incorrigible

Acts 12:24 But the word of God continued to increase and spread.

Despite the persecution that drove every Christian except for the Apostles from Jerusalem, despite the arrest and execution of James so of Zebedee, despite Simon Peter's imprisonment, despite the need to go underground, the word of God continued to increase and spread.

We have a heritage and a history of being unstoppable, unflappable, insuppressible, and unrelenting.

Erwin McManus has commented that people ask him, "What is it today that keeps the church from realizing her full potential?"

His response: "Nothing!" Jesus has said that not even the Gates of Hell will be able to overcome it. (Matthew 16:18)

Sure there are trials and tests. But the same things which can serve as friction to slow us down can serve as traction to speed us up.

So, what will slow us? Budget? The lack of resources can make us more dependent on God... Definitely a good thing.

A corrupt culture? It just gives the lost more that they desire freedom from.

independent isolationistic culture? Just makes people hungrier for community.

Only internal things like fear, doubt and apathy can keep us from seeing our full potential, No external circumstances can stop the body of Christ.

But the church...

When Herod put James, one of the Apostles, to death with the sword, his approval ratings went through the roof. So, he went out and got Peter.

But the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

He was guarded by four squads of four soldiers. One prisoner guarder by 16 soldiers.

But the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Peter slept between two soldiers, bound in chains, with guards standing at the entrance.

But the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Peter seemed destined to the same ending as his old fishing buddy.

But the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

That's where the story turns. The events of history turned on that one event. The church earnestly prayed and everything changed. What follows in Acts 12:6-11 is quite possibly the motivation behind the song, "God Will Make a Way". An angel comes. The chains fall off. Gates open. Houdini would be jealous.

Oh, that we could tag this phrase to the end of today's plights.

The sex trade was thriving in Eastern Europe, but the church was earnestly praying to God.
The world closed their eyes to what was happening in Darfur, but the church was earnestly praying to God.

The destruction wrought by Katrina brought chaos and lawlessness to New Orleans, but the church was earnestly praying to God.

Egypt outlawed evangelism under penalty of death, but the church was earnestly praying to God.

Can you imagine?

The First, But Not The Last

Acts 11:26-30
The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

These folks would make Barnabas, Saul and the folks at Antioch proud. I think they'd say, "Yeah, that's what it means to be called Christ-ian." That the Acts church continued.

Here are two links that I feel very comfortable recommending as places through which you can do an Antioch-type thing:

IDES
(more to come)

Growing

When I was a junior one of my friends told me that he had some struggles believing that God makes a difference in people's lives, but observing me had been a real boost in his faith that God still works in people's lives. I do not say this to boast. He was spot on to remind me how incredibly pompous I had been in the past. He was not saying that I had become something special, merely something better than I had been. It was sop encouraging to have someone notice the difference.

A week and a half ago 'Frank' asked me to describe how I had changed over the past five years. I wanted to respond quickly, but have struggled to put my finger on what is different. I could say 'I've grown' or 'I've matured', but these things are too vague to be of any value.

I have noticed recently some changes that are not particularly good. I used to be much more outgoing. The school environment played a big part in that. Now, I don't spend near as much time with people outside my family as I used to. I'm becoming more(even too)introverted.


Other things that I would have hoped five years ago would have changed by now have not. I'm still a walking time-management nightmare.

But what good changes have taken place? I've learned to share... My time, my responsibilities, decision-making. The love of the Christ's church has moved from my mind to my hands and then into my heart. I've gone from naive to cynical to trusting (a track I'll probably continue to make laps on).

I've learned that I need to check my ego at the door every day. I've learned not to lionize or envy other pastors. I've learned to embrace reality over fantasy. It's really much better. I learned to cherish older people.


I say all this to bring glory to Jesus Christ who shapes me guides me , transforms me, and recreates me into something a bit more like himself.