by the Way...

Stop Planting Churches, Please

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:20:00 +0000

It is very popular to talk about "church planting" these days. I wonder where the idea of "planting" church came from? After all, Paul was involved in the births of many local churches during his lifetime. We read about them in the New Testament. Even though he was prolific at helping churches flourish and grow, he never once referred to what he did as church "planting."

I can appreciate the organic nature of the phrase "church planting" but I find it increasingly disturbing as an unbiblical concept. Recently I have spent some time looking through the New Testament at all references to any type of "planting." Of course, I skipped over all references to physical plants and focused on the verb form of the word plant. Here's what I found:

In Matthew's Gospel, it is recorded that Jesus told this parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

The thing "planted" in this parable is the kingdom of heaven. The church--while it is a part of--is not the entire kingdom.

Matthew records that Jesus said, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."

This is an eery warning against "planting" things that Father did not plant. How many self-professed "church planters" will be pulled up by the roots?

Matthew records another parable told by Jesus that goes: "There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit...."

As this parable goes on and is explained, the One who planted the vineyard is the King. He is the "planter" of the vineyard. Later in scripture we learn that all of us who follow Jesus are part of his vineyard.

Luke records this parable of Jesus: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'"

The fig tree can be interpreted into a number of things, but the point for our discussion is that the owner of the vineyard (i.e. Father) planted it. It did not produce fruit and was therefore cut down. Just because Father plants things does not guarantee success. Nevertheless, only those who produce fruit will remain.

Paul, in an address to the Corinthians about who was the greatest, said: "What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."

We must ask ourselves, What was it that Paul "planted"? It doesn't take long to realize that Paul only preached Christ and him crucified. Essentially, Paul "planted" the Gospel. Nothing more, nothing less.

James admonishes us to get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in us, which can save us.

What was "planted" in us? The word. That is the good news about Jesus.

I haven't spent a ton of time researching this, but I am coming to the conclusion that it is Jesus who initiated His church, and we as His brothers and sisters help perpetuate His church by planting the Gospel of Jesus in the hearts and lives of people around the world. Perhaps we should focus on "Gospel Planting" and leave the church stuff up to Jesus. After all, He said He would build it.

I would imagine that all churches that have been "planted" by men will eventually be uprooted. On the other hand, where the Gospel has been planted, the church will come alive and flourish. Church, therefore, is the result of the Gospel being planted in the lives of humans. This is quite a new way of looking at it isn't it? All this time I have believed that it was the church's responsibility to spread the Gospel when in actuality it is the Gospel's responsibility to spread the church.

--Jason

Why Are We Like This?

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:55:00 +0000

While we admit to being unashamedly radical (in the true sense of that word) in our reexamination of everything in relation to standard church practice, we are nonetheless quite deeply committed to the historic, orthodox, Christian faith. Don't be fooled by our somewhat unorthodox approach to life, mission, and church. While we are unafraid to critique church traditions, we are devoted to the Scriptures and unmoving on the core Christian doctrines. So, while you are [reading our posts and our website] and perhaps finding yourself bristling with objections, please be assured that what we are espousing is not unbiblical. Unconventional for the church in the West? Yes. Unbiblical? No.

-Adapted from the Introduction of The Shaping of Things to Come by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch

Stop Mimicking Culture

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:24:00 +0000

In an article titled, The 'Missional Church': A Model for Canadian Churches? David Horrox writes,

"The church should stop mimicking the surrounding culture and become an alternative community, with a different set of beliefs, values and behaviors. Ministers would no longer engage in marketing; churches would no longer place primary emphasis on programs to serve members. The traditional ways of evaluating 'successful churches' – bigger buildings, more people, bigger budgets, larger ministerial staff, new and more programs to serve members – would be rejected. New yardsticks would be the norm: To what extent is our church a 'sent' community in which each believer is reaching out to his community? To what extent is our church impacting the community with a Christian message that challenges the values of our secular society?"

Thoughts?

-Jason

Two Rails on the Same Track

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:26:00 +0000

Over the past few weeks, as a church family we have been talking a lot about missional and incarnational living. To most folks, these terms have to be explained. I wish there were a better couple of words to use, but I don't know any.

"Missional" is a term that describes a missionary lifestyle; adopting the posture, thinking, behaviors, and practices of a missionary in order to engage others with the Gospel message. This does NOT refer to foreign missions or special mission trips, rather it refers to being "on mission" with Jesus every day, in every activity, in every relationship. To be "missional" you must be aware of how Father is working around you and be prepared to get involved.

"Incarnational" needs to be broken down into its root form in order to get it. The root word "incarnate" means to make concrete and real. This is about living AS Jesus in the world, making him concrete and real to those around us rather than Jesus simply being a great teacher who lived 2000 years ago. Eddie Gibbs says, "Everywhere we go, we are His church, His Body, His life with skin on. We are on holy ground everywhere that we are because He is with us, in us, and working through us." To be "incarnational" we must allow ourselves to be physically disciplined into the same posture and actions of Jesus.

These two ideas are the requisite rails running the same direction, forming a track to get us to where Father is glorified an the Gospel is proclaimed. On one side is the rail of incarnation. This rail is how we must physically be prepared to act as Jesus did. One way to do this is to practice the disciplines of Jesus: prayer, solitude, meditation, fasting, compassion, forgiveness, generosity, etc. When we do as Jesus did, we can identify with Him and be more pliable in the hands of Father to accomplish His will.

The other side of the track is the rail of mission. This rail is how we must mentally be aware of what Jesus is doing in and around us. Do we recognize the way He is working in the life of our family, friends, coworkers? Even more, are we aware of what He is doing in anonymous relationships like the teller at the bank, the cashier at Kroger, the driver in the opposite lane. We must stop focusing on our own desires and needs and broaden our scope to see what is going on all around us.

If we commit to laying these two rails in our lives, Father will indeed be glorified. We cannot lay one rail and expect to move in His direction. Both are necessary.

