As I traveled to Chicago this week, I tried to practice what I preach.
As I drove out to the airport, headed for the economy parking area, I decided to pray. "Lord I want to be open to your leading. Help me hear your voice and be sensitive to your promptings, and show me if you want me to talk with anyone about Jesus. I am open to pray with them or serve them or even speak with them." That last part made me nervous.
So, I am the only passenger on the shuttle at Houston Intercontinental airport and somehow a conversation ensues between me and the driver. We talk about a variety of things and then she asks where I am going and why. I tell her I am part of a national team helping churches become more multiethnic. She mentions church and how she freaks pastors out when ever she shows up at their church. I ask how and off we go about Jesus and church and at the end I tell her I am a pastor and I won't be freaked out if she visits our church.
I'm on the plane and seated next to a woman who I noticed has a Honduran passport. I want to say something but she won't look my direction and mostly keeps her eyes shut. I'm thinking I need to create an opening and finally without any natural opening, I just say loud enough to be heard, "Did your day start in Houston?" (She seems tired to me and a bit troubled and I'm thinking she started the day in Honduras.) And we talk for the next two hours, mostly in English and a little in Spanish. We end up talking about the importance of knowing Jesus and the need for community. From her experience Americans are cold toward foreigners and don't tolerate their struggle with English. I apologize on our behalf tell her how our church loves people from other countries and cultures and consider it our mission to help them feel welcomed and valued and we even sing in English and Spanish. In the end she introduces me to her husband in the next row, and gives me their contact information. Though she is Catholic she is intrigued and wants to know if there is a Vineyard in Honduras.
One thing that amazes me is that both conversation involved things of great interest to me that made me able to speak naturally and have something to offer to Mary and Georgiana. It seemed to me that God guided me to speak with people that I could relate to and as a result boosted my confidence and my desire to stay open for spiritual conversations.
Tell me your stories!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Should We Celebrate Good Friday?
First, I want to say that I appreciate our history of Good Friday services at the Vineyard Church of Houston and that our Good Friday service gives us room to focus on the death of Christ without having to act like he wasn't raised from the dead. The video, "It's Friday but Sunday is Coming" was a fitting conclusion to our worship.
It is also true that Good Friday always creates a tension for me. I appreciate, no I am extremely grateful, that Jesus died for me and you. This is something worth reflecting on as it increases my gratitude to God, reminds me that I am forgiven, and that I am now free to live a life that is not ruled by sin and death.
My problem with Good Friday is that there always seems to be this pressure to isolate Jesus' death from his resurrection. It seems like in an effort to do justice to his death, we try to feel as badly as possible about the fact that our sin necessitated Jesus' suffering. I can appreciate that and am capable of feeling as bad as the next person.
However, it was brought to my attention many years ago, that outside the Gospels' description of the event, the New Testament simply does not focus on the pain and agony of Jesus suffering and death. This is not a point of reflection. The focus is on what was accomplished by his death and in that light is hard to separate from the resurrection. We understand that if Jesus was not raised from the dead, his death would have been meaningless in terms of our salvation. We also understand that in our union with Christ we died to sin and are made alive to God. And that again brings us to this cross/resurrection combination. We just can't get away from it.
I am not saying that we should not gather to worship and pray and share communion on Good Friday. I am saying that we don't need to try to make ourselves feel bad about Jesus death - the Scripture does not attempt to do that, and that we don't need to worship or pray in a manner that tries to conceal the fact that Jesus has been raised from the dead.
We can use the word celebrate in relation to Good Friday because it is a celebration of God's love and his victory over sin and evil. This has resulted in our rescue and freedom. As we celebrate Good Friday we will find joy seeping into our worship and that is really okay.
Good Friday allows us to focus on the love of God and the power of the cross for salvation - something we should do. But we observe Good Friday in the light of the resurrection and that brings a smile to our face and that too is okay.
Happy Good Friday!
It is also true that Good Friday always creates a tension for me. I appreciate, no I am extremely grateful, that Jesus died for me and you. This is something worth reflecting on as it increases my gratitude to God, reminds me that I am forgiven, and that I am now free to live a life that is not ruled by sin and death.
My problem with Good Friday is that there always seems to be this pressure to isolate Jesus' death from his resurrection. It seems like in an effort to do justice to his death, we try to feel as badly as possible about the fact that our sin necessitated Jesus' suffering. I can appreciate that and am capable of feeling as bad as the next person.
