An Invitation to Community

Posted on April 19, 2010 by Steve LaMotte

I began a series yesterday where we will preach through the book of 1 John.  I led a bible study last fall on the book and really found it engaging.  Aparently, John Wesley called 1 John the “deepest part of the Holy Scriptures” for John’s ability to blend deep theological thinking with simple/plain words. 

Yesterday, I focused on 1 John 1:3 where John says, “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.” As John writes to his churches- he is concerned about  community- the unity of his flock around the person of Jesus Christ.  John begins the letter by proclaiming what he has seen, heard, touched, and experienced during his time with Jesus.  When we get to verse three John says that he proclaims the Word of life so that you may have fellowship with us.

Evangelism can be such a polarizing word, mostly because of the bad forms of evangelism that many of us have experienced over the years.  Some are put of by it because we live in a pluralistic, tolerant society where we don’t want to offend anyone by sharing our beliefs.  John says, we share what we have experienced (evangelism) to invite people into fellowship- fellowship with the church community and with the community of God (Trinity).  For John, evangelism is more than just the forgiveness of our sins or fire insurance from hell.  Evangelism is about inviting people outside of community into community.  As Christians, we are called to go out into the world to invite people into this lifegiving community.

The thing with sharing our faith is that there is really no way around it in the Bible.  As much as we might try and rationalize sharing our faith- we are called to do so in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19).  It’s also true that if we do not invite people into community with God- we are intentionally excluding them.  We are also withholding the opportunity to experience God’s life in this lifetime and the hope of life everlasting to come!

How are you doing with inviting people into community?  What are some creative ways that you or your church is inviting people into community with God and God’s church?

Posted in Church, sermon idea | Leave a comment

Character Matters

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Steve LaMotte

The news has been filled recently with high profile athletes and their moral failings.  It’s been hard to ignore the stories about Tiger Woods and the number of infidelities that he has had.  In the NFL, Ben Roethlisberger was not charged in an investigation about whether or not he sexually assualted/raped a college student in a Georgia bar.  The details that are coming out now that the investigation is over is very favorable for Ben- even though he wasn’t charged.  Ben is waiting to hear from the Steelers and/or the NFL as to as suspension to start the season for his personal conduct in these matters.

In some ways, it seems as if these (and other) athletes/politicians/actors/etc can be somewhat bulletproof.  This past weekend- Tiger Woods played at the Master’s and placed in the Top 10.  All along with crowds following him and cheering him on.  Woods lost some endorsements from the scandal, but give it time and he will likely regain them or get other endorsements from his play.  Roethlisberger will suit up for Pittsburgh in the fall and many in the stadium will cheer him as he leads the Steeler offense.

These stories, and others like them, bring up the idea of character.  Character speaks to the moral and ethical quality of a person…their reputation.  It takes years to build a positive character and few minutes to bring it down.  Our character, our reputation becomes our name- it becomes how we are known. This is what the Bible says about our name or our character.

  • A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.  Proverbs 22:1
  • A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. Ecclesiastes 7:1
  • You annointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore the virgins love you. Song of Solomon 1:3

Each of the three verses speaks of the value of a good name/reputation/character.  It is more desirable than riches, better than fine perfume, like fragrant oils giving off a pleasing aroma.

Character matters.  We each have a responsibility to care for and tend our reputation- to build our character in such a way that gives glory to God.  The decisions we make can go a long way to building our character or tear it apart in a moment.  Just think about it- While Tiger Woods could break the record for major titles in golf, he will be remembered for his infidilities.  Ben Roethlisberger could win more Super Bowls, but his decisions will follow him around.  Those who took steroids in baseball will always have an asterick by their name.

Because our character reflects the God that we serve- Character Matters!

 

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Wanted: A New Heart

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Steve LaMotte

I’ve been struggling to write this post for a while.  Even on a blog it is sometimes hard to share really personal stuff.

Back in March, I began to experience some heart palpitations…not just a few- a lot of them.  The kind that I could feel through my whole upper body.  The worst was when I would lay down to sleep.  I could feel my heart jumping around. 