Simply,

Jason

Dead Men Can't Be Offended

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:19:00 +0000

What are you entitled to? Many things may come to your mind such as freedom, food, and housing. In fact, our country was founded on the fact that we all have rights afforded to us in the Bill of Rights, but when we examine our position as believers, what do we find? We give up our rights when we are born again, the old man dies and the claim we have to this world dies with it.

Why is this so important? The answer is that most of the things that keeps us from the full service of The Lord are things that we feel we have a right too. Let's look at a simple example of this. If somebody does something that I don't approve of I can become offended, but shouldn't we look at why we are offended? I believe that you cannot offend a dead man. What ever you say to me are words spoken over a dead man. If it offends The Lord who better to defend the Lord than the Lord Himself? Is HE not the judge off all? Many times we are offended and judge very quickly because we are hurt right? But can you hurt a dead man? It's no longer that I live but Christ that lives in me. Get the point? A dead man has no rights! We are to be hidden in Christ, therefore if attacked who are they attacking me or Christ?

I really want to look at this on a personal level relevant to our everyday life. Many are walking around carrying judgment and hurt that they don't even have a right to have since they claim to be born again. Hebrews 12:14-15 deals with this very matter read it very carefully and pray over it. Pursue peace with everyone. Who is everyone? Whats it matter if you are dead? The pursuit of peace and holiness is totally foreign to the carnal man but not the spirit man. What happens when we are offended? Most of the time we hold judgment against the one who offended us. But, if we are dead and Christ is living in us then it is the Lords battle. Hebrews in this chapter warns us not to let the root of bitterness spring up in us. This is what happens when we do not forgive! We must let our rights, our life be hidden in Christ. This allows us to live in the Spirit, to walk in the Spirit and love in the Spirit.

First John 4:17 read very carefully says "as He is so are we in this World"!! Did you get it? As HE is so are we in this world. This means that the power of God is in us for all things. When I pray for someone, I step back and quote this verse then say Lord as you are so am I in this world so its you praying not me. The same with offense, I say Lord, as you are so am I in this world this is coming at you and you alone are able to withstand! We must be dead to ourselves and alive to Christ. Only Christ can save, only Christ can heal, only Christ can forgive. Brothers there are offenses that are so deep, so painful that come into our lives that are not humanly possible to forgive, but Christ in me the hope of glory can.

The principle of the Cross is all but lost in the modern church. We must regain it for this generation. If we want to see the full measure of Christ we must die to our self. We must give over our rights to our Lord. Remember, you were bought with a price, you are not you own any more if you are Born Again you are Christs own. This requires much sacrifice but brings about much glory.

Right now maybe you are going through one of these wonderful opportunities to die to your self and to pick up the cross and follow Him. Maybe you haven't looked at it in this light; maybe you feel like you are being treated unfairly, or maybe you have already been offended. Please take some time to seek the Lord and let Him guide you through to victory. We must not gage our walk by what the world deems successful, but only in the light of the Lord. We are to be the Church of the Overcomer. Read the letter to the Churches in Rev.2-3. All of these promises are made to those who overcome. How can we overcome if we are not challenged? If this letter speaks to where you are please stand firm in Christ. If you need prayer please contact us and we will pray for you. But remember, you are not alone, we are all being shaken right now to the very foundation but those who are His shall overcome.

[Adapted from an article written by Darren Smith of Streetscape Ministries]

Dead Men Have No Rights

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:35:00 +0000

One of the hardest things for us to do as believers is to give up our sense of entitlement. Whether we call it pride or self love, we all struggle with thinking we deserve better. In Colossians 3:3 the Bible tells us we are dead and our life is hidden in Christ.

If we are dead we have no rights.

Anytime that a circumstance in our life challenges us to the point we think we deserve better, we must remember we don't have any rights. Jesus said to take up our cross daily and follow Him, but it is far easier to talk about the cross rather than to embrace it. The cross is symbolic of death and our self-love doesn't want to die. The Father must allow things to come into our life that bring us to the cross.

When we let go of our life for God we gain the life of Christ. This brings up the point: do we want the life of Christ? His life on earth was full of sacrifice and sorrow. He didn't have a house or any type of comfort at all. His whole life was about doing His Father's work. He was always in company with sorrow and suffering right up to the cross. Even though he was the King of Kings he lived among the poor, never asking for anything for himself. I think we really only want the life of the king not of the servant.

As we strive towards living as Jesus did and being on mission with Jesus every day, then we must realize we have no rights. We should simply live in full submission to the will of Father.

"I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me." (Paul, to the Galatians)

[Adapted from an article written by Darren Smith of Streetscape Ministries]

Missional Living Tips

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:31:00 +0000

In my pursuit of other perspectives on missional living, I ran across a site tonight called The Resurgence (www.theresurgence.com). They had a cool post about "Simplified Missional Living". Check it out...

--Jason

Eat with Non-Christians
We all eat three meals a day. Why not make a habit of sharing one of those meals with a non-Christian or with a family of non-Christians? Go to lunch with a co-worker, not by yourself. Invite the neighbors over for family dinner. If it’s too much work to cook a big dinner, just order pizza and put the focus on conversation. When you go out for a meal, invite a non-Christian friend. Or take your family to family-style restaurants where you can sit at the table with strangers and strike up conversations. Have cookouts and invite Christians and non-Christians. Flee the Christian subculture.

Walk, Don’t Drive
If you live in a walkable area, make a practice of getting out and walking around your neighborhood, apartment complex, or campus. Instead of driving to the mailbox or convenience store, walk to get mail or groceries. Be deliberate in your walk. Say hello to people you don’t know. Strike up conversations. Attract attention by walking the dog, carrying along a 6-pack to share, bringing the kids. Make friends. Get out of your house! Last night I spent an hour outside gardening with my family. We had good conversations with about four of our neighbors. Take interest in your neighbors. Ask questions. Engage. Pray as you go. Save some gas, the planet, and some people.

Be a Regular
Instead of hopping all over the city for gas, groceries, haircuts, eating out, and coffee, go to the same places at the same times. Get to know the staff. Smile. Ask questions. Be a regular. I have friends at coffee shops all over the city. My friends at Starbucks donate a ton of leftover pastries to our church 2-3 times a week. We use them for church gatherings and occasionally give them to the homeless. Build relationships. Be a regular.

