intentionally natural

There’s a big difference between the intentional and the accidental. Intentionality speaks of purpose, design and even love. It means there is something bigger at work. And if that “something bigger” is behind it all, there’s a reason for it. Nothing is done haphazardly or by coincidence.

That is the definition, however, of the accidental. Something that happens by accident is random. It’s an unplanned, chance occurrence. The word usually implies a mistake, problem or even tragedy (i.e. car accident). In business, no company survives by simply allowing its customers to browse through their random, by-chance products.

I desperately want this church to be different. I want to participate in an intentional community. We serve a God of order and structure. He is the Grand Author, Designer and Sustainer. And this church will be intentional. We will love God and each other. We will live the way He says. We will lead the world closer to Him.

There is also a big difference between the natural and the unnatural. The natural is obvious to all of us. We immediately think of trees and grass; mountains and valleys; sunrises, sunsets and flocks of geese. Just about every human alive will testify to the wonder and beauty of nature. We try to box it in and contain it, but ultimately it is beyond us. It is unpredictable, untamable and surrounds us. We don’t command the natural, but simply live among it and try to enjoy it.

The unnatural is just the opposite. It is that which we command and manipulate. It is the manufactured world in which we all live and, quite frankly, take pleasure in. There is a certain beauty in a Porsche 911 or the new iPhone. I can certainly appreciate the blessings of a transcontinental airplane flight or my laptop. But when compared to the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, that Porsche turns to dust. When contrasted with the oxygen I breathe in and out every second, can I really consider my laptop a blessing?

I desperately want this church to be different. I want to participate in a natural community. I don’t want to force or fabricate our love, lifestyle or leadership. I want to plant some seeds and watch them grow in completely unexpected and beautiful ways. I want it to be beyond my scope and control. I want it to inspire awe and wonder simply because it exists.

Is it possible, then, to be both intentional and natural? Perhaps it’s like a farmer’s field. It’s very intentional in the sense that he plants the seeds, cares for the soil, prunes the crops and then harvests the fruit. But it’s also very natural in the sense that he cannot force those seeds to produce. All he can really do is put them in the right place at the right time and take care of them.

The apostle Paul uses this analogy beautifully. He says that one servant of God might plant a seed and another servant might water. But “it’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process, but God, who makes things grow.” (We should all read and reread the context of 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 in an understandable version like The Message Bible.)
God, help us to be more like You. You are both intentional and natural. Everything You touch, all that You are, is beautiful and glorious. Help us to be intentionally natural!

worship

At its core, everything is spiritual.

Most people don’t believe this. That’s obvious by simple observation. Even if they said they did with their mouths, they would say something else with their lives. Even for Christians who have heard all about worship, this is a hard truth to flesh out on a daily basis. Take a few moments to ponder the following statements.

The way we behave on the job is an act of worship.

The grades we earn in school are an act of worship.

The way we treat our spouse is an act of worship.

The way we raise our children is an act of worship.

The way we handle our finances is an act of worship.

Historically we have tended to categorize worship as the “spiritual” part of our lives…as if some things were of God and others were not. We have always thought of going to church as a part of worship. But vacation days at work—that’s my business, not God’s. That’s not spiritual. It’s personal. Even when we’re in church we like to sub-categorize. Singing songs is certainly a worshipful experience. But listening to the announcements—that’s a perfect time to text friends and make lunch plans.

The reality is that all of life is spiritual. Every single aspect of our existence is built upon and sustained by God. I mean, even the food we eat is a reflection, isn’t it? If we don’t give a rip about the body God’s given us, we’ll eat and drink pretty much anything and everything. Who cares how it affects us, right? But, if we view our bodies through the lens of worship, it becomes something completely different. We’ll eat better because our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). We might even recognize the importance of exercise and regular periods of rest.

