywood casting agency who are giving us a unique opportunity. On February 28th and March 1st the movie, “Get Low” is being shot in Dallas, GA. The movie stars, Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Tim McGraw (no idea he could act) and Bill Murray. 

We have been invited to advertise for extras in our church. Our church will be given a small kickback for everyone who attends, but this will just be a fun experience. Saturday, February 28th will for sure be a long day. You will start early in the morning around 7 AM ‘ish’ and it will be a 10-12 hour day. You are a volunteer (the kickback is not that great) so you can leave anytime, but that is what they need. The movie is set in the Depression Era and you will will be given instructions for how to dress and prepare.

If you would like to be a part, please send an e-mail to extrascastingatlanta@gmail.com. Include your name, the church’s name, and your phone number. You will be sent further instruction.

We have no real idea as to the further content of the movie. West Ridge is not responsible for it, or endorsing it. Just go have fun!

Everyone Belongs, 

Paul

Ham or Condoms?

Inside every church and community are everyday heroes. The people that give their lives away to others just because they are fleshing out what it looks like to ‘love your neighbor’ as Jesus commanded.

We have tons of those at West Ridge. One couple is Jake and Natalie. Jake and Natalie have adopted a community near their home. They have collaborated with other families to meet needs and build relationships, and God has blessed their efforts in tremendous ways. If you attend West Ridge and drive in from 92 North, (Bentwater, Seven Hills, Parts of Brookstone, etc.) you have to pass this community to get to our campus. It’s a community filled with tremendous need. Broken down homes filled with people who have to make difficult choices that most folks in suburbia are not faced with.

Natalie had a conversation with a gal in this community recently. A young woman stamped with the image of God from the moment of creation. Finances are very difficult. There are days when this family is not able to have even one meal. Natalie attempted to celebrate the news of the pending addition to this family only to get this response (I’m paraphrasing), “Some times you have to choose, whether to buy food or other things you need. You know, you get to the check out counter at the grocery store, and it’s like, Ham? or Condoms?”

Quick question; How would Jesus answer that question? He probably would answer it with a question himself, or maybe a series of them.

As followers of Jesus we can help answer the question and see what it would look like for the kingdom of God to incarnate in the places it is needed most. It takes sacrifice. It takes time…lots of it, but isn’t that what we are here for. We are here to play our part in redeeming the earth for the return of the King.

Where are you doing that? Where will you do that?

Everyone Belongs, 

Paul

You could just tell (People matter)

In a church of 4,000 people, only God knows the number of hurts that walk in the door. It’s easy to be anonymous in a big church. Most believers treat Sunday morning like a vacation. It doesn’t matter what time we get there, and when we do, it’s all for us. That tends to create a problem for the person who walks in off the street and has a felt need right that moment. Who reaches out? Who breaks from the fellowship long enough to pray with someone? At least the Pastors and staff are there, and surely none of them have arrived just to make sure they are in the right social graces.

Wait a minute! People just walk in off the street! Is our church designed for this?

4,000 people, and every week I ask for just one. A few weeks back now; he came in. He was picking up literature from our new ‘firedog’ information center (long story). He was about 6ft. 3in, African American, and the look on his face said, ‘Help’. How many people passed him? Who is supposed to talk to him? Don’t we have a host team for this?

Looking through the information we had available (I think it involved women’s Bible studies) I approached. A couple words of greeting, and scales came off his face. Someone was speaking to him. In this moment, I’m not a Pastor, He’s not in the ‘in-crowd’, I’m just one anglo 6 inches too short for face to face conversation. I’m a Christ-follower. I’m the hands and feet. I’m a priest.

He had been living in his car. He hadn’t eaten in two days. He’s not from around here. He just thought here, someone would talk to him, help him, listen to him.

His story takes a different form every single week. More examples to come.

(I had set several post to come up automatically, and must have done something wrong. Working on getting this going again)

EVERYONE Belongs,

Paul

People matter

At West Ridge Church we share a value with thousands of other churches. I think Willow Creek must have put this down on paper somewhere first, but here it is. “People matter to God, and, therefore, ought to matter to the church.” It’s amazing that we even have to put this one down, but we do. Being a part of a church from the beginning allows you to see a ton of miracles and blessings. Perhaps I was ignorant, but I never would have guessed that the more people we have the more intentional you have to be to minister to them. The more we grow the more we have to remind ourselves, “people matter.”

I haven’t gotten my blog on in the new year, but I have a little bit of inspiration from some people that I have been allowed to invest in this week. So over the next couple of days, I’m going to share some current stories that have served as a reminder to me. It will be an exercise for me, and hopefully will benefit others as well.

Everyone Belongs, 

Paul