Recently, our church experienced an unexpected blessing. Our Youth Pastor texted me and asked if we could host John James on a weekend about three weeks away. Perhaps your response would be mine… who is John James? Turns out John James was the lead singer of Newsboys back in the day. I had heard of the Newsboys. I had enjoyed some of their music. Yet, I still had no idea who John was. On blind faith, I said, “Sure, let’s have him come.” Wow, from the first, “Hey Mate” in a heavy Australian accent, to the moment he took the stage, I became aware of the fact that this was a God-designed gift to our church.
With both humor and heaviness, John began to share with us his journey. I would encourage you to get a copy of it. Amazing! He talked about growing up in tough environments. He described how the band came together and how step by step they began to blow up. Multi-millions in sales, Grammy nominations, fame and success were the order of the day. He had made it to the top of the recording industry. While they were there, though, his personal life began to fall apart. Addiction and personal destruction began eating away at the fabric of his life. He went to the band for help, and they removed him from the group. (Probably bad for business) He was quickly scorned by the Christian music industry, and so his life and his marriage began to unravel.
Easily, his life could have become one of those casualties, never to be heard from again. However, it was through this incredible valley of pain that God did His greatest work. He restored John’s life. He repaired their marriage. And now, He has given John a voice of hope to those in the darkest despair. I was reminded that this is who Jesus is! While others play games of plastic perfection in bubble protected communities, Jesus goes to the darkest places of despair and offers hope. He offers forgiveness. He offers restoration.
Our folks will not soon forget the day that we hosted a funny sounding man who told us this incredible story of rising all the way to the top, falling all the way to the bottom, and rediscovering the path to a new way of living. More importantly, I pray we never forget that this is the message of our Savior. Thank God that when everyone else has given up on us… when no one is left to see inherent value in us… Christ is standing there to pick us up, dust us off, and set us back on the right path!
Experiencing grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 03/30/2011
Who wants a lesson in patience? We are in such a hurry these days. We have been conditioned by surrounding societal influences to seek and accept nothing less than immediate gratification. Waiting is over-rated and no fun! True, those who have lived life a little longer begin to understand what wisdom is all about. Age teaches us that sometimes the best things come in waiting. Perhaps earlier we would not have had the perspective we do today. Perhaps we would have missed some special blessing that was not ready for us yet. Perhaps we will develop our deepest character from waiting.
The difficult thing about this is that about the only way we can learn patience is by exercising it. And even then, it is a difficult proposition. Patience demands perseverance, restraint, and maturity. Many times, we are not as mature as we would like to believe of ourselves. It is amazing; I can go from seasoned to childish in a brief turn of events. And by the way, that is when we discover our maturity level…when things don’t go our way. The Children of Israel leaving Egypt after four hundred years of bondage is perhaps one of the most glaring examples of childish impatience I can think of. After all of God’s displays of power, they doubt Him, abandon Him, and complain incessantly. All the while, He was delivering them from oppression, providing their needs in miraculous ways, and leading them to the Land of Promise. Patience was not their strong suit!
In 2011, The Gathering will be building a permanent home. This has been a long time coming. I would have to write a book to tell of all the adventures we have been through. Patience in securing a permanent ministry facility has at times been difficult. We have faced fatigue, frustration, and discouragement. Yet, as God has now placed us on the doorstep of a church home four and a half years later, we have learned some valuable lessons. Most of all, we will be so excited and so grateful to finally have a home! Patience…it is not easy, but it is worth it!
Experiencing grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 01/20/2011
I was having a conversation the other day with someone about the power that perspective plays in our lives. We were both recalibrating. What do I mean by that? I mean that it is so easy to lose track of our own perspectives at times. Take a few body blows from your life, and all of a sudden you can find yourself focusing on the negatives, focusing on the obstacles, and losing sight of the bigger picture. Perspective plays such a powerful role in our lives because our perspectives chart the course that we will ultimately follow. If you lose your perspective, you lose resources, options, and opportunities. It is critical to see things clearly. Proverbs tells us to take this seriously when it states (12:15), “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” and (16:2 /21:2) “People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.”