Women can certainly understand the importance of dressing in a way that brings glory to God instead of their own bodies. Men can readily comprehend the magnitude of leading their families closer to Jesus instead of the American dream. Children quickly comprehend how wonderful it is to give generously instead of hording it all to themselves. If you and I are followers of Jesus Christ, we have to come to this understanding as well. We have to acknowledge the fact that every thought, word and action points beyond ourselves. We are the representatives of Jesus Christ. So the real question is this: Does my life reflect my God? Do I look and act and smell and feel like Jesus? What kind of worship am I offering Him?

One ancient follower of Jesus put it this way. “I urge you, brothers [and sisters], in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1). Our very body, our entire being, is offered to God as a sacrifice. This at-the-office or at-home or in-the-coffee-shop life of ours is what God wants. It’s not about who you are or what you do at some kind of church gathering. It’s who you are and what you do when no one else is around. A great translation of this passage in The Message Bible puts it very simply. “Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.”

Worship is a huge, all-encompassing idea. It’s a little scary and a lot humbling to think about our huge God creating and caring for us. How can we possibly offer Him anything but a life of complete worship?! Holy Seed Community Church is a place of worship. That is how we have started and that is how we will continue. We will not conform to the pattern of this sinful, selfish, immature world, but will seek after and follow our God. We will fix our attention on Him and He will, in turn, transform us from the inside out. This life is not about us. It never was. This is about Jesus and bringing Him glory. After all, at its core, everything is spiritual.

unpredictable

“The only thing predictable about God is His unpredictability.” One of my beloved seminary professors and mentors used to say that a lot. Dr. Rickie Moore’s words have shown themselves true in my life over and over again.

God will not be boxed in. He refuses to play by the rules! Well, my rules, at least. Just when I think I’ve figured Him out, I am undone. Once again I feel like an ant in His presence and realize how vast the difference between HE and i.

This past week was anything but predictable. On Monday night we learned of the tragic death of one of our former students. Tyler Carver was a kind, respectful, athletic young man. His 16 years were not nearly enough. The shocking news took our breath away. I cannot imagine burying my own child. Our hearts are broken and grieved for his family.

On Wednesday morning our dear friends, Matt and Angela, had another little baby girl. We went to the hospital to see Shayden Lee and check on her mom, dad and sister, Joslyn. The whole family is doing great and is thrilled to add another member. Our hearts swelled with excitement and celebration with them.

Then, on Thursday, another new life was born. This time the miracle comes to some of our oldest and closest friends, Josh and Sara Turner. They’re leading a thriving youth ministry in Atlanta and are about to have their lives turned on its ear by the precious little Aletheia Michal. We’re sad we can’t be with them, but so pumped that they finally have this amazing child to bring home.

How do we reconcile these wildly varied emotions? It’s almost overwhelming just to experience them, but to explain them is beyond me. We could have never predicted a week like this. Even if we could, I’m not sure we would have chosen to. God never seems to do things the way I, in my infinite wisdom (cough, cough), think they should be done. And He rarely seems to bend His will to my prayers and pleas, either. I find that I’m usually the one who bends.

Nor does this God that we serve succumb to any formula. Just because I do A, B and C, does not necessarily mean God will do D, E and F. He seems to love and relish doing the unexpected, mysterious and even dangerous. He is not some lifeless statue, but is a living being. Like any other relationship, we exist in a dynamic give-and-take with Him! Most of the time it’s sweet and pleasant and very satisfying. Other times it’s frustrating and confusing and even annoying. But all the time it’s exciting and unknown and…unpredictable.

I don’t even understand my wife all the time! How can I possibly expect to understand the Living God?! I can’t. I won’t. But the journey sure has been fun, amazing, life-giving, life-transforming, miraculous. Though unpredictable, I wouldn’t trade this in for the whole world!

lost control

I think I’ve lost control of my life. Good. Great! Finally!!! I was never supposed to be in control to begin with. I’ve driven in the median too often and slammed into too many trees anyway. I don’t want to be in control.

The bad news about this, though, is that I continually fight to regain the control I honestly don’t want. I always think I know best or can fix the situation or have a better idea. I seem to conveniently forget that God created all and orchestrates all.

