J.R. Briggs
Attempting to behold the miracle long enough without falling asleep
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Archive for April, 2009
My brother and sister-in-law’s Road to Adoption
Megan and I are so excited for my brother and sister-in-law, Alan and Julie Briggs. They are entering into the adoption adventure as well. They are currently in the process of adopting two children right now – siblings from Ethiopia. We know first-hand that adoption is an incredibly meaningful journey (we’re in the midst of entering into that process a second time) so we couldn’t be more thrilled for them. Which would mean my parents will soon have four grandchildren, all adopted. They are chronicling their adoption adventure on a recently created blog called Road to Adoption.
While adoptions are incredibly powerful examples of the gospel message lived out in your own family, they are extremely expensive. My brother is a youth pastor (i.e. not exactly rolling in the dough) so to offset some of the costs he has started painting. These pieces mostly revolve around the theme of Africa and he’s selling them through his blog. As an older brother, I have to admit: I’m surprised at how beautiful they are! In just a few weeks he’s sold four of his paintings in two days already and hoping to sell more to offset the steep costs.
Check out his paintings on the blog – and help fund the adoption of their two kids!
Get busy or slow down?
Randy Draughon is a mentor of mine. He was my youth pastor in high school and continues to be a shaping force in my life. Randy is a church planter in midtown Nashville who is being used by God in some untraditional ways within his faith community. Several months ago he spoke words to me that still ring true in my spirit – a great reminder as we head into our first public gathering at Renew this weekend:
“Everything we do as pastors comes out of our worldview. Our worldview is shaped by our understanding of Scripture. For example: Church planting. Is it us doing something great for God? Or is this God doing something great and we are simply being used by Him for the work of His kingdom? One vision demands that we get busy because our time is short. The other vision demands that I slow down enough to listen to the One doing the work and be faithful to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.”
Philippians 2 :: Remixed
Philippians 2:5-11 continues to be a challenging passage in my life – a call to emulating the humility of Jesus. Last week as I was preparing for Easter and the resurrection of Jesus I spent a good chunk of time meditating on these powerful words of Paul. I decided to re-write them into my own words.
Jesus, created in God’s shape and likeness,
was not even entertaining the thought of being God’s equal.
Instead, he emptied everything of himself – his own plans, dreams, hopes, desires and preferences
and took on the essence of someone who serves – a human!
He had all the qualities of human-ness and chose the path that led to deep humility,
and was even willing to go so far as to submit himself to death!
But not just death. Death by its most inhumane form imaginable: crucifixion!
Because of all of this, God the Father -His Father – lifted him up
from his lowly state to the highest place
and gave him a name and a title that no one else was worthy of receiving
one so revered that when people hear Jesus’ name
they too will bow in humble reverence in his presence.
And not just here on earth – but all throughout the entire created order – the entire cosmos!
Everyone will admit that Jesus is the most significant and essential person
fit for the redemption and salvation of the entire world.
And all this will be done to make God more famous.
He is Risen
He is Risen Indeed.
How to ruin Christian community
“He who loves his dream of a community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intensions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial.”
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together
People who only dream of a community usually end up ruining it, but those who love people without expectation unknowingly happen to create it. What a great reminder.
Reflections from doubt :: night
“Be merciful to those who doubt.” -Jude 22
“God, I don’t love you. I don’t want to love you. But God, I want to want to love you. Amen.” -Prayer of St. Teresa of Avila
Last night we hosted our second doubt :: night - a laid-back, but intentional space for conversation, a place to courageously and honestly air out our doubts that we may have about God, faith, life, Jesus, the Bible and church. The concept is simple: we rent out a local bar, buy hot wings, fries & onion rings, invite our friends and allow a space to interact authentically with others about our doubts about life’s biggest questions.
We had about 35 people there last night, similar in size to our first event, but about half of those in attendance were not there the first time. (Not bad, considering that we scheduled this during the NCCA Men’s National Championship Game).
I don’t teach or lecture during doubt :: night. I facilitate/moderate the discussion and interject my thoughts/convictions from my Christian worldview in addition to allow others to answer from their perspective. I loved it. These types of environments pump me up!