However, it was brought to my attention many years ago, that outside the Gospels' description of the event, the New Testament simply does not focus on the pain and agony of Jesus suffering and death. This is not a point of reflection. The focus is on what was accomplished by his death and in that light is hard to separate from the resurrection. We understand that if Jesus was not raised from the dead, his death would have been meaningless in terms of our salvation. We also understand that in our union with Christ we died to sin and are made alive to God. And that again brings us to this cross/resurrection combination. We just can't get away from it.
I am not saying that we should not gather to worship and pray and share communion on Good Friday. I am saying that we don't need to try to make ourselves feel bad about Jesus death - the Scripture does not attempt to do that, and that we don't need to worship or pray in a manner that tries to conceal the fact that Jesus has been raised from the dead.
We can use the word celebrate in relation to Good Friday because it is a celebration of God's love and his victory over sin and evil. This has resulted in our rescue and freedom. As we celebrate Good Friday we will find joy seeping into our worship and that is really okay.
Good Friday allows us to focus on the love of God and the power of the cross for salvation - something we should do. But we observe Good Friday in the light of the resurrection and that brings a smile to our face and that too is okay.
Happy Good Friday!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Monsters...Shadows and Ninjas
What does a Monster, Shadow, Ninja, Bluebonnet and a Vineyard have in common? They are all part of a motorcycle ride to Chapel Hill Texas on Saturday April 4. This past Saturday, David rode his Ducati, Monster, Brad - his Honda Shadow, Richard - his Kawasaki Ninja and I rode my Suzuki GZ 250 to see the wildflowers along the Bluebonnet Trail. We followed the trail from Chapel Hill to Navasota, riding along route 1155. We are all from the Vineyard Church of Houston and looking for anyone from the church (and anyone we know) who would like to ride together periodically.
The Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush and Primrose are in their peak along these country roads. (I know you don't think Bluebonnets and motorcycles go together.) Let's just say we are nice riders like most people who own motorcycles. Anyway, what better way to see wildflowers, than from a motorcycle. And it was fun just being together for about 4 1/2 hours and 150 miles. This was the longest ride for me and Richard. Let me tell you by the time we got to Chapel Hill my left hand and butt were numb from the vibration of the bike.
We stopped for a short break and a little candy at the corner of 290 and 1155. On the way into the store we were admiring several Triumph motorcycles in the parking lot. On the way out of the store, the Triumph riders were standing around David's bike taking pictures. They thought it was the coolest thing they had ever seen. David has done a lot of customizing work. I should have a picture of David's bike here but none of us brought our cameras.
Our final stop on the trip was at a small Taqueria along Highway 6 in Navasota. Nothing like an enchilada and a Tamarind soda for the road.
The hardest part of the trip was the ride home. Winds between 20-30 miles an hour and a 250cc engine don't really do that well together. I have to tip my helmet to David and Brad. Their 750cc bikes could have flown home. But they waited with me and Richard as we worked hard to squeeze 60 miles/hour out of our low capacity engines. I think I need a bigger bike. Don't tell Donna I said that.
We made it back fine and of course feel like we gained much needed riding experience. I have only been riding for 6 months, although I have clocked 2500 miles during that time.
Stayed tuned for our next trip in about a month.
The Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush and Primrose are in their peak along these country roads. (I know you don't think Bluebonnets and motorcycles go together.) Let's just say we are nice riders like most people who own motorcycles. Anyway, what better way to see wildflowers, than from a motorcycle. And it was fun just being together for about 4 1/2 hours and 150 miles. This was the longest ride for me and Richard. Let me tell you by the time we got to Chapel Hill my left hand and butt were numb from the vibration of the bike.
We stopped for a short break and a little candy at the corner of 290 and 1155. On the way into the store we were admiring several Triumph motorcycles in the parking lot. On the way out of the store, the Triumph riders were standing around David's bike taking pictures. They thought it was the coolest thing they had ever seen. David has done a lot of customizing work. I should have a picture of David's bike here but none of us brought our cameras.
Our final stop on the trip was at a small Taqueria along Highway 6 in Navasota. Nothing like an enchilada and a Tamarind soda for the road.
The hardest part of the trip was the ride home. Winds between 20-30 miles an hour and a 250cc engine don't really do that well together. I have to tip my helmet to David and Brad. Their 750cc bikes could have flown home. But they waited with me and Richard as we worked hard to squeeze 60 miles/hour out of our low capacity engines. I think I need a bigger bike. Don't tell Donna I said that.
We made it back fine and of course feel like we gained much needed riding experience. I have only been riding for 6 months, although I have clocked 2500 miles during that time.
Stayed tuned for our next trip in about a month.
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