I went to my doctor to get checked out.  They did an EKG immediately in the room and caught the palpitation on the EKG relatively easily.  The EKG showed my normal heart beats are not evenly spaced out and that I am getting an extra beat.  This began a process of blood work that would take the next several weeks-as well as wearing a 24 hour heart monitor.  The results from all of this was that I have a benign heart arrythmia, which is treatable with a beta-blocker…or I can go without medication if it does not bother me that much.  My decision was to forego the medications for now…and I am working towards seeing a heart specialist rather than my family doctor ordering test from the local hospital.

What has been hard about writing this post is the fear that I have felt regarding this.  When I first went to the doctor, I worried that my heart my explode- or quit working, or something terrible like that.  I feared about Abbie going through life without her daddy…or Andrea without her husband.  While most of those fears have subsided, for now, it’s made me realize what a powerful thing fear is.  I don’t think I have ever been afraid like that…lying awake until 2 or 3 in the morning counting each time my heart would jump.

It’s also hit me how many times that the Bible speaks about the heart.  Not a physical heart- but the heart as the center of our life, our belief.  Anytime I read a passage that spoke about the heart, it jumped off the page.  There are a few favorites that I have prayed walking through this…

  • “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.”  Psalm 51:10-12 (NIV)
  • “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”  Ezekiel 36:30 (NIV)

Today, I feel better than I have in the last month.  Our days in Jamaica were relaxing and much needed.  I will be looking for a specialist just to follow through on this and see what options I have.  I know that plenty of people have/live with arrythmias…I am just looking to do my due dilligence.  I would appreciate your prayers!

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Catching Up From 2 Weeks Away

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Steve LaMotte

As I logged into the blog this morning- it has been about 14 days since I last posted.  That had to do with two things.  First- Holy Week.  It’s pretty tough to get much else done the week before Easter when you’re a Pastor.  Secondly, Andrea and I went on vacation to Jamaica last week.  (I know, don’t feel bad for us) We had a great time, although it was tough coming home!  We stayed at the Grand Palladium Hotel and Resort in Montego Bay.  We were only there three nights, so we tried to maximize our time- only going on one excursion off the resort.  That trip was a catamaran ride/snorkeling trip/Dunn’s River Falls all day adventure.  It was a lot of fun! Snorkeling was great and Dunn’s River Falls was awesome.  Our only complaint on that was the trip up the Falls was too short!  Until I can get some post up tomorrow- here are a few pictures from our vacation.

The Base of Dunn’s River Falls
Sunset Closing in at the resort
The best picture from the trip!
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

CD Review: Robbie Seay Band- Miracle

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Steve LaMotte

In the world of Christian music, there are two kinds of bands.  The first kind plays the role of cheerleader.  They write songs for the Church that get them fired up about Jesus- sometimes without much theological or artistic depth.  The lyrics are often not challenging and offer more comfort for the listener about their place in the world and the church.  The second kind of band has the unique ability to call the Church and the world to participate in the Kingdom of God.  These bands are prophetic as they call the listener to love God and love their neighbors through the artistry of their lyrics and melody.

The Robbie Seay Band falls in the second category.

Miracle is RSB’s third full length studio release- the most recent was their “Give Yourself Away,” that continues to get considerable play time in the LaMotte family iPod and CD players.  Miracle offers the listener 11 songs of authentic song writing that is longing for the Kingdom of God here on Earth.  The album begins with “Love Invades,” as RSB sings of love breaking through– In the break of day\Night is slowly giving way\Tell the sun to rise

“Awaken My Soul” is an upbeat prayer that says Awaken my soul\Every fear and every dream\Awaken me\I’m letting go, awaken my soul\Awaken my soul.  In “Kingdom and a King” RSB that we are to never wait on the governments to move\As the broken and the poor cry out You. This song is a prophetic call for the Church to head the call of God to care for the fatherless, poor, and widows. 

“Miracle” is the title track of the CD.  RSB sings, Have you ever had a dream\so big no one else could see\But you believed\It was possible to be\. The rest of the song gives several scenarios where someone is waiting on a miracle from God.  This is a great reminder that God is at work regardless of our circumstances

“Your Love is Strong” incorporates the Lord’s Prayer in its petition for God’s stong love to be present.  “We Are Not Alone” is a song that reminds us of the grace that is present in the midst of community- especially the community of believers.  “Lament” is exactly that.  Crying out to God to rescue us from the suffering that exist in the world.  Honestly, we need more songs like “Lament” in our worship vocabulary.  There are many people who will identify with suffering- yet in our modern worship music- there are few songs that cry out to God for rescue.    

