I’m currently typing this message on the hotel balcony as I hear the waves roar in the background. Just a simple reminder of God’s power and the beauty of creation. I sometimes wonder how amazing heaven will be in moments like this.

There is something special when you gaze into an ocean, there is something mesmerizing when you drive through mountains, there is something special when the whole goal of the day is to connect with family and friends and add value to each others lives.

It all reminds me of how God originally wanted our lives to be, a deep connection with God and humanity, and humanity with each other. We were created to connect, to love, to share, to sacrifice for each other. We were created for community. Yet everything in our modern world tries to disrupt this reality.

This is why the gospel will only shine forth when we realize that we need to engage in community. The gospel is fleshed-out when we do life together and when we allow God to be the center, and I can only imagine what could happen when a “gospel-centered community” fully embraces what mission looks like. Can you imagine the impact that we could make?

Charles Lee is a new friend from LA, he recently pioneered a hybrid-conference called The Idea Camp. I wanted to attend but my current schedule did not allow it. But, there is good news as they’ve added a ton of video for us non-attenders to watch. Props to them for being a blessing to the church, open-source is the way to go. I’ve heard that close to 500 people attended the conference in-person but 1500 attended online. With our current economic crisis, this may be the conference model of the future.

I also wanted to spread the word a bit. This past Sunday, Matt Carter, Founder and Lead Pastor of the Austin Stone shared a message called: The decline of the American Church. I think this message is vital to the church. Matt touched on the reality that the church in N America is losing ground and most churches (even growing churches) are not connecting with those outside of our faith. I love that a pastor who’s church is growing by the multitudes can stand before the congregation and be real and deal with reality.

Let me say this, one of the tragedies of the North American Church is how much time and money we spend to reach ourselves, to shuffle the deck and trade sheep. We have the most resources in the world to do good and be a blessing, yet the majority of the churches resources are squandered in what seems to a vortex of Christianity that is simply not getting the job done. Missional leaders who will make a difference in the upcoming years will be the leaders who will be willing to admit that we have to refocus how we do church and how we spend resources. The bottom billion lack the basics of life, while the church continues to throw money at the wind and not get the ROI we all need. I include myself in that conversation, and I need to repent and seek God for a better way to live out the gospel and make a deeper impact!

“It appears that Jesus sees care for the poor as part of the essence of being a Christian.”

There is a certain hope for many people who follow Jesus. We see our broken world, all the hurt and pain caused by sin, and we have hope that God’s people-the church can and will do something to deeply love and serve our broken world through Jesus’ grace and power. This is what keeps me up at night.

Yet, it’s quite difficult to look into one past and read the above quote by Keller and realize that I’ve missed the mark in so many areas. For instance, I read scripture in light of being selfish, I went to church to get “fed,” and the fact that many of the prayers  that I prayed were so self-focused.

Jesus taught us to pour our lives out for others, to stop when our “neighbor” is in need and bring aid, love, comfort and sacrifice, and to give our time and resources to help out. And yet for years I knew this, but I wanted to ignore the gospel or find ways to justify my non-action. It’s because of my attitude that the church is so anemic and lacks the power of the gospel to  transform cities and nations for God’s glory!

As a Christ-follower, I have to stop pursuing Jesus for what I can get, instead I have to start pursing the broken world for what I can give…And I think its in that journey that one finds the holistic gospel coming to life and the joy of what it means to love and serve humanity through Jesus’ grace and power. It’s truly the hope of the gospel.

Let the journey continue…

But I still think there is a deeper issue…Many times we look at life (even committed Christians) without a gospel-centered approach. Example: It’s easy to want to lose weight so you can look good, feel better and have a sense of accomplishment.

But what if we saw weight-loss through the lens of the gospel? Yes I want to look and feel better, but I always want to obedient to the scripture. If I eat better, exercise and care for my body, I’m glorifying God through my actions, I’m caring for the temple that God has gifted me. There is a greater reason to lose weight then look and feel, its obedience to God, its about being faithful to the gospel. 

So whatever resolution you have in the upcoming year…Try and see them through a new lens-the gospel. And remember Jesus comes to give abundant life, the gospel is always the “best” way to live. Remember the gospel is “good news.”

So go forward in the new year with a sense of conviction and allow the gospel to be the center of EVERY aspect of your life.

Shalom

However, I hate that so many don’t have what I have. My prayer this morning was for anger. I don’t care what you call it, holy anger, righteous anger or holy discontent. I just want my heart to beat in the same manner of Jesus.

And I think Jesus is angry over the pain and suffering in our world. And I know he wants His followers to have the same anger. We can’t be content with being blessed, we must become a blessing. 

We have “good news” to share. We can offer hope, we can show love, we can share the story of Jesus to our world.

I hope and pray that 2009 we all become more connected to the gospel and how the gospel is displayed in our day-to-day lives. Let us become more generous with our love, time and resources.

1. Is this church-thing working?

2. I’m I a good leader?

3. God can I hear your voice, where is it, where are you?

I don’t want to do church just to do church. I desire life-change for my city, for my world. I don’t want to talk theology or church, I want to see it come alive.

I’m simply desperate for the gospel to be true and authentic. I still remember how it feels to wonder about eternity.

But I still struggle to pray, scripture makes me mad as hell, AND the church makes me want to give up as we wallow in our apathy and religion.

I don’t want to generate a good church, I want to see a move of God. Something so real and fresh. Something that has power and love, hope and grace, where peoples life’s are changed by the story of Jesus and His community of followers.

I can’t sleep at night. Tears fill my eyes, my heart is broken. Broken to know Jesus and to help others know Jesus.

Some days the Kingdom seems so close…today the Kingdom seems so far.