The questions were raw and honest, the dialogue was participatory and fruitful and the environment was safe. While I loved our first doubt :: night, I enjoyed this one even more. We spent a significant amount of time discussing a few central questions that people raised throughout the evening: (1) Why do bad things happen to good people? and (2) What is the meaning of suffering – and why would a good and loving God allow such incredible suffering to occur?
Several times throughout the evening I was struck by the diversity of the room: New Agers, skeptics, college students, homosexuals, agnostics, pastors, Buddhists, Christ-followers, atheists, the mentally handicapped, those in recovery from severe drug and alcohol addictions. Even the bar owner asked me afterward what questions were discussed – and then proceeded to tell me some of his doubts and questions about religion. I found it odd, yet refreshing – a “Christian event” led by a pastor with a room full of courageous and curious people wrestling through some of life’s most significant questions and hearing about the hope of Jesus.
As we finished last night, I asked if/when we should host another doubt :: night and the overwhelming response (mostly coming from the skeptics in the room) was to do it against next month. I’m looking forward to it already.
Random links you should check out
Here are some random links when you have a few moments to spare…
Did you see these pictures from Earth Hour last week?
Billy Graham’s grandson takes the mantel of leadership at a megachurch in Ft Lauderdale (though I am not sure how to pronounce his name…)
Wow. Take a guess: what percentage of email is considered spam? Got your answer? Click here.
John Piper gives a great, succinct answer to “Should pastors have to go to seminary to be pastors?”
Is this Bible Gateway 2.0? This online commentary looks fantastic (but still in Beta version).
This relational network of missional churches continues to excite and impress me.
World Vision offers a great post on what the bible says about the poor.
Juvenile? Maybe. But you can’t watch this video without laughing. I dare you to try.
Calling all church planters.
An incredible video of a pastor extending grace to thieves who stole all of his church’s possessions. It’s worth 03:44 of your time.
From the archives: Great article with Eugene Peterson in Christianity Today. Read here.
I’ve enjoyed the new mico-blogging tool Twitter – as have millions of other people around the world. But maybe Flutter is even better than Twitter? Maybe.
Have you Yearbook’d yourself yet? It’s hiliarious…but warning: it is a time-waster.
Forget the Snuggie. I need one of these blankets.
Want to learn how to surf? Just head to your local mall.
Have you heard? Renew is having our first public gathering.
Does your ministry have a culture of creativity?
Recently I heard the ever-boisterous Professor Howard Hendricks speak to a roomful of seminarians about creativity in ministry. Here were a few of the compelling questions he asked regarding cultivating an ethos of creativity within ourselves and our congregations:
- Do you have a high tolerance level for ambiguity?
- Do I approach change and transition with caution or excitement?
- Are you perpetually growing? Do you have an insatiable curiosity?
- Did you ask good questions today?
- do you have a climate that promotes creativity?
- Do you encourage incessant evaluation?
One particular line stuck out ot me. “Change is not the enemy, but the tutor.” Great line. I love it. And a great challenge, too.
A practical resource for Holy Week 2009
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday on the Christian calendar, the beginning of the last week of the earthly life of Jesus. In preparation for Easter a few years ago I developed a guided prayer + reading resource called “Journeying Through the Last Week of the Life of Jesus: A Guided Reflection.” It provides passages marking the last seven days of the life of Jesus and provides practical ways to prepare your heart for Easter.
I’ve used this – and passed it on to others – for the past four years and I’ve found it to be a helpful tool in preparing my heart and centering my life around the hope of the Resurrection. Feel free to utilize this resource individually or with your family, friends, small group, house church or faith community.
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As followers of Jesus we are called to live the resurrection, to have eyes and ears focused on the Risen Christ. Jesus’ resurrection is the central marker of the Christian faith. As you prepare for Easter, the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, use this guide to help you navigate through the last week of the life of Jesus. Listed below are Bible passages of what Jesus did in the last week of his life, as well as suggestions to help in your time of preparation and reflection during Passion Week.