Hobby with Non-Christians
Pick a hobby that you can share. Get out and do something you enjoy with others. Try city league sports or local rowing and cycling teams. Share your hobby by teaching lessons, such as sewing, piano, knitting, or tennis lessons. Be prayerful. Be intentional. Be winsome. Have fun. Be yourself.

Talk to Your Co-workers.
How hard is that? Take your breaks with intentionality. Go out with your team or task force after work. Show interest in your co-workers. Pick four and pray for them. Form moms’ groups in your neighborhood and don’t make them exclusively non-Christian. Schedule play dates with the neighbors’ kids. Work on mission.

Volunteer with Non-Profits.
Find a non-profit in your part of the city and take a Saturday a month to serve your city. Bring your neighbors, your friends, or your small group. Spend time with your church serving your city. Once a month. You can do it!

Participate in City Events
Instead of playing XBox, watching TV, or surfing the net, participate in city events. Go to fundraisers, festivals, cleanups, summer shows, and concerts. Participate missionally. Strike up conversation. Study the culture. Reflect on what you see and hear. Pray for the city. Love the city. Participate with the city.

Serve Your Neighbors.
Help a neighbor by weeding, mowing, building a cabinet, or fixing a car. Stop by the neighborhood association or apartment office and ask if there is anything you can do to help improve things. Ask your local Police and Fire Stations if there is anything you can do to help them. Get creative. Just serve!

2009 Men's Retreat

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:49:00 +0000

This past weekend I was blessed to be a part of a most wonderful men's retreat at my dear friend Mickey Mooney's cabin just south of Paris, Tennessee. I want to say that I feel like this past retreat was the best one of my life. I feel so on fire. Not because of a motivational speaker or an emotional experience, but because I was able to talk at a deep level with my close brothers about what Father is doing in, around, and through them. I am not sure what it was that made me come so alive, but I so am grateful for the experience.

While we were there we were invited to spend time with as many others as we could one-on-one simply asking them what they feel Father is revealing to them. It was awesome to practice my listening skills while being blown away by what I heard Father was doing in my brothers' lives. I spent time walking and talking with Carson and it seems as if Father is speaking the same things to both of us. Later, I got to spend a couple of hours each with Chad, Mike, and David who are all close brothers of mine in the Way. Again and again it seemed as if Father was confirming in all of us the very same ideas. Even when our thoughts were different, it didn't take long to see how Father was doing this to knit us together to build the kingdom--different words from Father, but the same outcome in all of our lives. In addition to spending time with my close brothers from my local church family, I also got to spend time with Jeff who lives in the Memphis area and Grant who lives in Clarksville. I was blessed so much. Cody and Luis from Bowling Green also let me peek into what Father is doing in their family. It is all so amazing.

When I got home I immediately began asking my wife the very things I had asked my brothers. It led to a wonderful evening of spiritual discussions with my wife (and kids) about what Father is doing and what we are NOT doing. We discussed as a family some dramatic changes that we think Father may be calling us to. I got an email entitled "Dead Men Have No Rights" over the weekend and read it when I returned home yesterday. It reinforced the idea of radical communal living for me. (Interesting timing don't you think!) It isn't about what I think I am entitled to--the comforts of American life, etc. It is about following Him without being entangled in the world's affairs.

I am so grateful for Mickey being a tool in the hand of our Creator to orchestrate a weekend where we could go this deep.

--Jason

Are You a Missional Christian?

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:24:00 +0000

I was surfing the net today during lunch and came across a neat blog that gave some cool insight on what it looks like to live as a missional Christian. I thought it was interesting enough to repost here. Go to this link to see the original post.

Enjoy!
--Jason

A significant number of your friends are unbelievers. (Unbelievers like to spend time with you. Jesus seemed to spend a lot of time with unbelievers in the gospels and they were apparently comfortable with Him for the most part. Jesus was the friend of sinners – Luke 7:34. It was the religious hypocrites that felt threatened and couldn’t stand Him.)
Many of your Christian friends are from other denominations and churches. (You’re comfortable with the whole Body of Christ, not just your local part. You value the rich diversity in the Kingdom of God – 1 Cor 12:12-26)
You listen more than you talk. (You want to know where people are coming from and where they’re at. You genuinely seek to understand what people are telling you, not merely use it as an opportunity to mentally formulate what you’re going to say next. Jesus always began interacting with anyone by listening. Luke tells us that at age twelve, Jesus was in the temple with the Doctors of the Law, listening to them and asking questions – Luke 2:46. Before he healed people, Jesus listened to their stories of illness, loneliness, and rejection.)
You see no distinction between sacred and secular. (Everything you do in life is enthusiastically for the glory of God – 1 Cor 10:31. You live for and look to Christ in everything you do.)
You’re painfully aware of how little you really know and how far you have to go. (You never stop learning. You read a lot. You’re not afraid to say, “I don’t know.” The more you learn, the more you realize just how little you really know. Job learned this hard lesson in Job 38:1 through Job 42:3 - read through all 4 chapters!)
You take risk – enough so that you sometimes fail. (You like to push the envelope knowing those that never fail, never live to their full potential. You’re more afraid you won’t use your full potential than you are of failure. The words of Jesus in Matthew 25:28 as translated by “The Message” ring for you: ’Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’).
You have a long-term perspective. (You understand following and serving Jesus is a marathon, not a sprint. You’re in it for the long haul. You realize evangelization takes time; long-term results are more important than short-term trends. You don’t quit. Heb 12:1 exhorts us to “run with perseverance (endurance) the race marked out for us.”)
You tune in, not dial out, the culture. (Your unbelieving friends see you as a part of their culture – not outside it. You stay abreast of where the culture is and where’s its heading. You know how to connect with the culture without necessarily embracing it. Christ’s words in 1 Cor 9:19-22 as translated in “The Message” apply: “Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!”)
You differentiate between essential and nonessential. (You know when to fall on your sword and when not to. Not every battle is climactic; many are small skirmishes best fought with patience and love instead of brute force. In Luke 10:41, Jesus gently reminds Martha that some things are more important than others.)
You care for the poor (Your care goes beyond writing a check for a tax deduction. You give, not out of a guilty conscience, but out of loving desire. The wealthy loved Jesus until he started to talk about loving the poor (Luke 18:18-23.) In the gospels, Jesus spent far more time with the poor than with the rich. He exhorts us to give to the poor (Luke 12:33). It’s interesting that Paul records the other apostles only request of him to be that he remember the poor (Gal 2:10)

Tangible Kingdom Primer explained

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:05:00 +0000

This explanation was taken from Matt Smay's blog. He is the co-author of The Tangible Kingdom with Hugh Halter.