Like a poor, helpless soul lost in a blizzard is the man or woman who loses their perspective. You don’t know which way to turn. You are often at a loss for what to do. And the further you go, the more frustrated you get. So, what can you do? Are we just subject to our own self-destruction? I think there is a better way if we are willing to make the wise choices necessary.
1. Look outward more than inward: The biggest problem with a loss of perspective is becoming obsessed with myself, my problems, my pain. Before long, we are throwing a pity party and throwing out balanced perspective. On the other hand, when we look for ways to help others, serve others, and build others up, it actually broadens our perspective.
2. Count blessings instead of problems: Add up all that is wrong in your life and your perspective will become a negative one. You can turn into a pessimist quickly. It is sometimes harder to count your blessings; but again, when you do, it broadens your horizons. You see things you have missed and become even more aware of how blessed you really are.
3. Keep the big picture in focus: one of the greatest causes for loss of perspective is tunnel vision. When we focus on the bigger picture, we normally do a better job of keeping our priorities in line, valuing the big things, appreciating the little things, and staying balanced in our perspective.
Thank you, God, for being so good to us. Help us all to realize just how good You have been! No matter what I am or will be going through, Your goodness is never compromised!
Experiencing grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 10/23/2010
It is not every day you get to rub shoulders with business professionals and the homeless all at once. Recently, that very thing took place, however, with The Gathering. We spent the summer in a series that took on our role as Christ followers in the culture around us. Too many run from the culture to their safe “church cocoon” and in doing so lose any voice in the cultural dialogue of our day. Others become so much a part of the culture that there literally is no difference between the believers and everybody else. We spent weeks looking at how God taught us to engage the culture without becoming entangled in it. As a practical response, at the end of the series, we wanted to throw a Jesus party.
We picked a beautiful, hot Friday afternoon and threw a party in the middle of downtown Dayton. Balloons, face painting, football, music, and free food. We weren’t quite sure who would come. In fact, we wondered if anybody would come at all. Wow, were we amazed! We gave away almost 500 hot dogs, chips, drinks. People from the heart of the city found out that we had the city on our heart that day. What a blast to love people in the name of Jesus. Amazing conversations took place as people would ask, “Who are you guys?” and “Why are you doing this?” Walls came tumbling down as we would tell them that “we represented Jesus, and we just wanted to show them that He loved them!” Every time we do something along these lines, I am freshly reminded that these are the places that Jesus would be, and these are the faces that Jesus loves. It was an honor to be able to show Him to others. We have opportunities all around us to share this great news. Stay alert, you don’t want to miss this blessing!
Experiencing grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 09/02/2010
I saw Sean and Lee Ann Tuehy for the umpteenth time being interviewed the other day. They are the adoptive parents of the amazing and moving story and movie called The Blind Side. It is an incredible story of a happy ending to a tragic beginning. Michael Oher was born into a drug-infested, crime-ridden housing project with no security and no future. Like so many others, he probably would have ended up drug addicted or dead before really reaching adulthood. However, through a bizarre turn of events, he winds up in the comfort and support system of an affluent white suburban family and community. His life goes on to shine as an All-American football player and scholar. Now, he dominates in the National Football League. I really don’t get tired of hearing this story. Here is the real hidden truth behind it all, though. There are Michaels everywhere.
This family has talked about how they weren’t so smart as to make all this happen, but that they were smart enough not to miss the opportunity! Did you hear that? There are opportunities that present themselves to us all the time. Some are small, small on our part of investment and small on the return. However, small things can make a big difference. Others are huge…like Michael’s story. Maybe we walk right past them because they are odd or might cost us something. What about all the other families other than the Tuehy’s? Did they not see this young man in need? Did they not see his potential? I am not saying we should all run out and adopt someone of another race. I am just suggesting that oftentimes uncommon grace shows up in the weirdest of ways and the strangest of fashions. Let’s keep our eyes open. Who knows what might show up!
