This Sunday, West Ridge Church is starting a four-week series on Jesus prayer in John 17. What were the last things on Jesus mind before He died, and what do they mean for us today? How can we actually become the answer to Jesus prayers.
Spend some time reading over it and we will see you Sunday at West Ridge at 9 am, 11 am, or 6pm! Don’t forget the 6PM, and tell a friend!
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
One of the lessons of this Community Makeover weekend is what is truly possible when someone allows themselves to slow down and get involved with what their eyes have been opened to
.
If you live in Paulding and West Cobb and journeyed on Hwy. 92 you have probably seen him. Most likely, he has waved at you. Maybe you were even nice enough to wave back. But one day someone did more than just smile and wave. A couple from West Ridge had just spent some time delivering food to less fortunate families in Northwest Atlanta alongside Ralph and Marie Ugo and Caya Ministries. One of the things that Ralph typically does is to give some treats to those who serve with him in the form of a couple of bags of groceries. Armed with two bags Claudia asked her husband Joe to stop. What began that day was a relationship. Theirs is just one story that represents a dozen others.
Many of the projects in this Community Makeover came about because of Christ-followers who were willing to stop. In their God-given humility, I don’t think any of them would want special attention drawn to themselves, so I’ll keep it to first names.
What can happen when you stop? For one thing, you give others the courage to stop with you. Like Tim and Michelle who have not stopped praying and telling others about the help that their friends Alan and Sherri needed. This past weekend, over thirty people descended on Alan and Sherri’s house, and the amount of work done in one weekend is astounding.
When others stop, you accomplish more than you ever would have accomplished on your own. I think of David and Jerry and Rocky and Michael who stopped long enough to rip the siding and the roof off one house and repaired most all of the floor joist for a friend named Steve. They and a couple dozen new friends.
There are so many stories like this. Houses and needs so dramatic, I cannot even begin to describe them. Whole homes were made over this weekend after someone stopped, gave others courage, and the groups of people accomplished amazing things.
However, the Community Makeover is not intended to be a parachute drop. It is designed to be the catalyst for forming relationship after relationship with people who no longer become needs we are trying to meet, but friends we are trying to love.
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
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
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.
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.
I was sitting in my favorite coffee shop getting things done over a month ago with the news caught my attention. Five or six companies announced layoffs that meant 50, 60, 70 thousand people were losing their jobs.
When I sit and read the news I try to ask the question, what’s a Christ-follower to do? What should be the response of the church? It seems like all of us know someone without a job right now.
It is a very helpless feeling when someone comes to you and says they are out of work. Even more helpless when they are losing their house or cannot feed their family because they have no income. Sometimes it even feels helpless to just say, “I’m praying for you.” Prayer is the most powerful weapon in a Christ followers toolbox, but as one author says, We have to pray as Christians, not Theist.
In a book that has really shaped me called, The Holy Longing, Ronald Rolheiser unpacks this thought. He says that the prayers of a Christ follower have to be ‘incarnational’.
Rolheiser writes, “If I see colleague or friend who looks depressed and pray for her, but do not speak to her, then I am praying like a theist, not as a Christian. If I pray for a friend today but do not send him a postcard to tell him I am thinking about him, how is that prayer supposed to touch him? If I pray for world peace, but do not, inside myself, forgive those who have hurt me, how can God bring about peace on this planet?
Our prayer needs our flesh to back it up.”
So I talked to a friend about the job thing. His name is Craig. He’s a go-getter, a kill it and drag it home kind of guy, and I asked what if our church could just do something simple to help connect people to available jobs. Well, Craig is all over it. He started calling employers, and people looking for work to discover the ins and outs of this.
We found something. A lot of people without jobs right now are depressed and not even trying. If you lose your job, don’t go home and watch the news. I personally know people, who have thrown up their hands and are just going to wait for things to turn around before they get back to work. It’s such a tough place to be. People are nervous, scared, afraid, and without hope. Many don’t know Jesus personally. I think I lessen my chances of them coming to know Him if I just say, I’m praying for you. Not a bad thing, but it needs flesh.
So we’ve started with something simple. We posted a page at www.westridge.com/jobs that can act as a simple hub to help you brainstorm where to go to find your next opportunity. Craig also started a facebook group (http://tinyurl.com/an4ewf). As opportunities come in we post them. In the last three weeks a small number of folks have found jobs through these resources and others have found solid leads. We’re posting events at other churches and resources from our Chamber of Commerce and Local Department of Labor Office, and a few others. We’re willing to post more as information comes to us. It’s our way of putting a little flesh to our prayers.
At the bottom of the page on the West Ridge website you can e-mail me and let me know if you are looking. I have a list of folks I have prayed for, and will continue to.
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
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
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
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
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
portrait of an unworthy servant 