Sitting on the stage with Bruce was good. I have known Bruce for a long time. A really long time. I mean, I watched Betsy take her first step. Two weeks ago, I walked across the Auburn University campus with Betsy where she is a freshman! I love sitting in front of Emmanuel with a friend, who also happens to be a lion chaser! It seemed to me that Bruce was actually sharing a hope and challenge with the Emmanuel family. It also was pretty clear to me that our ability to pull off this challenge just does not exist. But, God......Bruce was inviting us.. EBC... little ole' us to become the Strategy Planners for the NW corner of Brazil. There is no other 'they' in this equation. It's us and Jesus! That's a good team. Over the next year, we will discern and discover what that partnership looks like and how God might be inviting us to join Him in this massive endeavor. As I listened, I realized that this endeavor supersedes my lifetime, but its a lion worth chasing for the rest of my days!
A quick demographical consideration of that area tells us that only 2% of the population have heard of the grace and love of Jesus Christ. We are being invited to launch a church planting movement across that region that could be simply remarkable. As Bruce shared his vision.... a church within a days walking distance of every person in that region, I was gripped. People walking 4 - 6 hours, one-way, in order to encounter Christ with fellow followers! My imagination was running. My heart racing.
I love strategy... I love impact! I was envisioning this web of indigenous leaders who are in the floresta (jungle), who make their way to the two larger churches in the region. I can 'see' them walking into rich environments of worship (from the EBC team leaders) and having our small group leaders equip and train them in sharing in 'house church'. I see our students walking in the 'interior' and leading children and students to worship... to worship the living God. My children and my grandchildren in this huge endeavor of reaching an unreached people group. A fresh vision was planted. It's a lion chasing vision! A 500 lb beast that could devour us, but God.....
Also, yesterday was so amazing as Carrie and her team led us in worship. Her body and mind might be 'radiated', but her soul and passion was radiating the majesty and wonder of our God! She led us in worship... From the fist-pumping "Oh, Happy Day" to sharing in her story and her song, which are actually His story and His song. I love Carrie. I love that she leads us to worship the living God. I love that she brings the Word alive by action and by deed. (Carrie, I love that you love the book of James and that you are living that book right now!)
It seems that Emmanuel continues to be on the cusp of a God-sized revolution. Is is possible that the revolution might stem from allowing a fraction of a verse to makes its way into our DNA? Paul says, make the MOST of every opportunity. (Col 4.5) Every opportunity to find satisfaction in Christ, make the most of it. Every opportunity to revel in His glory... yeah, make the most of it. Every opportunity to amplify the name and fame of Jesus Christ, make the MOST of those moments! They are divine.
If we follow Paul's challenge, then we will be a people who have planted the seed of Christ in our lives and grown into bushes. But Christ might actually implement the remarkable... changing our very DNA and allowing us to become trees... Oaks of righteousness for the display of His splendor! That would be ridiculous. I am asking God to grow a body of Christ who are trees...oaks... for His glory alone... His name alone.... His fame alone.... Him.... All for Him!
Make the most of every opportunity. That could just change nations! Yeah!! I want to chase that lion. I want to grow. I want, by the grace of God, to become a tree through which many find life. I want to be surrounded by fellow trees! Let's fall in love with Him, together!
I love you guys. I love hanging out with a bunch of bushes who might just become trees.
By Grace... For Glory,
Mark
2 comments:
Marie and I were talking last night about the seeds and bushes. I think we get hung up on looking like trees. We desperately want to look like an amazing tree that has flourished under the influence and grace of God. I don't think we ever get to see that in ourselves. I don't think God's intent is for us to see ourselves as trees. I think He wants us to be as humble as the bush while other people see us as trees. We admonish ourselves for not being trees when in fact, to others, we might be larger than life. People could swing on our branches for days and we get worried about being tall enough, full enough, sturdy enough. God is a BIG God! He can see the trees and allow for others to see trees in us. We can glory in being an ever growing and changing bush. With diligence and love the transformation to tree will occur, even if we don't see it.
Peter, you are so right on! I love the insight. After all, God loves a humble and contrite heart. God loves the weak and the meek. As you so poignantly said, we may never know that we are trees. However, we can seek to deeply know the One who grows bushes into trees. As Paul said, I want to know Christ... more than any other thing, to know Him! I think that the knowledge of Him actually might move me away from any concern as to whether I am a tree or not. I will actually be concerned about Him and His life and His transformation. I will die to my small dreams and I will be planted in Him. Ironically and quizzically, in my death to self and small dreams and being planted in Him, I might actually become a tree... completely unbeknownst to me. Yeah, I love Jesus!! I also love you a bunch, Peter!
Mark
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