Are we there yet?

“Are we there yet?” As a joke, my kids usually say that the moment we leave the driveway for a big trip. So cute. We want things now. We are suckers for get rich quick schemes because we don’t want to do the hard work. We would rather take the pill to shed 15lbs off in one week rather than the slow, steady, and wiser 3lbs a week with diet and exercise. Slow and steady does win the race, but we don’t have the patience. This is especially true for our walk with Christ. We are not there yet. And like the child who has no idea how long it takes to drive 1200 miles, we ask Jesus, “Are we there yet? This is hard. How about taking a break at the next rest stop? Or better yet, let’s check in at a nice hotel with a pool and finish the journey later.”

At Zion, we like to use the term “Christ follower” instead of “Christian.” It’s just a more descriptive word in our culture. I like it. It describes who I am and what I am doing (we also could use the term “disciple” too). So when I say I’m a Christ follower, I should mean that I will go where ever he goes and obey where ever he tells me. Much of the task is joyful and exciting. Sometimes, there are the long trips that take long hours that stretch into long days, months, even years. He has work he wants to do in me. And, he has work he wants me to do (Eph. 2:10). I like what the Apostle Paul said as he looked at his life journey. He wrote in Phil. 3:13-14, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” So, one of the great heroes of the New Testatment says, “I’m not there yet.”

Paul would often meld two ideas into one and make them inseparatable. He says there is one thing he does, but he lists two items. He takes them together like ham & eggs. He forgets the past and strains forward. That’s what a Christ follower does. We forget not only our past failures but our successes too. We also strain forward. Where does Jesus want us to go? Forward. How hard to we try? Strain. Yes, I know, it’s a work of the Holy Spirit. But following Christ is not passive like sitting in the back seat of the car.

Are we there yet? No, but watch out for the comfortable hotel stops. We can, however, keep straining forward no matter what. It’s what a Christ follower does. It’s what a disciple does.

ZPV June 2010 Prayer letter

June 16, 2010
Dear Zion of Petroleum Valley Prayer Partners,
In high school, I attended a youth group that often had games and competitions. One week, we wanted to see who could eat the most bananas…blindfolded. Three of us went up front, but after the first banana, the other two guys were excused. I continued to allow bananas crammed in my mouth to the cheering crowd, “They’re catching up…keep going, Joe! Don’t let them beat you!” Little did I know I raced against no one. I swallowed large bites without chewing. But, when the blindfold came off, I saw it was all a game. It seemed real, but I made a herculean effort for nothing.

Why am I telling you this? When Christ-followers and churches talk about “discipleship,” it is really just a game. Performing. Educating. Doing. Busying. Often, we are about activities that are profitable, but sometimes we do not want to see the less comfortable side of following Christ. Just give me a Bible study and some good works to do, and I’m ok with that. As one author wrote, “We really just want a few friends and a sermon.” Being and making disciples is becoming like Jesus. Often, that road is not just hard, but it requires deep soul work well beyond the shell.
Zion has started probing into discipleship and what it means to follow Jesus. What does it mean to be a disciple? What does it mean to make disciples? God continues to solidify the answers in our minds and hearts. Clearly, the blindfold has come off, and we reject playing of the game. I do NOT mean that we have been failing at all. But, God is at work.

So, this makes our prayer list shorter than other months but not short in significance.
• Pray for all three of our Zion campuses (Zion of Jefferson County opens 10/10/10!) that we would continue to grow and be disciple making campuses.
• Last Sunday, we challenged our folks to listen to God for their Mt. Carmel moment (Read 1 Kings 18). Disciples follow Jesus to places where God just has to show up. We cannot rely upon ourselves.
• In July, we start an eight week series on discipleship.

There are other activities and ministries at Zion of Petroleum Valley worthy of prayer (Zone56, life groups, youth activities/outreach, camps, and Family Fun Fest). You can learn more about them on www.zionlife.com. But, for this month, please pray for this exciting time at Zion to focus on what Jesus left us to do, “Go, make disciples…”
Thanks!

Pastor Joe
Zion of Petroleum Valley

Lesson from the cat

I have a cat. This shocks some of you who’ve known me for years. I generally don’t like cats, but I like Jazzy (aka, Fat Jazzy, Jasmine). I like Jazz because she is feisty…when she’s not napping. She likes me too. She’ll come up and say hello wanting her ears scratched (again, when she’s not napping). But, my previous history of cat teasing just has to come out. So, Jazz will be sleeping, and I poke her or tug on her whiskers. She gives me the I-really-hate-you-sometimes look but does nothing. Then, Jazz reaches her limit. The claws come out, she grabs my hand, and bites me. That’s kitty for, “Knock it off, jerk!” It is not in Jazz’ nature to put up with it forever or retreat. She will fight back.

Don’t strip any gears on this subject change, but if we want to advance the Jesus’ kingdom, become more like Christ, spread the mission, free the prisoners, and be filled with the Spirit (add your own cliché here), we will face opposition. Like Jazzy, Satan will fight back. The world will fight back. Our own flesh will fight back. None of those things are passive. In other words, there will be costs.

So, do we bag it? Will it be too hard? Stay comfortable? No way. We just cannot be surprised when it comes. Watch out for it. When we pull on Satan’s whiskers (or worse), he will respond with shocking ferocity. Since the world hates Jesus, it will hate his followers. Let’s go for it, but we cannot be surprised by opposition.