The goal of the [The Tangible Kingdom Primer] is to help every Christian to understand and experience a bit of what’s possible in an incarnational community.

The Primer is a spiritual formation journal that walks someone through an 8 week process to deal with the barriers to real apprenticeship. That is Individualism, Consumerism, and Materialism. This is an individual process, but the fifth day of each week is designed to be done with a group - a few friends, a small group, or a community group that’s just getting started.

Each week has 7 days of content and follows this format -

Day one: Exploration of the concept

Day two: Meditation on Scripture related to the concept

Day three: Change element: What will need to change to live out the concept

Day Four: Action day: Small steps into missional life

Day Five: Community Day: Where everyone processes their personal journey together

Day Six: Calibration Day: Serious reorientation to the new habit

Day Seven: Sabbath Communion

I think this is a good idea BECAUSE most of us were probably never taught how to live missionally. Nor were we instructed in to how to live as Jesus in all of our relationships. We have had training on evangelism, mission work, and spiritual disciplines, but we were never taught how to do each of these within a real life context.

We "do" evangelism. We "go on" mission trips. We "practice" the spiritual disciplines. Nevertheless, much of us--myself included--are still not living the life of Jesus, on mission with Father every day. I have a very strong desire to learn how to do this.

Admittedly, I have a strong knee-jerk reaction to anything that looks like a program. (Father is working on me about that!) But as Hugh talked about in the video, this is not as much a "program" as it is a "primer" (hence the title) to get communities of followers of Jesus to intentionally live life on mission with Father daily. With that being said, I would like to give this a shot--either as an entire group or even with just a few others who want to explore this.

Perhaps if we as a group wish to do it together, we can shoot for doing it in January. Either way, I plan to order some primers and begin working through it with Kristie and any others who want sometime soon.

Thoughts?
--Jason

The Tangible Kingdom Primer (video)

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:41:00 +0000

I am posting this video for local followers of the Way to watch and comment upon this week (October 18-24). Please watch and post your comments. Once we all watch and post our comments I would like us to decide whether or not to accept my invitation to purchase these workbooks and go through this together.

Thanks,
Jason

The Kingdom of God is Near (video)

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:25:00 +0000

Video about the Church

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:15:00 +0000

http://worthyhouse.info/docs/ekklesiasreport.mov

Don't Start a House Church

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:09:00 +0000

I am a big fan of Wayne Jacobsen. He is one of the guys on The God Journey podcast that I listen to regularly. He is also the co-writer of So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore. I found this post on his Lifestream blog recently and wanted to re-post it here. Enjoy!

-Jason

Here’s an interesting exchange I had recently. I have many like it. It seems when people leave an old system, their first passion is to start a new one. The unspoken thought is that systems will work pretty well if the right people are in charge. The reality is that systems themselves are destructive to relational and organic growth.

It seems all of this stems from the fact that we really don’t trust that Jesus is capable of building his church—that he cannot give rise to the reality of his family if we don’t “start something”. It’s as if living loved and loving just won’t be enough to let him do all he wants to do.

Here’s a passionate brother who is anxious to start his own church and my responses:

Mike: I just found out about you and what you are doing because my daughter sent me to your web for information about how to start an open church at home. I am just a new born baby, about 4 years now, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit about 3 years ago and I have been preparing myself to follow God’s plan for my life. I am considering going to a Bible college this September and the Lord spoke to me and asked me to start an Open Church with some of my family members and friends. I have read some of your articles regarding Church and think have helped me tremendously on how to approach the Lord’s command.

My response: I’m pleased to hear of your passion, but I don’t have any advice on how someone should approach starting a church, except to tell them not to. People who start a church end up basing it around their vision or gifts and it will either bog down or simply become the outgrowth of one person. I am convinced real church emerges as an organic outgrowth of relationships people are already sharing. So the question is not, how do we start a church, but rather, how do we facilitate people caring for each other and growing spiritually together and see over time whether or not church life emerges from that reality? I really don’t think we need to start churches. Jesus started the only one that matters at Pentecost 2000 years ago. We just need to live in that reality instead of starting more institutions that only further divide the body. That’s probably not what you wanted to hear, but I honestly thing the way God works is very different than the way we do…

Mike: I guess I used the term CHURCH incorrectly, because what I want to do is getting people… friends… family and share with them my experience, to try to have them become true Christians and then share our love with Jesus. I love your honesty. God bless you.

My response: I’m sure Father will lead you. If I could encourage you in anything it would be to share your life freely, but look to come alongside someone else’s journey. Once we try to get people to have the experience we have, we’ll manipulate them instead of serve them. Jesus just wants you to come alongside folks and give them truth as they are ready for it. Once we start trying to manage people’s spirituality, people will run from us. God will show you. I love your heart and passion, but church leadership has done this wrong for a long time and its why people are fleeing from the church instead of finding God in her.

Mike: Thank you Wayne, I understand what you are saying. Please tell me in your opinion then what I should do. How do I try to tell people about how wonderful Jesus is, about eternal life, about relationship with GOD. I am so new at this. I am a 71 years old newborn baby so willing to do good. Any advice will be incredible for me.

