BLeach

Passionate Pastor

This picture captured a memorable moment in the history of our church.  Here's the backstory.

One of the local ministries our church supports is Care Net.  Care Net reaches out with resources and hope to women who experience an unplanned pregnancy.  A few years ago we invited the director of the program to visit our church to communicate the vision and ask for volunteers.  When I introduced her, she took the microphone and proceeded to thank me for having such a tremendous passion for women.  It was great.  I think she said it three or four times:)

So when we ran across this billboard outside the Pita Cafe on Sunday afternoon, I couldn't resist. 

By the way, we wrapped up the iBelong series on Sunday by giving everyone who serves in ministry or signed up for ministry a t-shirt.  I think it might have caused me an identity crisis:)

Determined

This morning I came across a page from John Wesley's diary while reading this book for class.  Anyone can make excuses.  And anyone can give up.  But there's something to be said for a little persistence:) And if you've ever read through Paul's missionary journeys (Acts 13-21), this might sound familiar.

Sunday Morning, May 5. Preached in St. Ann's.  Was asked not to come back anymore.

Sunday p.m., May 5. Preached at St. John's.  Deacons said "Get out and stay out."

Sunday a.m., May 12. Preached at St. Jude's.  Can't go back there either.

Sunday p.m., May 12. Preached at St. George's.  Kicked out again.

Sunday a.m., May 19. Preached at St. somebody else's.  Deacons called special meeting and said I couldn't return.

Sunday p.m., May 19. Preached on the street. Kicked off the street.

Sunday a.m., May 26. Preached in meadow, chased out of meadow as bull was turned loose during the service.

Sunday a.m., June 2. Preached out at the edge of town, kicked off the highway.

Sunday p.m., June 2, afternoon service. Preached in a pasture, 10,000 people came to hear me.

Brothers Behind Bars

Last Thursday Steven Sebyala was in town.  He invited the interns and I to spend some time with him.  I gladly accepted.  I have a personal rule of never turning down an opportunity to hang with someone who's 40 year ministry goal is to win one billion souls for Jesus.

We had an awesome time.  He was staying with a Ugandan friend, Sam Kewasi, who lives in Southfield.  Sam's wife told us her amazing story. 

As a teenager she was imprisoned in Kampala by Idi Amin.  I actually saw the prison this past April.  Her crime was being a Christian.  That was the official charge. 

While in prison, she and the other believers she was imprisoned with got word that Amin's Vice President was on his way to execute them.  They began to pray.  As they were praying his caravan was interrupted and his itinerary was changed.  A few days later they were all unexpectadly released.

She told us that the one thing that kept her faith strong during those months in prison was the knowledge that people around the world were praying for her.  She thought about those prayers everyday.  She literally felt them.  And she encouraged us to prioritize our prayers for the persecuted church around the world. 

I've often felt discouraged while praying for persecuted believers because my prayers didn't feel specific enough.  I've never known the names of prisons or inmates.  For some reason praying generally for all the persecuted believers in Sudan didn't feel powerful to me.  But hearing this story changed my thinking.  Sam's wife encouraged us to continue praying for persecuted Christians.  She actually mentioned Sudan specifically.  I can still hear her words.

An imprisoned believer somewhere in the world can feel my prayers for him.  Some disciple in a humid cell is depending on me to pray.

Maybe Paul was on to something.

The Tiniest Terrorist

I had a unique airport adventure on Saturday.  My flight was supposed to leave at 4.50.  After a delay and cancellation I finally started the boarding process at 9.00.  Nothing new there:)  The memorable moment came as I was boarding the plane. 

I was getting ready to step from the hangar into the cabin when a mouse darted in front of me and made a quick left into the cockpit.  The stewardess who was standing in the beverage area jumped back into the hangar while yelling something about not being paid enough to deal with mice.  Then the pilot closed the cockpit door to trap the mouse inside. 

The mouse did not appear to be carrying a boarding pass.  So I wasted no time in letting the pilot know about my concern.  Based on the small size of its paws, I was certain that this mouse had not packed its own bags.  In fact, I had a hunch that the mouse even bypassed security altogether. 

In addition to the obvious concern over everyone's safety I admit to also feeling some personal jealousy.  While I have flown many times, I've never been permitted to ride in the cockpit.  Why should a rodent, who didn't even buy a ticket, be allowed to call shotgun?

Since I was one of the few passengers to see the mouse make his move I walked quietly to my aisle seat.  I didn't think it would be wise to inspire panic by telling the people next to me that the cockpit had been compromised.  So I waited quietly to see what would happen.  There was no explosion which relieved me to know that the mouse had not strapped any C4 to his back.  But they did stop the boarding process for about ten minutes until some airline employees boarded the plane with sheets and boxes. 

