Lead/Team/People

So last week, the second class from Ozark came to the big city, and I was with them every step of the way. This class focused on Leadership/Teambuilding/People Development. They were able to hear from a number of various church planters who are doing ministry today in the city. It was a great class full of great future leaders. The only let-down was on Saturday night. We had tickets to go see Phantom of the Opera...on Broadway! But we discovered that afternoon that the backstage hands all over Broadway have gone on strike! Therefore, no show. I've seen the show before when it came to Tulsa, but this is Broadway! Oh well. Instead we were able to walk around the Times Square area in the freezing cold wind. It was probably a lot more fun for them.

On Sunday morning we went to two Orchard Group churches. Crossroads Christian Church is in Brooklyn, and has a more neighborhood focus for the people of Bay Ridge. The second church is where I go, Forefront Church in Midtown Manhattan. Both services were different in how they reached people with God's love, which fostered some great discussion about the methods of ministry. One great comment I heard a few times about both churches was the fact that the people were so excited to be there - it's like they really wanted to go to church. It's true that in the Midwest, there's an expectation that going to church is the right thing to do, so you do it every week whether you really want to or not. But in New York, Christianity is more of a minority, and healthy churches are hard to find. So when you do find one, you want to go and meet with other Christians! It's a wonderful thing. I remember when my family started going to Cedar Ridge. At first I hated it (mostly because I had a grudge against church in general). But when I let my guard down and started to become part of the community, I remember realizing one Sunday that I really wanted to go to church. It's a beautiful thing.

I was also able to produce and lead a team-building exercise on Sunday night for the class to hone their team-building skills. It was great seeing people work together and learn more about themselves in working as a team.
On Monday we were able to hear from a guy on staff at Redeemer Presbyterian here in New York. Redeemer had taken the lead in New York for planting churches wherever they can. Anyway, he talked about how in urban preaching, we cannot simply transplant more conservative, midwestern styles. People need to know how the gospel effects all of life an existence, more than three principles on how to have a healthy marriage. Sermons about a healthy marriage are great, and needed, but most people aren't asking those questions here. We must be "ruthless contextualizers" of the gospel to all of life. Actually, I think that applies to wherever you might preach.
Again I am so glad that God has blessed me to work with Dave and lead these classes as they learn in the city. Hopefully I'll see some of these students in the future working in New York City.

Survival vs. Love

I just watched the movie Crash. If you haven't seen it, it chronicles the experiences of various ethnic groups interacting in LA. It shows a raw picture of the feelings and outcomes of racism. It's a well-made, well thought out movie, and I highly recommend it. It will definitely stir your emotions.
However, by the end everything was not tied up in a nice bow. Characters learn some lessons, but in the last scene racism continues to manifest its ugly head yet again, as if to say "it will never end." It's a pessimistic ending. I hardly found any sense of honor or integrity either. Bending the rules was common place and any thought of forgiveness or reconciliation was hardly in the equation (Julia Roberts' character was a small exception). I think what I was searching for and found missing was love. Love. In the midst of racial tension and misunderstanding, no one humbled themselves, no one took the time to understand another's viewpoint, and no one tried to make amends. Instead, each character simply did their best to survive. There was a self-centered justification to their actions. Love. Where was love?
It makes me think about the way of Jesus. I sure hope that Jesus followers are known for their love - not just a lack of racism because they are trying to survive. Trying to survive because that's what society says is best, or because that's what makes them feel good. I sure hope that Jesus followers understand more than anyone else - really anyone else - how precious people are. We should understand that every person has been made by God in His image. And more than that, He showed how precious every life is when He died for them on a cross. Love.
Now in the end, everyone is a racist to a certain degree. I'm a racist. When I look at a stranger, I observe their skin tone, what they're wearing, their language, and body language, and then I make judgments. Stereotypes flow quickly. It's almost automatic. We all experience this. It's a survival technique. But we must go beyond just survival. We must own up to our stereotypes, and then chose the way of Jesus. Love. Every time. Is it hard? Yes. But that's what Jesus did for us...for you...for me.