My response: What should you do? Follow him. If you don’t know what that means yet, just live in his love and love others around you. In time it will be clear what he wants you to do. If you don’t know now, other than to follow someone else’s form, then maybe you are moving ahead of him. I’m really serious about this. We’re just asked to love like he loves us (John 13:34-35), to proclaim the gospel as we have opportunity and to help others follow Jesus who want to follow him (Matthew 28:19-20). We are not told to plant a church, for he said he would build his own. He’s good at this. He knows what to do. Just help others as God gives you grace. Don’t try to start something. Don’t try to ‘get people’ to do anything. Live your life before them until they are hungry enough to ask for help. Then help them learn to live loved and follow Jesus. And the gospel will spread…

* * * * * *

When I last heard from Mike, he seemed to have captured what I was saying. We must not forget that the ‘early church’ did not arise out of a plan to get people to do anything. The early church emerged out of a revelation of who Jesus is, and hungry hearts responded who wanted to know God and live in his life. There was no recruitment campaign and no strategy to manage people through a hierarchical system. They lived as a family and grew to discover how they could embrace his life together and live transformed in the culture.

I actually think when we try to ’start something’, we’ve already made a step away from his reality. It’s not that God won’t go with us and that our efforts won’t be fruitful at some level, but they will never help people discover the depth of relationship and transformation that comes from a relationship with him. Unfortunately, for many, the thing we start will be come their substitute for knowing God themselves.

Somehow we have to think differently—that our calling is not to build the church, but to present an authentic demonstration of the Gospel in how we live and what we say. Then, we take the time to equip those who want to know him, how to live in a relationship with him. As a pool of people discover how to live loved and love, then the church can take on a variety of forms and expressions in various times and seasons.

Our focus will remain on him and what he’s doing in the world, rather than sustaining our institution, be it in a building or a home. Then we have a shot at the church of Jesus Christ being known in the world as a people who are being transformed by him.

Filled with the Spirit

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:26:00 +0000

Have you ever been filled with grief over the loss of a loved one? Ever been filled with fear over the loss of a job or the potential loss of your home? Have you ever been filled with joy at the birth of a child or the union between husband and wife?

This terminology of "being filled" with something is not new to us. During my study of Ephesians this week, I went back and looked at the encouragement of Paul when he said that we should "be filled" with the Spirit. I remember many a sermon when I preached on this idea of "being filled" with the Spirit. For long time I looked at this as something we had to do. Since the phrase "be filled" means to continually be filled and I thought this verse meant that this was a "special" kind of filling, I wouldn't feel particularly connected to the Spirit sometimes and therefore I would feel like I wasn't living up to Paul's instructions.

This week I read something about this verse that shed a completely new light on this. When we are "filled with" grief or joy or fear, those feelings change the way we act, react, and interact with others. Grief makes us sad and distant. Joy makes us happy and friendly. Fear makes us afraid and worrisome.

Consider for a minute that Paul was NOT talking about a special filling of the Spirit. Perhaps he was simply turning a phrase to mean that we should "be filled" with the Spirit of Jesus in the same way we are occasionally filled with emotions. Perhaps Paul wanted followers of Jesus to allow the Spirit to act, react, and interact with people in the same manner Jesus would. This is what Paul meant to "be filled" with the Spirit. Allow the Spirit to operate the personality of Jesus through you.

So this weekend, why don't we all allow the Spirit of Jesus to fill us in a way where we act the way Jesus does in each situation; where we react to issues the way Jesus does; where we interact with others the way Jesus does.

May you be filled with His Spirit today and every day!

Your friend on the journey,
Jason

Codependency

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:31:00 +0000

Have you or someone you know ever been in a one-sided relationship that you knew was bad for you but you still couldn’t bring yourself to leave? Many people find themselves in this kind of situation every day. The relationship may be abusive, either physically or emotionally, or you may find yourself doing all of the giving and not receiving anything in return. This kind of relationship is called codependency and it can be devastating to your physical and mental health.

What is codependency? Codependency is a dysfunctional trait that can hinder a person’s ability to have a healthy and satisfying relationship. Although there are many different definitions of codependency, all of them agree that codependency is a learned behavior that is picked up by watching others such as family members, friends, or loved ones. It can happen at a very early age or it can happen after you are already into a relationship. (the above two paragraphs are by Doug Brinlee at askdeb.com)

I have had conversations with many Christians about their relationship with their church. The things they share with me many times are very similar. Have you ever felt like--even after a lifetime of attending church services--you don't know the Bible enough and feel like you need a sermon and Sunday school lesson each week? Do you ever feel like you need to go a church building each Sunday? Do you think that your kids have to have Sunday school and youth group because you don't feel qualified to teach them about the Bible? In addition to these felt needs, have you ever expressed frustration with your church--that it isn't meeting your needs?

According to Merriam Webster, codependency is the dependence on the needs of or control by another. If you look at the way some Christians depend on the conventional church system with its meetings and programs, it would be easy to see codependent tendencies. My heart aches for people who are dependent on the church system to keep their faith fires burning. Sure, we need fellowship, and the conventional church system provides a certain degree of fellowship. However, I have seen so many people who are completely lost without that system.

Place [the ways of God] on your hearts. Get them deep inside you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night.

-Moses (from Deuteronomy)

While the church is there to help us in our understanding of the ways of God, we as individuals are responsible for our own learning. As parents, it is our responsibility to teach our own children. We cannot pawn these responsibilities off onto paid professionals or Sunday school teachers. The dependence on the conventional church system tends to breed Christians who do not know the deep things of God and who are unable to teach them to their children. This system can hinder a deep and satisfying relationship with God and his church.

Let us all--as followers of Jesus--put away all things that hinder our growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. No matter if you are part of the conventional church or choose to gather in homes, you are not immune to codependency. Be active in the growth of your own faith. Do not rely on others to get you where you want to be. We are called to interdependency--not codependency.

Your friend on the journey,

Jason

Church: Don't Do It

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:04:00 +0000

Don't do it.

Don't skip it.

Don't schedule it.

Don't miss it.

Don't build it.

Don't manipulate it.

Don't manage it.

Don't go to it.

Live it.

In all of your relationships, extend the life of Jesus that others may experience him.

As a follower of Jesus, you ARE the church.