Miracle is another excellent release from the Robbie Seay Band.  The music is strong and Seay’s vocals are souful and authentic.  The lyrics are artfully written, full of hope and grace, and never sound tired or worn out.  Go out and pick up Miracle today!

http://www.robbieseayband.com/

Posted in CD Review | 1 Comment

A Radical Minimum Standard

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Steve LaMotte

I’ve been guilty from time to time of trying to figure out what is the least I can do and get by.  In college, sometimes it was what is the least amount of reading I can do and still get the grade I desire.  This mindset often follows us to our workplaces and our families as the minimum becomes the standard or status quo for what is acceptable. 

This happens in our faith as well. 

I am guilty of sometimes seeking the minimum standard for “getting by” with my faith.  If I treated my marriage like I sometimes treat my relationships with God- I would most like be divorced by now! I can go for days with little conversation with God because I am self-centered.  Or I put a minimal amount of time or intentionality in sharing my faith outside of Sunday morning.  Or maybe I’ve become comfortable with my material possessions and they are starting to possess me.

I finished reading (again) Erwin McManus’ An Unstoppable Force.  In the final chapter of the book, he talks about a radical minimum standard for believers.  The radical minimum standard is giving our hearts completely to God and going wherever God leads us.  That is what it means to be a disciple…to be a Christian.  And this minimum standard is not for the spiritually elite- pastors, missionaries, and uber-spiritual laity- it is the standard for the entire body.

It is a shame in many of our churches that we are more of an institution or club than we are a movement of God.  We have come to a place where we pay our dues (offering), take part in the major club gatherings (Christmas and Easter), we may even attend weekly meetings if they end on time (worship service) and complain about any new changes the club might make (new worship service, too many new people, etc.).  Instead, we are called to be a body that is living…an organism that is passionately working together to bring about God’s kingdom here on earth.  A body that works to bring about justice in their community and world.  A body that exemplifies Jesus Christ- God in Flesh- in every facet of our lives.  We are not called to be an institution, club or even a religion.  We are called to be a movement of people- the body of Christ who die to themselves everyday in order that Christ might live through us.  We are a movement with the purpose of bringing the expansion of the kingdom in everything that we do.

That is the Radical Minimum Standard of our Faith.

Posted in Church, Discipleship | Leave a comment

Autistic Teen Has Perfect Sweet 16 Bracket

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Steve LaMotte

I will not spend a lot of time with this, but as a fan of college basketball and someone who fills out a bracket every year, this simply amazes me- especially with all the upsets there have been in this year’s Men’s Tournament.  Alex Herrmann has correctly picked all the upsets in the CBS Bracket Challenge he filled out.  He picked Norther Iowa over #1 Kansas.  He picked Ohio over Georgetown!  To put this in perspective, ESPN had 4 or 5 million people fill out a bracket on their bracket challenge.  After day 1 of the tourney only 64 people had a perfect bracket. After day 2, no one had a perfect bracket. 

Alex Herrmann’s dowfall with his bracket is that he has Purdue winning the championship.  While I’m rooting for UK- it would be incredible if he was able to keep his perfect bracket!

Read here for more of the story!

Posted in random | Leave a comment

Swine Flew

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Steve LaMotte

A look at this Scripture passage from Mark 5:1-17 in my Missional Preaching class has had me thinking since last Tuesday.  In the passage, Jesus encounters a man who is possessed by many demons (Legion).  The man is a raving lunatic because of this possession.  He lived among the tombs and no one could bind him.  Even when the townsfolk used a chain and shackles, the man would break free.  He would cut himself with stones and was clearly a danger to himself and those around him. 

When the man encountered Jesus- the demons realized who Jesus was and the power Jesus had.  The demons asked to be cast into the herd of pigs that was nearby.  Jesus gave the demons permission and they entered the pigs and the herd (numbering 2,000) rushed over a cliff and into the sea where they drown. 

The formally demon possessed man was know in his right mind as the town folk came out to see what had happened. When the town folk realized that they had lost their pigs, their source of food and income, they told Jesus to leave.

Here are some thoughts on the passage…

1.  The townfolk wanted their pigs more than they wanted transformation.  Seeing the demoniac transformed and in his right mind had to be an amazing sight.  Yet, there was fear in the midst of transformation.  The people would rather have the status quo (pigs and a lunatic in the graveyard) than transformation (no pigs and a transformed man).