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility to all men. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved up through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. -- Titus 3:1-8

Learning from the Monks

I think that if I was born in the middle ages, I would be a monk in a monastery. I know they had their flaws. I'm not so much attracted to the simple life, but the focused one. Being a part of an entire community where everyone is seeking one kind of life together. When I look at American society, I often hate it. Each person must fight alone - against everyone else for the mighty dollar, or whatever else the individual wants. However, I know that every culture and society is imperfect with its flaws. But what about the church? Shouldn't it be the best society/culture - a different people living within a people? American/Western Christianity is still so individualistic to me. It's believers getting together as individuals - not as a community together focused on one kind of life together. That's what I want. That's the kind of church I look and strive towards.
And so here I am writing about it on my own, personal blog. Ironic?

Not from Brooklyn

So tonight I decided to get some pizza for dinner. I went to the local pizza place, Giovanni's, to enjoy some authentic New York sausage pizza. While I was waiting, the woman beside me was talking with they guy working about her cat that had been lost for a week and a half. I struck up a conversation with her, asking about the cat. We chatted a little, then she asked me where I was from. When I told her I was from Oklahoma, she responded with: "You're not from Brooklyn...so that's why you're talking." So I started a conversation with a stranger - guess I'm not from Brooklyn.
Actually Bensonhurst, my neighborhood, has been really inviting. When you start a conversation, people are really open to talking. It really is a great neighborhood. It's definitely a lot different from life back in Broken Arrow, OK. But like I often say, people are people. It's not like New Yorkers are from another planet or another people group. There are some differences, but in many ways, people are the same as back home.
So I guess the moral of the story (haha)...don't let your stereotypes of people get carried away.

Esther

So I just read the book of Esther in the Bible. It's such a great story. Whether or not you're a Christian or even religious, it is a must read. Today as I was reading it again on the subway, I thought of how fun it would be to read it to children at a library (in the children's version of course). There's love, humor, action, and lots of great irony. It's written like a great legend. I believe that it is.
One really interesting part I noticed this time came at the end(if you haven't read it yet, go and take 20 min. to read it right now!). When the Jews are able to defeat their enemies all over the kingdom, it says that they were given the plunder of their enemies (8:11), but they ended up not touching it (9:16)! What happened to all that plunder??? Well, when Mordecai tells all the Jews to celebrate the two days of relief from their enemies, he tells them to feast, give presents of food,...and to give gifts to the poor (9:22). Where did the poor enter the picture. I wasn't there and the story doesn't specifically say this, but it looks like they would celebrate by giving gifts to the poor, because that's what they did with all the plunder when they defeated their enemies. What would cause these exiles in a foreign land not to take advantage of all the plunder? The followed Yahweh. They were different. God cares about the poor, so they did too (so much that they gave gifts to the poor - others - as part of their celebration! That sounds like a really neat idea - give to the poor when you have a celebration). The Jews are painted as very different in Esther. Mordecai doesn't bow down to Haman. Before Haman's demise, his wife tells him: "Since Modecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him" (6:13). When the Jews were given permission to fight for themselves, "many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them" (8:17). Wow! When the day came for the showdown between the Jews and their enemies, people were afraid of them, and all the king's officers supported the Jews (9:2, 3). The Jews were different. Even though "God" isn't mentioned in the story, He's all over the place working for the favor of his people. I could go on, but what a great story of God's work through his people to ultimately bring our hope, Jesus.
What's your favorite part of the story? Go ahead, leave a comment!

Job

So I went through the arduous 2-interview process of trying to get a job at one of the apple retail stores here in the city and finally found out that I didn't get the job. So I'm still in the search for a part-time job. I know that I could find a job doing just about anything, but I want to be purposeful about what jobs I pursue. Please pray for me that God would provide where He desires, and if I need to, that he would make me swallow my pride.

Haircut

So on Wednesday I finally got a haircut - trim actually. I hadn't been to any places in Bensonhurst (the neighborhood in Brooklyn where I live). But I saw a sign for $10 mens' cuts at a place right by the subway entrance, so I tried it out. There were two women there and then three women working. Just a slight bit awkward. Anyway, while the woman was cutting my hair we had the small talk going on. She had an accent and would periodically speak in another language to the other women working, so I asked her where she was from. Albania! Not just Albania, but Dures, where I went last summer during my missions trip with CIY! They were really excited and so was I. My landlord is also from Albania. Who knows how God has been working and how he will use this for his glory. Please be praying for me that I will be able to make some relationships with people in my building and in my neighborhood here in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.