-Jason

When Money Blinds

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:44:00 +0000

Upton Sinclair, Jr. (1878 – 1968) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning prolific American author who wrote over 90 books in many genres. He achieved considerable popularity in the first half of the 20th century, gaining particular fame for his 1906 muckraking novel The Jungle. The book dealt with conditions in the U.S. meat packing industry, causing a public uproar that partly contributed to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act in 1906. (Click here for more info on Sinclair.)

One of my favorites of his quotes is:

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on him not understanding it.”

Consider how this applies to myriad of issues and perspectives:

Government leaders are blinded by money when they won't do what's right because they are being paid by the people doing wrong.
Teachers are blinded by money when they continue teaching to keep a paycheck even thought they don't like kids.
Business leaders are blinded by money when they "cook the books" to make sure investors keep investing.
Professional athletes are blinded by money when they ingest illegal substances to make them faster and stronger so they can play better.
Religious leaders are blinded by money when they continue to perpetuate a system not taught by their Lord in order to keep getting a paycheck.

I know of many a Christian Pastor who is fed up with the unbiblical system of religion that they are working in. Nevertheless, they continue working within the system because they have no alternative to make an income. I was talking with a friend recently who shared with me about a close friend who was a pastor's wife. She was frustrated to no end because of the junk going on within their church. They want "out" but cannot make a run for it because they have no other source of income.

I know full well how this feels. I was once there myself. As I grew more and more frustrated with the religious system that employed me, I worried about how to transition to another line of work and still pay my bills. It was tough. Looking back, I now realize that I was blinded by money for a long time before I finally admitted that it was time to leave the system. Money will do that to us.

Jesus said,

"You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can't worship God and Money both."

I invite you to pray with me for the 1000s of pastors who are blinded by money. Let us pray for them to embrace the Truth and trust in the One who provides all they need. May they never teach another lesson or preach another sermon that scratches the itch of complacent Christianity. Let us pray that they not fear "jumping ship" because of a lack of income. Let us pray that they remember Who it is that really pays their salaries.

Yours in service of the King,
Jason

P.S. If you know of someone who wants "out" but cannot see a way to afford to get out, pray to see if Father wants you to help support them financially for a season so they can transition to another career.

Forced to Attend Church Services?

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:45:00 +0000

Recently, I received an email from a fellow follower of the Way in West Virginia who wants some advice. He asked me to post his question here for you to answer.

Your friend on the journey,

Jason

I have a question I would like to ask you to put on your blog. As you know I have an autistic son. We have put him, along with my 6 yr. old, in a Christian private school. They are doing very, very well with the small classes and individualized attention. My son who has autism is doing exceptionally well so far.

Question, in order to stay in the school my sons must attend a brick and mortar church--no exceptions. We don't. I have to if I want my kids to stay in the school. I don't want to.

What do I do?

If you want to offer this brother some advice, click on the "Comments" link right below the post.

Rules Never Motivate Good Behavior

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:44:00 +0000

This morning I spent some time sitting outside in the gorgeous weather reading from Ephesians. Our church family is studying this and discussing it together when we gather for dinner. As part of my study, I have been reading through Klyne Snodgrass' commentary on Ephesians. Let me share with you a very simple one-liner from what I read today:

"Rules never motivate ethical behavior; awareness of God does."

Unfortunately, I spent a large part of my life as a pastor trying to explain the rules to people. I--like many others--viewed the Bible as a rule book. I used it as a way to try to get people to do what I thought God wanted them to do; and I used it to guilt people out of bad behavior, too.

As a school teacher, I have a list of rules for my classroom. I use those rules to explain what I need from my students. When necessary, I use them as a justification for writing kids up (i.e. they broke a rule, they get disciplined). However, even in a school setting, rules rarely motivate kids to act right. Usually, kids behave the way they behave based on the relationship they have with their teacher. Kids who don't respect their teacher are the kids who usually get into trouble. That is a relationship issue--not a rules issue.

As a Christian, I can try to use rules as motivation for doing the right things. But that will only take me so far. When I can justify in my mind WHY I need to break a rule to help me in my present situation, then I will break it (damn the consequences!). On the other hand, if I live with the awareness of Jesus in my life on a second-by-second basis, then I will not need rules to motivate me unto right behavior. Rather than using the rules to motivate me, my awareness of the Perfect One desiring to live righteously though me will be enough to assuage any desire to break a rule to better my present situation.

If you have found yourself failing to "follow the rules" laid out in Scripture, try this: stop treating them as rules and start seeing them as the perfect character of Jesus. He was perfect in every sense of the word. He was the epitome of what God desires from every person. But rather than trying to follow the "rules" so you can please God, why not try to live a life of awareness that Jesus himself is present in your very being, desiring to live His perfect righteousness through you. I promise you that you'll find the "rules" a lot less important and you'll find that Jesus becomes a much greater reality to you.

Your friend on the journey,

Jason

Random Truths about God Explained

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:49:00 +0000

[SPOILER NOTE: If you haven't yet read the posts "Random Truths About God (Parts 1-7)" read them BEFORE you read this.]

Some of you already figured it out. My random truths about God were actually excerpts from The Shack by Paul Young. What has puzzled me from the beginning of this book's popularity was that many seemed to attack it with the fervor of a 17th century Puritan in Salem.

About two and a half years ago I read an article by Wayne Jacobsen in Plain Truth magazine entitled "Why I Don't Go to Church Anymore" (click here to read it). After reading the article, I ordered the book he cowrote called So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore. After reading it, I began listening to a podcast with Wayne and friend Brad Cummings called "The God Journey." It was on that podcast that I first heard about The Shack. The book had not been published yet, nor had it been finished. Brad and Wayne talked highly of the book and promised to give out info on it as it became available.

As soon as the book became available through The God Journey, I called and ordered a copy--this was before it was even released. It is quite possible I was one of the first people in Tennessee to ever read the book. (Who knows?) Anyway, I loved the book so much I called Brad and ordered a case. I gave them to everyone I could. To me, this book clearly explained the relationship of the Trinity and the relationship between God and man more clearly than any other book available.