2.  More people likely needed to be transformed in that town.  There may not have been more demon possessed people, but surely there were sick and crippled people who were in need of healing.  The fear that the town felt at the loss of their pigs and the transformation of the demoniac took away any opportunity for Jesus to transform other lives in the town. 

3.  How many times does fear keep us from being transformed?  This could be a personal question and a question to ask our churches.  How often do we tell God, “I don’t know if I can give that up?” or “We’ve never done it that way before” ?  Fear can keep us from experiencing the freedom that God has come to give us.  Do we like our pigs more than a transformed life?  Are we too comfortable with our ‘little sins” and thus are unable to experience the fullness of a relationship with God?

The Church is to call people to Jesus Christ in order to experience holistic transformation in the lives of those who come through our doors.  There should be constant change in the midst of our congregations!  Change should happen in our lives…and because change is happening in our lives it will change the way we worship- and it’s all because of Jesus!  Rather than fearing change, our prayer for our lives and our churches should daily be asking God to change us, transform us into God’s image.  That is a change we can all hope for!

Posted in Bible Thought | Leave a comment

CD Review: Passion- Awakening

Posted on March 11, 2010 by Steve LaMotte

This past January I had the opportunity to attend the Passion2010 Conference in Atlanta with several of our college students.  (You can read part 1 and part 2 of my recap)  The conference was really good.  I came away refreshed and renewed.  While the speakers were excellent, most people are aware of the music that comes out of Passion and the Passion artist.  Passion has been putting out albums from their conferences since the mid-1990’s. Since I attended the conference- I was excited to get the CD, but also hoping it washed away the lackluster memory of the God of This City album from a few years back. More after the jump…

There are many standout songs on the CD, as well as a few misses.  But this is a solid CD overall.  Here are some thoughts on individual songs.

1. Awakening (Chris Tomlin)- The title track and the theme for Passion2010, this was my favorite or second favorite song from the conference and CD.  The song speaks of longing for God to awaken our hearts and the world’s hearts.  For You and You alone/awake my soul/awake my soul and sing/ for the world You love/Your will be done/let your will be done in me  Great song.

2. Say, Say (Kristian Stanfill)- A song pointing to the hope we have in Jesus and encouraging believers to “Sing for the whole world to hear it.” Not bad, but nothing memorable.

3. Our God (Chris Tomlin)-  I sang this song with 22,000 other people at Passion and liked it. But, now that I’m two months out of the conference, I am not so sure.  Here is a line– Our God is greater/Our God is stronger/God, You are higher than any other/Our God is healer/Awesome in power/Our God/Our God.  As I listen to those lines it sounds like we’re singing a “My daddy can beat your daddy” kind of song.  If it were sung in the midst of people of other faiths, it could almost come off as taunting. Do I believe that God is God alone? All powerful? Yes, I do.  I don’t know, but this song just makes me uncomforable. It sounds as if we are singing this to someone to try and prove a point rather than lifting up and giving God adoration.

4. How He Loves (David Crowder Band)-Yes! Great imagery. /He is jealous for me/loves like a hurricane, I am a tree/Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy/ Great song.

5. Healing is in Your Hands (Christy Nockels)-  This song is powerful. I don’t really need to say more about this- other than Christy Nockels has an amazing voice!

6. King of Heaven-Isaiah 61 (Charlie Hall)- First, let me say that I believe that Charlie Hall is probably the most underrated of the Passion Artist.  Tomlin, Crowder, and Redman seem to get more publicity.  That said, I am not a huge fan of the song.  Charlie begins the song /Oh, Oh, King of Heaven Come Down/  Is God somewhere remote? Somewhere up there that we must invoke God’s name?  I believe that God is present with us- with the poor and needy, with the brokenhearted, with the lost- we need to have our eyes opened to see God’s presence among us rather than calling on God to come down from heaven to help us.  God is already here!

7. You Alone Can Rescue (Matt Redman)- After Redman’s last CD, We Shall Not Be Shaken, how is this the only song from Redman on this album?  I was surprised that Redman was not featured more at Passion because that album was so solid.  This song quickly became a favorite of our congregation shortly after his CD came out- /Who, O Lord couls save themselves/Their own soul could heal/Our shame was deeper than the sea/Your grace is deeper still/

8. Where the Spirit of the Lord Is (Chris Tomlin/Christy Nockels)- First, Christy makes this song from a vocal perspective.  This is a song longing for the presence of God in our lives- and in the presence of God that we live in God’s freedom.

