Last week I read a nice article titled Missional Living by Ashley Wolpert.  It was delivered to my desktop via the Nueue Weekly email. The article swirled around an interview with author Ed Stetzer.

Here’s an slice of the interview that I found pretty helpful:

“Wolpert: How would you define ‘missional living‘?

Stetzer: Missional living is essentially living with our primary perspective as that of an ambassador for the Kingdom of God. It means making our lives not about us, but about Jesus and His Kingdom.

In an alliterated sense, missional living is an incarnational (being the presence of Christ in community), indigenous (of the people and culture) and intentional (planning our lives around God’s agenda) focus on the power of the Gospel to bring the reign of God into people’s lives.”

I sent the article to a bunch of people who have joined me in carrying on a conversation about what “missional” means and about how we can bring the church back to that kind of culture.   My son-in-law Aaron responded with a really honest email that puts the tension of living like Jesus right up front. I think it speaks for most of us. He said I could share it:

Aaron: “I totally can buy into the idea of missional living - however I have a problem.  I and the rest of us are severely addicted to a life that is controlled by WORK and MAKING a LIVING to get all the stuff this world says we need to have.

Coming back from vacation has opened my eyes to the crazy rat race that we all lead. It’s depressing.   It’s only been a week and I totally miss the community of those on vacation , the laughter, watching my sons and getting to know them in a way I never knew them - Aubrey says they are no different I just never see them - having time to think and relax and reflect.  Sharing meals together, no telephone, or to do lists.

Everyone I share our stories with says ‘enjoy it now..while it lasts’ or ‘that brings back such great memories.’  If it is so good, why do we settle for less?

On the way home I asked Aubrey why does vacation have to be so different from normal life?  We guessed at responsibility.  Does consumerism really mean that much to us?  Has getting stuff done become my (our) god?  And even if we don’t like it how do we break away from it?  I (we) are like alcoholics or cigarette smokers that like the idea of quitting but never have the fortitude to put it down and go through the pain and misery of getting to the other side.

I think the problem is we like the idea and we can intelligently identify where we want to go.  But until we are ready to leave this life behind like Jesus asks us too, it will never change.

Read Matthew 19, Luke 9 and Luke 14.  Are we any different than everyone who had excuses for not following Jesus?  Jesus asked people to sell everything, forget the unburied dead, don’t wait to say good-bye or take the new oxen for a test drive.

How so these passages apply to us in 2008?

I listened to Shane Claiborne on YouTube last night - many probably think he is a homeless freak - just like Jesus?  He is missional living…but how many of us are willing to change our lives to be like that?  Why not?

Our problem is we can’t do anything unless we are benefited…I just get so frustrated with my own inadequacies when I think of how Jesus is probably disappointed with how selfish I am with my life…”

Thanks Aaron for the honesty! This really does bring our lives to the questions: “What do we believe about Jesus and how far are we willing to go to be like Him?”

I think that all of this is a choice, and not an impossible one, or Jesus would have never asked us to make it.  See Mark 10: 17-31

Does this mean that giving up everything is the goal? No, it’s following Jesus. If we have to give everything up to do that, than so be it. Jesus will never fault us for  choosing to do whatever it takes for us to do whatever he asks.

Beginning on Sunday, September 7th, we will be starting a new series at the
Crossing entitled “Visioneering”.  We will be diving into the book of
Nehemiah.  Scripture gives incredible accounts of God giving vision to His
people and them responding in awesome, sacrificial, tangible ways to make
God’s plans a reality.

Nehemiah is a story of awesome vision to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem that
had fallen amidst multiple conquests of the land.  In Nehemiah’s story, God,
unlike in the stories of Moses, Noah and Abraham [to name a few], works
behind the scenes.  A bulk of the story of Nehemiah is one we can easily
relate to; a guy receives a vision, works really hard to see it become a
reality, and has incredible faith that God will bless His endeavors.

Life is too short to live without vision and purpose.  Maybe you’re seeking
to rebuild the wall of sexual purity.  Maybe you’re seeking God’s vision for
Mr. or Mrs. Right.  You may possibly be seeking God’s vision for which
college you should attend.  We’re all asking, or should be asking, what God
wants to do with us during our time in Ashland, Ohio.  Let’s begin
visioneering [visioning + pioneering] on Sunday, September 7th together.  We
cannot wait!

This week at the Crossing, we will stay focused on Jesus’ words that have come to be called the Sermon on the Mount. Leading us into Matthew 6:1-4 will be Nate Bebout.  Nate is our good friend and a staff member at Five Stones Community Church.  The topic for this Sunday will be Giving to the Needy.

In this time of unclear futures, exciting prospects, and deep groaning passions to serve, God is calling His people together to share His vision. We call this experience “prayer” but we could just as easily call it a conversation with the Creator.

Every Monday night at 8:00 we meet at the 710 Prayer Room to ask for God to speak His vision into the very depths of our hearts. I long for more people to join us as it seems that it makes sense that we should hear from God together, not as separated fragments. As Rob Bell says in his video, Open, prayer brings us together, creates a link between God’s people, reminds us of what God is about…

The tough part about prayer is that it requires a ton of humility. As we contemplate a conversation with God some questions surface:

1) Do I believe that God cares?
2) Do I believe that God listens?
3) Do I believe that God speaks?
4) Do I believe that I can do what He asks?
5) Do I believe all of this enough to set aside some time to pursue it?
6) Am I willing to be patient enough to fit into God’s timing?
7) Can I put myself in God’s hands and allow Him to weave me into the fabric of His will?

I believe that God is preparing us for revival in the Ashland, Ohio, area. I think that this could be different than our preconceived notions of revival. Maybe this one will send us out of our churches and into the streets. Maybe it will give us more awareness of people around us instead of our own spiritual security. Maybe it will call us to bring beauty and newness to more than just souls. But I am sure that it will only come when we are ready, and I believe that readiness will come through prayer. God will not force it on us nor will He press some cosmic remote button and power us into action.  He will move when we are humble enough to let Him do it His way. We discover His way, in this time and space, by praying together.

I invite you, once again, to join us on Monday nights for prayer. Or, if there is something awkward or time-conflcting about our gathering, please start your own.  We just need to pray. Together. Often!