Experiencing grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 07/16/2010
Recently I spoke on a weekend about a topic that I think affects everyone. It is the story recorded in the Bible where the disciples have put out to sea and a storm envelops them. Jesus then walks on water as a means of making His way to them. Now history, I think, has caused many of us to miss the real significance of the story. It is lost in the “hype” of the miracle of what Jesus did. Really, though, this story is recorded to teach us and lead us through some incredible insight. First of all, put yourself in the boat. We have all known the terror of believing that we are not going to make it through some unexpected storm in life. Worry, fear, even sheer terror can paralyze us in the midst of life’s storms. We have no control over when those storms come or when they will end.
Jesus walking on the water is more than one of His miracles. He communicates a number of things through this. One, we may be in the storm, but He walks above it. Two, we may feel abandoned in the storm, but He is there in the storm with us. And maybe most importantly, He shows us the supernatural perspective. Instead of fear, His heart is calm. Instead of scolding the disciples that yet one more time He has to teach them the lesson of faith, He simply models it for them.
For me, the heart of the story is Peter. Peter almost always takes it on the chin for being brash or extravagant. But hey, you gotta hand it to him; as far as I know, he is the only other person than Jesus who ever walked on water (not including Jim Carrey). Yes, he may have started to sink, but he got out of the boat! There it is…most people never get out of the boat. Consequently, they never walk on water! They may live through a storm, but they will never walk above it. The only reason he started to sink was that he took his eyes off Jesus and became enamored again by the size of the storm. Here is my challenge to both you and me. Get out of the boat, walk on the water, and don’t take your eyes off Jesus! If we do that, we’ll be amazed at how the storm just seemed to diminish around us.
Experiencing grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 06/13/2010
Recently, we have been going through The Revelation in our weekend worship celebrations. To say the least, it is a sobering look at what is to come. For those who think God is old or indifferent to the world around us, they need to take a quick look at John’s vision. We are given such mercy and grace in this age, that we take it for granted. When you look at the future and see there is coming a time when there will not be an ounce of mercy, you discover that God is not impotent, just patient and loving…not willing that any should perish. As we have trudged through the death and destruction, the blood and the judgment, you begin to understand why He tells us that fearing God is the beginning place of wisdom.
My salvation has become so much more meaningful to me by taking this refresher course. What God’s love through Christ has spared His followers from is amazing. On Easter Sunday, we will place the crown jewel on the capstone of our worship. Chapters 21-22 reveal glimpses of what Heaven is going to be like. It clearly tells us who is going to be there. And many people may be surprised. It has nothing to do with good or bad people like most believe. There is one requirement for admission. Your name must be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
For me, this is why Easter is so special. It is not the beautiful weather that thaws us from winter’s doldrums. It is not about the big family meal. It is not about the kids and candy. It is not about the new dress or shirt. No, lost in all the cultural baggage of our traditions, Easter is about one thing. Victory! Resurrection! Life! Because Jesus was willing to come into this mess we call our world, suffer the indignation of contradictions, suffer indescribably in His passion, and ultimately blow away the powerful enemy of death…we have life! We are clean and forgiven of our sins; we have a hope and a meaning to this life; and we have an unimaginable future with God for eternity in Heaven. This calls for a celebration!
Experiencing grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 03/31/2010
Recently, we have been going through The Revelation on the weekends at The Gathering. It is interesting, fascinating, frightening, and inspiring - all at the same time. I have grown up around church my whole life. God has always been presented as one of two extremes. Either He is the soft and permissive “grandfather” type or He is postured as an angry “fire and brimstone” type. I think the truth is that any time you take attributes of someone’s character and form a stereotype of them, you have missed the mark. While God is gracious, compassionate, and slow to anger, He is not a doddering old man who is too weak to deal with His own kids or deal with a world spinning out of control. Neither does a fair reading of Scripture lead one to see Him as in need of counseling to deal with latent out of control anger issues. He is God! He lacks nothing and has no weakness. The irony is how often He is judged by lesser mortals who are filled with weaknesses. In our flawed way and our flawed world, we ask Him to jump through our hoops till we understand Him.