9. Rise and Sing (Fee)- Fee brings a slightly different sound than what you get in Tomlin, Redman, Stanfill (yes, Crowder is in a league by themselves).  A song calling on people who have been touched by God to Rise and Sing.  This is a song for believers.

10. Like a Lion (David Crowder Band)- The more I listen to this song, I like it. Crowder sings Let love explode and bring the dead to life/a love so bold/To see a revolution somehow/ The song revolves around this idea that God is alive and roaring like a lion in our hearts. This song ties in thematically with Awakening.

11. Chosen Generation (Chris Tomlin)- Yet another Chris Tomlin song.  I am tired of Tomlin songs by this point.

12. With Everything (Hillsong United)- This song clocks in at 8:39! The song calls us to shout praises to God with everything that we have.  The last few minutes the band and 22,000 in attendance are singing /Woah-oah-oah/ and it is powerful how even singing in unison like that can communicate what our hearts cannot put into words.  It was great to see Hillsong at Passion and great to have them on the CD! Too bad they couldn’t have dropped a Tomlin song and included another Hillsong number!

This is a pretty solid release by our friends at Passion.  Not perfect, but solid.  One of my biggest critiques of Passion is that all the artist are white, and mostly male.  Are there not other voices that could be pulled into the fold to influence a rising generation?  Those questions may be for another post!

Do you have the CD?  What do you think?

Posted in CD Review, Music | 3 Comments

The Weakest Link

Posted on March 8, 2010 by Steve LaMotte
Pic- Jerry Lampen / Reuters

I was thinking back over the Winter Olympics the other day.  I’m not a huge Winter Olympics fan, but each night Andrea and I found ourselves watching the Olympics.  One of the events that I found intriguing was the Men’s Team Pursuit Speed Skating.  I saw the final between Canada and America.  The sport consist of a team of three skaters who skate at the same time.  The skate in a single file line- trying to synchronize their motions.  At the end of the race, the attempt to skate side by side as they cross the finish line because the last skate to cross the line is where the judges count the time.  As the announcer said on the final lap, you are only as fast as your slowest skater.

It’s like that in our Christian communities as well.

I hear and read much conversation about the freedom we have in Christ for various pursuits.  For example- I’m around Christians who enjoy a beer from time to time, and they are right in saying that the Bible doesn’t prohibit the comsumption of alchohol (although it’s pretty clear on drunkeness). Other areas are media consumption, language, and even co-habitating (we’re not having sex, just living in the same house/apartment).  I think much of this is a backlash against legalism in the church as they strive to enforce a “Christian morality.”

In Romans 14, Paul is writing about weak and strong Christians.  The weak Christians are those who are unable/unwilling to give up certain observances such as dietary laws or the Sabbath.  For Paul, and the strong or mature Christian- the taboos no longer apply- Yet if Paul or another Christian were to eat a food that was previous “unclean” in front of a person who is not at the same place as Paul- then Paul may cause the “weaker Christian” to stumble.  This is what Paul says:

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.  Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.  All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.  It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.”  (Romans 14:19-21 NIV)

For Paul, it was an issue of the food or wine that they drank.  There are issues today that we ask Christians engage in without consideration of how it affects the community we are in.  Is it worth having a couple beers if it causes a brother or sister to stumble/question their faith?  Does our sarcasm cause another person to sin?  I don’t think we like to ask these sort of questions because we are very individualistic in America (and the West) and rarely consider how our actions affect our community- but they do! Paul says that we should make every effort to do things that edify (build up) our brothers and sisters in our community.

For me, that means denying myself of some extras in life that may be seemingly harmless, but may cause someone else to question their faith or mine.  Our lives are not our own.  They are a living witness and testimony to the God we serve and the faith community we participate in.  Our communities of faith are only as strong as our “weakest” participant.  The entire life of the community is to work to build up faith (edify) and to continually seek maturity in Christ. 

In what ways does your Church and/or your life build up and edify those who are “weaker” or less mature in their faith?  Do you actions/life put out a stumbling block or set the pace?

Posted in Bible Thought | Leave a comment