I spent this past weekend at a men’s retreat. I was privileged just to be there with them, but was also asked to be their speaker. It has a high honor and I was a little scared of it all. I felt like I heard from God, however, about what to say. I came with three messages ready from the Lord. But then, like always, the situation changed. The circumstances were altered. I faced some unexpected and unknown barriers. Enter Dustin, the Great Fixer of All. I made some inquiries and did my best to level the playing field once again. I worked my magic to delight and surprise all, and I failed. My attempts didn’t work out. I was forced, coerced and required to do things God’s way. And wouldn’t you know it…everything worked out fantastic.

The messages were very well received. The men seemed genuinely blessed and touched by God. The coordinator was very complimentary and I was thrilled. But, better than everything else, I sensed the Divine nod. I knew that God was pleased with my surrender. Even though I fought Him again and released very reluctantly, He smiled upon me. I lost control. And it was wonderful.

I want to lose control again today. I want that to be a hallmark of my life every day. I want to discipline myself to be more flexible. Does that make any sense? I want to work harder at not working so hard. Is that even possible? I don’t really know how this all fits together yet, but it sure is exciting! Thank you, Lord, for prying the control out of my hands over and over and over again! You’re so much better at life than I am!

trust

A refuge from the storm does exist.

Wouldn’t it be great if that statement were true? Wouldn’t you love to have some place and/or some people where you really believed that? It’s become so rare that most of us don’t believe it even exists anymore. It’s like an urban legend. But what if it did exist? What if there actually was a place and a people that actually loved you exactly the way you were. Where you could be open and honest about all your victories and all your wounds and, yet, still accepted? Where you could vent, air your dirty laundry, weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice? Is it possible?

It certainly wouldn’t be easy. Then again, nothing worthwhile ever is, is it? It would be extremely hard to create that kind of environment. Then, once you experienced it, it would be even harder to maintain it. Trust is fragile. Trust is laboriously gained and easily broken. Trust is hard to give and, often, even harder to receive. But, just imagine with me for a moment, what if it existed? As hard as it is to create and nurture, what if you found an environment like that? How would it make you feel? What would you do with it? How would you treat those people? What would you think of that place? What would trust mean to you?

An atmosphere of genuine trust is, quite literally, a miracle from God. We humans are not naturally trusting. Have you ever attempted to take a toy away from a two year old? It doesn’t matter if you have an even better toy in the other hand, he/she does not understand and does not trust. It simply isn’t part of our natural make-up. We’re the same way with God too, aren’t we? He always knows best and does best, but we still don’t trust. He could have the most wonderful gift in the other hand or behind His back or on its way, but that doesn’t matter to us. At the slightest whiff of discomfort or pain, we flip out. Like most two year olds, we slump to the floor and begin to roll around wailing and lamenting our horrible misfortune.

But for those who have eyes to see it and ears to hear it, a place of trust, that precious refuge from the storm of life, does exist. It probably won’t be easy to find and it certainly won’t be easy to live consistently. But it’s worth all of that. There will be times that we want to draw back, pull away, run back to our safe, familiar, hidden shell. But it’s worth all of that. It will take a great deal of risk, quite a few uncomfortable moments and even some betrayal and pain. But it’s worth all of that.

We describe a place of trust as a place of safety. It’s an environment where you can take off the mask(s) and just be you. It’s a place of reliability. It’s an atmosphere in which you can count on the people to be there, to listen, to offer feedback at times and, and other times, to keep their opinions to themselves. It’s a place that practices confidentiality. You can’t open up to just anyone at any time. But in this place and with these people, it’s okay. And it won’t get back to…whoever.

Trust. It’s a beautiful concept. It’s a brutally hard reality. Holy Seed Community Church is working really diligently to create and nurture trust. We desperately want to experience a place of safety, reliability and confidentiality. Life is so hard. It beats us down in so many ways at so many times. Each of us desperately yearns for a place of trust. And a refuge from the storm does exist!