Is that how the FAA is choosing to deal with radical mice in this age of increased airline security?  I can't carry my toothpaste on the plane yet when a mouse storms the cockpit his punishment is a box-ride to freedom?

No paw-cuffs?

No trial?

No lighter plus hairspray combo to the fur like we use to do to the mice in our dorm at College?

Very disaappointing:(

Father Brad

Lately I've been frequenting the Country Oven in Berkley for my breakfast appointments.  I learned early on in church planting that by eating at some of the same places I could start building relationships with the employees.  These relationships are kind of taking on a life of their own.

Today I invited one of the waitresses to join Jon Shelton and I for prayer.  Before I could stop her she started confessing and knelt down beside the table.  I wasn't even wearing a white collar.

I'm glad these employees are becoming God-conscious.  Now if we can just get them through the fog of religion so they can see the face of Jesus:) 

More Crazy Weather

The weather will cause the Beulah Beach youth camp to live on in my memory.

After our first service Monday night was cut short by fierce winds and rain that blew in off Lake Erie, Tuesday night was nice and clear. 

Wednesday night was even crazier than Monday night. 

We got a tornoado warning just before the service started.  Tony called all the leaders together about five minutes before the music was set to start.  The teenagers didn't know what was coming, but he wanted to put a contingency plan in place to make sure that if the storm hit we'd have all the audio/visual equipment taken care of. 

This time I made it through my whole message, but as the worship team came to the front and I transitioned into the beginning of the response time another storm hit.  Lightning and thunder proceeded to fill the sky for the next 7 hours.  The tent started shaking again and it began to pour.  We had to move all the teenagers over to the cafeteria while trying to keep a timely moment of ministry going.  I've got to give it to those teenagers.  They stayed focused on what the Holy Spirit wanted to do.

It was great to be back with our church this morning, although I must admit that it seemed a little boring without hurricane winds and torrential downpours interrupting the service:)

Miracle on Main

We've had our share of facility miracles at Church of the King. 6 months into our church plant we were given our current building, almost 1 million dollars worth of assets, debt free. For the past 4 years we've affectionately referred to our building as the Miracle on 12 Mile.

The Oaks, our first church plant, goes public Easter Sunday. Why am I not surprised God gave us a new facility miracle.

Here's the story.


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My First Bottle of Wine

On my flight to Manilla last Sunday I had my first bottle of wine.  Jay, my new friend, informed me that it was White Wine.  I didn't order it.  I didn't even pay extra for it.  I guess you could say it found me.

I was sitting in the exit row, next to the small kitchenette where the stewardess was preparing the beverage cart.  She had to go to the back of the plane to get something, so she left the beverage cart in front of my row of seats.  Everything seemed normal until...the scream.

I was reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell, when suddenly I was interpreted by a loud shriek from the Japanese man sitting next to me.  I lifted my head, but it was too late.  A small bit of turbulence caused the beverage cart to tip, and it had landed in our laps.  It hit my exit row neighbor in both knees, and slammed into my shin.  The cart was heavy.  It took three of us to lift it up.  Milk, juice, Ginger Ale, and water were everywhere.  And yes, the White Wine, had soaked my stuff. 

Half of coach turned when my co-cart-catcher screamed, including the stewardess.  She ran to our aid, although she seemed more concerned for her job than if we could still walk.  "I can't believe they make us put so much stuff on these carts!  There's no way we can get them to stand up straight anymore!" 

As soon as she realized we could stand, and her job was safe, she switched to concern.  She insisted on finding me a new seat.  I thought this was surely my ticket to first class.  Wrong.  Then, when the lead stewardess came back from first class to write up the report I thought this was surely my ticket to a free ticket.  Wrong again. 

When she finished her report she asked me if she could get me anything to drink.  I said, "No."  She asked me if I was sure.  I said, "Yes."  She asked me if I wanted some free wine.  I laughed.  Then she did give me a voucher.  I waited until she left and opened it up.  It gave me two options:

A) 1500 Miles

B) A Free Beverage

Are you kidding me!

Incidentally, the seat that the stewardess moved me to was the seat God wanted me in.  I ended up talking with the new guy I was seated next to, Jay, for about 3 hours.  He was loaded with spiritual questions.  The Holy Spirit gave me great words.  I felt God all over our conversation.  He claims to be an agnostic, but he's really searching.