A few months later, the book was released and more people began reading it. When it began to get popular among the conventional church crowds, I grew worried. On one hand I jealously wanted to keep this gem out of the hands of those who might try to capitalize on its success by turning it into the next Christian best-seller with the trinkets and crap that usually come with stuff like that. On the other hand, I was worried what the church police might think since it didn't exactly line up with the conventional church paradigm of God, Jesus, and the Spirit.

My worries proved justified.

As of today, I have to believe that this is the most controversial Christian novel ever published. It has spent I-don't-know-how-many straight weeks on the best seller list and continues to outsell most other books, no matter the topic. And during this time, it has been criticized, miscategorized, misquoted, and maligned by practically every "wing" of western Christianity. Without exception, every criticism I've read about The Shack or Paul Young have been categorically untrue. I've talked to Paul personally on the phone, I've heard him on interviews so many times I cannot count (some even before the book was released), I've had close friends who have shared time with him one-on-one, and I've listened to him tell his personal story and testimony in front of 100s of people. This man loves Jesus infinitely and desires to see everyone come to a saving relationship with him.

I posted these truths about God over the past few weeks "anonymously" (kind of) in order to get the haters to see that if you remove the story of the book from the truth in the book, most would agree with the "theology" presented in the book.

Sometimes to see new things we must put on new glasses. I believe the "glasses" worn by the conventional church today have been crafted by a culture that is more interested in capitalism and attractional evangelism than truth. If we want to see more clearly, it is time to look plainly through the simple lenses of the New Testament. Paul Young has presented a picture of God that is so touching and biblically accurate that many will be unable to see it because the lenses of conventional Christianity have warped the view. You do not have to like the story, but you really need to grasp the truths.

Your friend,

Jason

Random Truths about God (Part 7)

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:31:00 +0000

Recently, I made some notes about God (as Father, Son, and Spirit). These thoughts did not originate in my brain--they came from Scripture, of course. The particular way these thoughts are worded are not mine either. These are deep, spiritual truths about God that have been gleaned from the whole story of Scripture. No simple proof text can be given to defend these, nor can any be given to disprove them. One must take into account the entire story of the Bible to see how these truths are in fact true. This is Part 7--the final part. Now that all parts are posted, sometime over the next few days, I will give more details on the person and source who helped me pen these random thoughts. Feel free to comment.

Your friend on the journey,

Jason

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God doesn't do humiliation, or guilt, or condemnation. They don't produce one speck of wholeness or righteousness, and that is why they were nailed into Jesus on the cross.

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Forgiveness does not establish relationship. In Jesus, Father has forgiven all humans for their sins against Himself, but only some choose relationship. Forgiveness is an incredible power--a power we share with God, a power Jesus gives to all whom he indwells so that reconciliation can grow. When Jesus forgave those who nailed him to the cross they were no longer in his debt, nor Father's. In God's relationship with those men, God will never bring up what they did, or shame them, or embarrass them.

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Forgiveness is first for you, the forgiver, to release you from something that will eat you alive; that will destroy your joy and your ability to love fully and openly. Do you think the person who has wronged you cares about the pain and torment you have gone through? If anything, he feeds on that knowledge. Don't you want to cut that off? And in doing so, you'll release him from a burden that he carried whether he knows it or not--acknowledges it or not. When you choose to forgive another, you love him well.

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When you forgive someone you certainly release them from judgment, but without true change, no real relationship can be established. Forgiveness does not excuse anything.

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The only way forgiveness is ever possible is through Father's presence in us.

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Anger is the right response to something that is so very wrong (e.g. murder, rape, etc.). But don't let the anger and pain and loss you feel prevent you from forgiving and removing your hands from around that person's neck. You have do duty to justice in that. Father God will handle that.

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If anything matters then everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, Father's purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again.

Random Truths about God (Part 6)

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:07:00 +0000

Recently, I made some notes about God (as Father, Son, and Spirit). These thoughts did not originate in my brain--they came from Scripture, of course. The particular way these thoughts are worded are not mine either. These are deep, spiritual truths about God that have been gleaned from the whole story of Scripture. No simple proof text can be given to defend these, nor can any be given to disprove them. One must take into account the entire story of the Bible to see how these truths are in fact true. This is Part 6. Once all parts are posted over the next few days, I will give more details on the person and source who helped me pen these random thoughts. Feel free to comment.

Your friend on the journey,

Jason

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As a Christian, the Spirit is always with you. Sometimes you don't know it. But for you to know it or not has nothing at all to do with whether He is actually there or not. He is always with you; sometimes He wants you to be aware in a special way--more intentional. You can always talk to Him and He will always be with you, whether you sense His presence or not.

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Paradigms power perception and perceptions power emotions. The more you live in the truth, the more your emotions will help you see clearly. But even then, you don't want to trust them more than Father.

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Do you believe the Bible is a rule-book that tells you what to do? You know: doing good things and avoiding evil, being kind to the poor, reading your Bible, praying, and going to church. Things like that. You might not have done these things very well. You have moments that aren't too bad, but there's always something you're struggling with, or feeling guilty about. You just figure you need to try harder, but you find it difficult to sustain motivation. The truth is that the Bible doesn't teach you to follow rules. It is a picture of Jesus. While words may tell you what God is like and even what He may want from you, you cannot do any of it on your own. Life and living is in him and in no other.

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Religion is about having the right answers, and some of their answers are right. But Father is about the process that takes you to the living answer and once you get to him, he will change you from the inside. There are a lot of smart people who are able to say a lot of right things from their brain because they have been told what the right answers are, but they don't know Father at all. So really, how can their answers be right even if they are right, if you understand my drift? So even though they might be right, they are still wrong. Don't look for rules and principles; look for relationship--a way of coming to be with God.

