Petting Lions

Does everybody else enjoy the story of Daniel in the lion's den as much as I do? Maybe I'm so enamored with it because I love big fluffy cats. Tell me you aren't wishing you could be in the lion's den running your hand through Aslan's mane or riding on his back? Okay, maybe I have an inadequate respect for these hungry lions, as is demonstrated when Daniel returns from their presence unscathed, but King Darius throws his accusers into the den and they don't even reach the floor before their families are devoured.

But what struck me last night when I read chapter 6 of the book of Daniel was the impression he left on the people around him. Look at how he impacted his co-workers:

"Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom." -Daniel 6:3 NASB

" Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." Daniel 6:5 NIV

"The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!" " Daniel 6:16 NIV

Talk about work-place ministry!
"When he came near the den, he (King Darius) called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?" Daniel 6:20 NIV

It makes me question how set apart I am. Can people recognize me as a Christian? Does my attitude reflect 'the God whom I serve continually'? They're definitely not calling me 'extraordinary'. Plenty of room for improvement I suppose.

Success!!!

How to quantify a win for Mosaic’s launch?

• I could tell you how diverse our first congregation was.
• I could tell you that we had no children in need of parents during the service, in fact we had some cry when they had to leave their children’s ministry.
• Or that the Southeast Christian Church mission team made it possible for every Mosaic volunteer to attend the service, instead of taking care of the kiddos.
• People were singing with Josh and the band.
• People were laughing with Carl, he even got a few “Amen”s, which he had no idea what to do with.
• I could share that we had at least one person from every form of advertising that our summer mission teams helped us with.
• I could say that people were so compelled by the service and convinced of our expertise that they thought it was intentional when we blew a circuit and the projector went out in the middle of the sermon.
• I could use the more traditional measuring stick of numbers and tell you that we had 186 people in attendance and over 100 of them were people we didn’t know.
• Or I could tell you that people indicated on their communication cards that they were interested in small groups, membership, service, and Jesus!
• But what I really think is important is that I couldn’t stop smiling and praising God the whole day. He was truly worshipped with our love poured out through Mosaic and glorified by our sharing His name.
  

-Video thanks Dan Skinner and Carl Kuhl

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

I nearly moved to Vegas

Last weekend, in spite of impending Hurricane Hanna, my friend Amanda and I took off for Virginia Beach for one last summer getaway. Among the many highlights of the trip were the friends we visited, playing on the beach in the tropical storm, rock climbing, flying a kite and the Fried Oreo Delight. But what surprised me most was how excited I got on Sunday by Forefront Church's service.

I was already riled up by the very professionally done mission video, so when Vince, the pastor gave a motivational sermon about buts (yes, I spelled it right) I was moved into action. In a sermon series called "World Changers" he focused on Dwight Moody with the theme of how we often let buts, or excuses, keep us from totally selling out to Jesus. Dwight Moody did not allow these to get in his way, and consequently made a huge impact on the world for Christ. By the end of the lesson I was all but packed to move to Las Vegas to help Vince with their next church plant. But I reminded myself of the yet-to-be-launched church I had at home and settled back down. He said his close friendship with Carl and Lindsay Kuhl would have prevented him from taking me from Mosaic in good conscience anyway.

I attributed all my excitement to Vince's words and Forefront's passion until Monday night when I visited Frontline, a ministry of McLean Bible Church in Arlington, Virginia. As Lon Solomon laid out the vision McLean has for reaching 6 million people in DC I started to feel it again. When he described Access, their huge disabilities ministry and Jill's House, a therapy and respite center for special children, I was once again ready to sign on the dotted line.

In my delight I recognized a similar feeling from the previous day's experience at Forefront and realized these were not two isolated incidents. Yeah, these were both inspiring services, but the underlying connection was my eagerness for a church home. I'd been quite content church-hopping all summer, or so I'd thought. But now it's clear, and the timing is impeccable, that I'm desperately ready for a family to call my own and a place to serve regularly. In two days Mosaic will be just that!!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!" -Ephesians 3:20-21

Countdown to the Launch!!!

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September 4th not only marks 10 DAYS left till Mosaic Christian Church's official grand opening, but also my last scheduled fast for the church. For a year up to the launch Mosaic has had someone fasting and praying for it everyday. I don't believe it makes a difference in God's plan whether we switch shifts exactly at midnight, but I do think it's been a cool gimmick to encourage people to have very focused prayer time for the church.

I know it has reminded me to lift up the details, the mission teams, the community, the staff, and mostly just surrender it all to God's sovereignty.

My monthly day has also allowed me to concentrate my prayer on other timely matters. The 4th of February was the day before the first Post. The 4th of June I was in Bolivia seeking to understand God's will. The 4th of July our Post mission team was helping us reach out at a local Independence Day event.

Recognizing hunger pains, like we so rarely really do in the U.S., allows me to empathize to a small degree with so many around the world who experience them everyday. It has shed a whole new light on our common phrases, "I'm starving!" and "I have to get something to eat."

But most of all fasting has reminded me that "man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord," Deuteronomy 8:3, and that "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me," Philippians 4:13.

I've really enjoyed this experience. Maybe you should pray about fasting regularly, maybe even fast about it. Hehe.