The end of the story makes it clear… He is filled with compassion, mercy, and patience. I for one have been so blessed in reading the end of the story and being reminded how special and how valuable my salvation is! It also presents the case that there will be a time when enough is enough. This world is not spinning out of control; it is spinning into His plan. I am grateful that God included me in that plan. As someone said to me recently after one of our sessions, “I am glad I am watching this from the balcony and not the front row!” Wow, is that ever true. The King of all kings will make all things as they should be. Trust me, now is the time to make peace with Him. I have read the end of the story. I know the ending. Those who are with Him in Heaven will be overwhelmed with gratitude for His gracious gifts to us! Make sure that you are confident of that relationship!
Experiencing grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 02/25/2010
There is no question that we are living in very tough times. Unemployment is at 10% with no foreseeable quick turnaround in sight. Some say it is almost double that with those who want work, but have just given up on a job search. Bankruptcies and foreclosures have exploded. Our own government is having to raise its debt ceiling to avoid defaulting on the trillions in loans that our children now owe. Talk to anyone in business, regardless of the industry, and they will tell you that the ripple effect of the housing market crash and the near collapse of the financial sector have choked back their business. Times are tight and times are tough. In over twenty-five years of pastoring, I have never heard of so many families being pressed to the brink. The pressures have caused financial stress, emotional stress, marital stress, and even spiritual stress.
Now, let’s be clear. There have certainly been previous generations that have faced tougher times. We have known such abundance that any cutback seems like a financial depression. Yet, how do you quantify pain? If it hurts, it hurts. And there are a lot of people who are hurting in these current economic times. If I can, I want to recalibrate our perspective, though. God determines what we go through; we get to determine how we go through it. We can wilt under the stress and depressive effects of where we are, or we can see the opportunities in our circumstances to make a difference. If we turn our eyes inwardly, we will begin to see all the things that are working against us. We can tune up our songs of self-pity and self-loathing. OR we can look outwardly and see the many opportunities to help each other lift burdens and carry them together. Tough times can tear us apart, or they can bind us together. I have found my experiences to be that the more I take my eyes off my problems and help someone else carry their load, that my problems seem to diminish in size. Galatians 6:2 (GW) “Help carry each other's burdens. In this way you will follow Christ's teachings.”
Try it, you will be amazed at God’s math. You bring hope + someone else’s burden = you infuse both people with hope! Not only will this lift your spirits, but this can change the dynamic of your perspective of life. Rather than pouring all your energy into changing your current circumstances, why not let God change you in those circumstances. Remember again, God gets to determine what we go through. We determine how we go through it. A great outlook leads to a better outcome!
Experiencing grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 02/02/2010
Ever heard anyone say at this time of year that it is hard to believe another year has come and gone? It happens. And the more it happens, it seems the quicker those years fly by. Before you know it, you turn around and wonder where all the time has gone. String enough of those together, and you will end up wondering, “Where did my life go?” Now is the time to do something about it.
The truth is we really just moved from one month to the next. What makes moving from December to January different from going from June to July? We are simply marking time. Nevertheless, I am grateful for it. January (or the New Year) is always a fresh start. It is a new beginning. And, as people, we need those. In golf, we call it a Mulligan. Sometimes when playing an informal game with friends, you hit a bad shot and they will say, “Hit a Mulligan.” It is another shot…a do-over. It is amazing how much that second chance can really turn things around for you.
Life can be a great deal like that. We often need a do-over. We need a second chance or a new beginning. God graciously grants that to us time and time again. Gratefully, His Mulligans are not ONLY passed out in January. His mercy and His grace are so rich that He offers them to us thousands of times throughout a year. I don’t know about you, but I plan to take advantage of mine right now. I am so grateful that I can put Paul’s motivational thought into practice and this year move toward new and higher heights. Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT) “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
It is your turn now. Make the most of your opportunity. Live your life on purpose this year. Set goals for yourself and make sure they include the priority of God’s Kingdom. If you do…next year you will be glad you did!
Experiencing grace,
John
posted by The Gathering's Leadership on 01/07/2010
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