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What about the 10 Commandments? Why do you think God came up with them? You might think they are a set of rules that God expects humans to obey in order to live righteously in God's good graces. If that were true--which it is not--then how many do you think have lived righteously enough to enter God's good graces? Actually, only one succeeded--Jesus. He not only obeyed the letter of the law but fulfilled the spirit of it completely. But understand this, to do that he had to rest fully and dependently upon Father. So why did He give us the 10 Commandments? He wanted you to give up trying to be righteous on your own. It was a mirror to reveal juts how filthy your face gets when you live independently. If you live your life alone and independently, the promise is empty. Jesus laid the demand of the law to rest; it no longer ha any power to accuse or command. Jesus is both its promise and fulfillment.

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Does the fact that we're living in the New Covenant mean we don't have to follow the rules? Yes. In Jesus you are not under any law. All things are lawful. Those who are afraid of freedom are those who cannot trust God to live in them. Trying to keep the law is actually a declaration of independence, a way of keeping control.

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We like the Law so much because it grants us the power to judge others and feel superior to them.

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Responsibility and expectation are just another form of rules we are no longer under. That is why you won't find the word responsibility in the Scriptures.

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Religion must use law to empower itself and control the people who they need in order to survive. God gives us the ability to respond and our response is to be free to love and serve in every situation, and therefore each moment is different and unique and wonderful. Because the Spirit is our ability to respond, He has to be present in us. If He simply gave us a responsibility, He would not have to be with us at all. It would now be a task to perform, an obligation to be met, something to fail.

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Responsibilities and expectations are the basis of guilt and shame and judgment, and they provide the essential framework that promotes performance as the basis for identity and value.

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God does not want to be first among a list of values; He wants to be at the center of everything.

A Southern Baptist's View of "Church"

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:39:00 +0000

Anyone who has followed my posts on this blog know how concerned I am with people having a biblical view of church. I believe it is vitally important in order to correct some of the mistakes we've made a His church over the past 1700 years. As a church family, we are currently studying the book of Ephesians. Well, actually we are studying it individually and then discussing it when we get together. As part of my personal studying, I am reading through a commentary on Ephesians written by Klyne Snodgrass (pictured), a Southern Baptist commentator. In his comments on Ephesians 2:11-22 he makes a few wonderful observations about the nature of "church" that I would like to share with you.

_________________________________________

The church is the people. Even when we now better, we tend to think of the church as either a physical structure or a denominational entity, both of which exist to produce programs. Such meaning os the word church are derived meanings. Even in the New Testament the word ekklesia is used of a non-Christian "assembly," (e.g. Acts 7:38; 19:32, 39, 41; cf. Heb. 2:12 [NIV, "congregation"]) and Paul may have intended no more than "assembly" or "gathering" when he applied the word to Christians. Neither physical structures nor denominations are necessary to have a church. The people are the stones that make up this building in which God dwells.

...If we remember the church is the people, several implications follow.
Church is no longer perceived as a program that some people put on for others to watch. The people are participants, joining together to worship and to have fellowship with God, who is present with them as a group.
Ministry is for everyone, not merely the clergy. The people are the temple in which God dwells.
Value is placed on people. Sometimes the impression is given that people are dispensable, as long as the building is maintained and the programs keep going. The average church in the United States devotes the majority of its funds to its buildings and internal operations. What if we invested in people as much as in our buildings and systems?

_________________________________________

In order to grasp the weight of these statements you have to remember that this guy has been a member of the North Park Theological Seminary faculty since 1974. He has been a visiting scholar at Tyndale House, Cambridge, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the University of Tübingen, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Duke University Divinity School. Snodgrass is ordained by the Southern Baptist Convention. He serves as coordinator of the North Park Symposium on the Theological Interpretation of Scripture, an annual conference that brings scholars and church leaders together to explore and discuss issues of relevance to the church. His most recent publication is Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus. (BTW, he is from Tennessee, too.)

So by this biographical description, he is NOT a "house church"/"organic church" guy who has a beef against the institutional/conventional church. From all accounts, he is completely immersed in conventional Christianity and the modern church. Yet in this commentary he acknowledges some very condemning aspects of the typical view of "church" as a place, event, or group of practices. If these three implications he listed are what happens when we remember the church is a people, what would the implications be if we continue to view church as an event, place, or list of group activities?

What do you say?

--Jason

The Lighter Side

jedsled@gmail.com (Jedsled) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:17:00 +0000

Christian Owens sent me this joke today and I thought it was hilarious. Enjoy!

-Jason

------------------------------

Little Carol came into the kitchen where her mother was making dinner.

Her birthday was coming up and she thought this was a good time to tell her mother what she wanted. 'Mom, I want a bike for my birthday.'

Now, Little Carol was a bit of a troublemaker. She had gotten into trouble at school and at home. Carol's mother asked her if she thought she deserved to get a bike for her birthday. Little Carol, of course, thought she did.

Carol's mother, being a Christian woman, wanted her to reflect on her behavior over the last year, and write a letter to God and tell him why she deserved a bike for her birthday. Little Carol stomped up the steps to her room and sat down to write God a letter.

LETTER 1:

Dear God:
I have been a very good girl this year and I would like a bike for my birthday. I want a red one.

Your friend,
Carol

Carol knew this wasn't true. She had not been a very good girl this year, so she tore up the letter and started over.

LETTER 2:

Dear God:

This is your friend Carol. I have been a pretty good girl this year, and I would like a red bike for my birthday.

Thank you,
Carol

Carol knew this wasn't true either. She tore up the letter and started again.

LETTER 3:

Dear God:

I know I haven't been a good girl this year. I am very sorry. I will be a good girl if you just send me a red bike for my birthday.

Thank you,
Carol

Carol knew, even if it was true, this letter was not going to get her a bike. By now, she was very upset. She went downstairs and told her mother she wanted to go to the church building. Carol's mother thought her plan had worked because Carol looked very sad.

'Just be home in time for dinner,' her mother said. Carol walked down the street to the church building and up to the altar. She looked around to see if anyone was there. She picked up a statue of the Virgin Mary, slipped it under her jacket and ran out of the church building, down the street, into her house, and up to her room. She shut the door and sat down and wrote her letter to God.

LETTER 4:

I GOT YOUR MAMA...

IF YOU WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN, SEND THE BIKE.

Signed,
YOU KNOW WHO