SUNDAY April 5 – Palm Sunday
Today is the day of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry, where comes into Jerusalem riding a donkey while people cheer and lay palm branches and cloaks down along the path.Passages: Mt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19
Suggestion: Sometime this week, watch Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ (rated R) by your house church, your friends/family or by yourself.MONDAY April 6
Jesus enters the Temple and has a Temple Tantrum, turning over all of the tables of the moneychangers. He also performs the only miracle of destruction, when he tells the fig tree that it would no longer produce figs.Passages: Mt. 21:12-17; Mk 11-12-19; Lk 19:45-48
Suggestion: Spend time alone and read the passages listed above out loud. What might Jesus have been thinking as he knew what would happen to him in the week ahead?TUESDAY April 7
On this day, the disciples notice that the tree that Jesus spoke to yesterday had withered. Jesus returns to the temple and teaches. His authority is questioned by the religious leaders. He is also anointed in Bethany.Passages: Mt 21:18-23:39; Mk 11:20-12:44; Luke 20:1-21:38; Mt 26:1-13; Mk 14:1-9; Jn 12:1-11
Suggestion: Reflect upon the teachings of Jesus. Which of the four readings sticks out to you the most? Why?WEDNESDAY April 8
Nothing is recorded in Scripture as to what Jesus did on this day, but he certainly would have been thinking how all of human history would be changed in just a few short days.Suggestion: Spend significant time in prayer asking God to prepare your heart and allow you to truly grasp the depth and the significance of Easter this weekend.
THURSDAY April 9
Today, Jesus and his disciples prepare for the Passover feast and eat the Last Supper together. Here Jesus washes their feet and tells them one will betray him. He and his disciples travel to the Garden of Gethsemane on the side of the Mount of Olives. It is here that Jesus prays and is arrested.Passages: Mt 26:17-68; Mk 14:12-52; Lk 22:7-53; John 13:1-18:11
Suggestion: From the perspective of one of the disciples, journal about what you might have felt when Jesus washed your feet and when he was arrested in the Garden.FRIDAY April 10 – Good Friday
Jesus is put on trial, flogged, forced to carry his cross, mocked by Roman soldiers and executed in the cruel Roman form of crucifixion on a hill called Golgotha (“the place of the skull”).Passages: Mt. 27:11-61; Mk 15:1-47Lk 23:26-56; Jn 19:17-42.
Suggestion: Find an image of a cross. Spend several minutes looking at and reflecting upon the cross. Consider the significance and centrality of this symbol and what it means 2,000 years later. End by reciting the Lord’s Prayer.SATURDAY April 11
Jesus’ body remains in the tomb during the Jewish day of Shabbat (Sabbath).Passages: Mt 27:32-66
Suggestion: As Jesus “rested” on the Sabbath, be reminded of the rest that Jesus calls us to. Spend some time resting today by taking a nap or relaxing. Consider reflecting on the Apostles’ Creed.SUNDAY April 12 – Easter
Very early in the morning, the disciples go to Jesus’ tomb to find it empty. The course of human history is changed forever. He is Risen! He is risen indeed!Passages: Mt 28:1-15; Mk 16:1-11; Lk 24:1-49Jn 20:1-18
Suggestion: Get up early and read the passages listed above. Rejoice in Jesus and his resurrection from and power over death! Greet people throughout the day saying, “He is Risen!” Share this day with friends and/or family members.“The biblical fact is that there are no successful churches…”
“The biblical fact is that there are no successful churches. There are, instead, communities of sinners, gathered before God week after week in towns and villages all over the world. The Holy Spirit gathers them and does his work in them. In these communities one of the sinners is called pastor and is given a designated responsibility in the community. The pastor’s responsibility is to keep the community attentive to God.” -Eugene Peterson
This quote is one of my favorite ministry quotes. It provides me with much-needed perspective. Always challenges me. Re-centers me. Reminds me of the biblical mandate to be faithful above all else.
I’m thankful that Renew Community is Jesus’ church, not mine.
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