I'm reading through 1 Samuel right now.  Yesterday I read that the Lord closed Hannah's womb.  Then I read later in the same chapter that He opened it up again.  I'm still trying to get my hands around those two verses.  Why didn't God just leave it open to begin with?  Maybe for the same reason that He didn't just sit me down next to Jay at the beginning of the flight? 

I guess that sometimes falling beverage carts and closed wombs are a part of His grand plan.   

MLK Moments

One of my heroes is Martin Luther King Jr.  His autobiography had a significant influence on my life.  In honor of his birthday Monday, I'm going to post some of my favorite MLK moments through the weekend. 

After finishing seminary in 1954, Martin Luther King became the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.  He was 25.  I believe God put him there for what would happen about a year later. 

The Montgomery Movement began when Rosa Parks was arrested for violating segretation laws in 1955.  In a matter of days, Martin Luther King found himself being looked to as the leader of a breakthrough civil rights movement. 

As the Montgomery Movement began, Martin Luther King found himself as a young man, with a young wife, and a baby, with threatening phone calls and letters coming in regularly.  The pressure and fear finally brought him to a point of decision.  These are his words describing what happened.

"One night toward the end of January I settled into bed late, after a strenuous day.  Coretta had fallen asleep and just as I was about to doze off the telephone rang.  An angry voice said, 'Listen, we've taken all we want from you; before next week you'll be sorry you ever came to Montgomery.'  I hung up, but I couldn't sleep.  It seemed that all of my fears had come down on me at once.  I had reached the saturation point. 

I got out of bed and began to walk the floor.  I had heard these things before, but for some reason that night it got to me.  I turned over and I tried to go to sleep, but I couldn't sleep.  I was frustrated, bewildered, and then I got up.  Finally I went to the kitchen and heated a pot of coffee.

I was ready to give up. 

With my cup of coffee sitting untouched before me I tried to think of a way to move out of the picture without appearing a coward.  I sat there and thought about a beautiful little daughter who had just been born.  I'd come in night after night and see that little gentle smile.  I started thinking about a dedicated and loyal wife, who was over there asleep.  And she could be taken from me, or I could be taken from her.

And I got to the point that I couldn't take it any longer...With my head in my hands, I bowed over the kitchen table and prayed aloud.  The words I spoke to God that midnight are still vivid in my memory. 

'Lord, I'm down here trying to do what's right.  I think I'm right...But Lord, I must confess that I'm weak now, I'm faltering.  I'm losing my courage...I am at the end of my powers.  I have nothing left.  I've come to the point where I can't face it alone.' 

It seemed as though I could hear the quiet assurance of an inner voice saying, 'Martin Luther, stand up for righteousness.  Stand up for justice.  Stand up for truth.  And lo, I will be with you.  Even unto the end of the world.

I tell you I've seen the lightning flash.  I've heard the thunder roar.  I've felt sin breakers dashing trying to conquer my soul.  But I heard the voice of Jesus saying still to fight on."

Dark, Cold and Evil

I read this story on a fellow church planter's blog, loved it, and thought I'd borrow it.  Thanks Chilly. 

Disclaimer: It looks like it may be an urban legend.  Enjoy the thoughts and take it for what it's worth!

A prestigious university professor challenged his students with this question: "Did God create everything that exists?"

A student bravely replied "Yes, He did!" "God created everything?" the professor asked.  "Yes sir," the student replied. 

The professor answered, "If God created everything, then God created evil since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

The student became quiet before such an answer.  The professor was quite pleased and boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth. 

Another student raised his hand and said to the professor, "Can I ask you a question?"  "Of course," replied the professor.  The student stood up and asked, "Does cold exist?" 

"What kind of question is this?  Of course it exists.  Have you never been cold?" 

The students snickered at the young man's question.  The young man replied, "In fact sir cold does not exist.  According to the laws of physics what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat."  Everybody is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy.  Absolute zero is the total absence of heat; all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature.  Cold does not exist.  We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat. 

The student continued.  "Professor, does darkness exist?"  The professor responded, "Of course it does." 

The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does not exist either.  Darkness is in reality the absence of light.  Light we can study, but not darkness.  In fact we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color.  You cannot measure darkness.  A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it.  How can you know how dark a certain space is?  You measure the amount of light present.  Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."

Finally the young man asked the professor.  "Sir, does evil exist?" 

Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course as I have already said.  We see it every day.  It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man.  It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world.  These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself.  Evil is simply the absence of God.  It is just like darkness and cold, evil is a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.  God did not create evil.  Evil is not like faith, or love that exists just as does light and heat.  Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart.  It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

You may have heard of this student...

The young man's name--Albert Einstein.