Ultimate apologetic

I had a friend who’s car suddenly stopped dead. It ran perfectly moments earlier. He popped the hood and checked a number of possibilities. Others came to help and mentioned that their car did the same thing and it was this or that. Fill in the blank. None of it corrected the problem. Wait…could it be? Yes, he ran out of gas. Hours were spent on the possible solutions at the neglect of the obvious.

As Christ followers, we spend tremendous time on good things, but sometimes we forget the obvious. But, it’s a pleasure to see us account for the obvious. Last week was a tough week for the family. One of our members experienced a tragic loss. The body sprung into action and genuine concern. Not only did this begin the long journey of healing for one of us, it spoke to the community. They saw more than just activity or program. They saw what Jesus said they should see: By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35).

I support all we can do to minister to one another and reach our community. But, I am especially pleased to see when we don’t neglect the obvious. God is among you, Zion. Keep shining.

Too safe?

“Wear a helmet!” “Buckle up!” “Make sure you have enough insurance!” “Wash your hands!”

I agree with these comments, but I admit cringing when I hear them. New cars have more and more air bags and trunk safety releases. I’m sure it’s happened, but I know of no one who’s ever been trapped in a trunk. Handrails, guardrails, and warning labels dot our landscapes and lives. Playgrounds have become so safe they’re almost no fun anymore. When I was growing up, the city oiled the streets (don’t ask me why). One kid wiped out his bicycle, gashed his knee, and went home crying. He was back in an hour bandaged up and out riding again. We survived.

Now, before someone leaves a comment that I’m advocating running with scissors and your shoes untied, I’m not. Please leave the lectures at the door; we know to be wise and safe. But, what bothers me is that I think we often carry our safety mentality to our faith. We want safe Christianity. We leave the mission’s trips to those who bungee jump on the weekends. Rather than speak to our neighbor about our faith, we leave that to the sky divers. We choose the path of comfort instead of writing that check to meet a need. Leaps of faith are little hops into wading pools instead of the deep end. Where are those Christ followers that the book of Hebrews describes as “…men of whom the world was not worthy” (11:38)?

I’m sure that these people did not stand in open fields during a lightning storm and made sure their saddles were well cinched on their horses. But when it came to faith, they lived dangerously. Read Hebrews 11 if you don’t believe me. I wish I lived more on the edge. Can we take those leaps of trust and faith? God has proved himself reliable over and over again. Maybe it means inviting that neighbor over. Or, it looks like getting in someone’s life who has a huge problem. It could take the form of being a better spouse. Or disciplining your kid, adopting a child, writing a missionary, keeping a commitment, or just praying and trusting that God works in someone’s life. Yes, our knees may get gashed, but our faith should work without a net.

Pastor Joe

February ZPV Prayer letter

Dear Zion of Petroleum Valley Prayer Team,

Laser beam. Focus. Concentrate. Center. Hub. Focal point. These words describe Zion for the next few weeks. Starting March 14, our series EPIC will begin. God tells his story from Genesis to Revelation, and every person under creation has a part. We are looking beyond a single Easter service. We are telling God’s grand narrative that leads up to Easter and then beyond. If anyone is looking for an outreach push at Zion, this is it. We are putting our focus on the six weeks of EPIC. So, your specific prayers for EPIC would be appreciated!

• Pray for our clear communication. We want to be accurate and challenging story tellers. Personally, this type of presentation is outside my comfort zone, but I think it will be effective. Jesus used stories all the time. Now, we are telling the story of which he is the main character.
• We have laid out the challenge for each member of the Zion family to start praying for at least that one person who needs to hear. Pray for boldness and receptive hearts.
• Western PA is experiencing record snow fall this winter. While the start of EPIC is a month away, we are praying against excuses and reasons not to come.
• Pray that God prepares hearts. All that we do cannot change a heart; we need God to do that. We want to see his kingdom grow.

I am very excited about this! EPIC continues through Easter all the way to April 18, 2010. It stretches us on multiple levels, and we are trusting God. I look forward to writing you in April to report what God has done. Thanks for joining with us!

Pastor Joe
Zion of Petroleum Valley

Generations

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been preparing and collecting old family documents for my family reunion last month. Included in this family history is my parents’ marriage certificate. In a twist of fate, I noticed that my wedding day was only one day before my parents’ wedding day. Since my mom died when I was young, I never really thought about when my parents were married. Trish and I picked the day only because it was available at the church we attended. I wonder what my dad was thinking that day? “Strange…close to this day I was starting my adult life with a new wife. Now, my son begins his…” Dad never mentioned anything, and he’s gone now so I can’t ask. Each generation goes through its firsts and lasts of significant events. Sometimes these memories bring pain, but they often bring good thoughts.

Zion of Petroleum Valley (while still young) is having a generational moment. This weekend, our new campus, Zion of Jefferson County, will join us for church and lunch afterwards. I remember getting our team together and wondering what the future holds. We received so much support from Zion in multiple venues. But now it’s time for us to pass on what we’ve received. This is another step in our growth as we have been sent, we now get to send along with Zion of Clarion County. This is fun! After a few more campuses, I may feel like a grampa.

Pastor Joe