Popcorn and Parables (Disney Villain edition)-Week 2

The Lion King — Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

Week 2 Popcorn and Parables Blog

Genesis 4:1-23

It’s extremely difficult to find people these days that haven’t heard of the story of Cain and Abel.  The first murder recorded in Biblical history.  Considering the story’s fame I don’t think there’s a need to go deep into an exegesis of Genesis 4:1-23, but I wanted to share something that has always bothered me about the story.  To sum it up, it’s hard for me to understand how a man could kill his little brother over a rejected offering.  How could a moment of rage overrule a lifetime of relationship with your own blood? How can a temporary desire cause you to murder someone you grew up with?  The little information we have in the story leads me to conclude that Cain wasn’t really a nice guy to begin with, highlighted poignantly by his response to God when asked where his brother Abel was after killing him in the field. 

Genesis 4:9 (ESV) 

9Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 

There’s a sense of annoyance in Cain’s response to God’s question, and it’s clear Cain felt no sense of responsibility towards Abel at all, not as a brother, and not as a fellow human being.  

Who Are My Brothers and Sisters?

After I was born, my older brother John would crawl into my crib with me to hold me, protect me, and when I got old enough to respond, play with me.  When I was 6 years old and I tattled on my brother and his friends for stealing candy at the local Pay N’ Pak at Thrasher’s Corner my brother is the one who protected me from his friends who all rightly wanted to beat me to death.  When I was 8 and confessed to helping vandalize a local elementary school along with my brother and his friends, once again my brother stepped in to defend me against them. Oddly, they stopped involving me in their shenanigans after that.  When I was 21 and my brother went with me to celebrate, and some idiot in the club started harassing me, it was my big brother who took me aside out of earshot and said “I know this type. If he pushes any more, whatever you decide to do I’ll have your back.”  When my wife had a miscarriage and we lost our baby, it was my big brother who said “We’ve been through this. I’m here if you want to talk.” My brother has always been my keeper, even on the days we drew each other’s blood quarrelling. The bond that siblings have from growing up together reminds me of a verse from the 21 Pilots song Stressed Out:

Sometimes a certain smell will take me back to when I was young
How come I'm never able to identify where it's coming from
I'd make a candle out of it if I ever found it
Try to sell it, never sell out of it, I'd probably only sell one

It'd be to my brother, 'cause we have the same nose
Same clothes homegrown a stone's throw from a creek we used to roam
But it would remind us of when nothing really mattered
Out of student loans and tree-house homes we all would take the latter

Your brothers and sisters are the ones you grow up with, go through trials with, survive tragedy with.  I would also suggest that If this kind of bond can be built between complete strangers experiencing trial and tribulation together, how much more should people who grew up together have the same sense of responsibility towards one another?  So yes, Cain. The message from God here is that you are your brother’s keeper, and His message to us now is that we are also.  You are your brother’s keeper, and you are your sister’s keeper. The bond that exists between siblings extends also into God’s kingdom, and our conduct regarding our spiritual responsibility for each other has impact on everyone around us.  We’re all in the same boat when it comes to being in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12), and we will sit together, alive in heavenly places with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2). It should be no surprise that when we ignore our personal and private obligation to our brothers and sisters, everyone around us suffers.

In Disney’s The Lion King, driven by a desire to have a kingdom that was not his, Scar plots against and kills his brother.  The result is broken relationships within the family, lack of food supply leading to starvation, and the land laid to waste.  The story of Jacob and his brother Esau comes to mind (Genesis 25:29-34) , where Jacob in his desire to have his older brother’s birthright managed to get it, but had to flee for his life (Genesis 27:41-44) afterwards.  Broken relationship and a whole lot of work to reconcile and repair the damage. The story of Ammon, Tamar, and Absalom from 2 Samuel 13:1-22 resulted in rape and murder, and a kingdom in shambles. God expects us to be keepers of one another.  There is no room in the New Testament for a Heaven populated by individuals that aren’t connected.  

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Now that the larger point has been made, let me bring this back to siblings for a second before I wrap this up.  A very good friend of mine grew up in a wonderful household, the youngest of two children. He and his older brother had a good relationship with each other and with their parents all the way into their young adult life.  Tragedy struck one day when their parents were out on a drive and were struck and killed by a drunk driver. Each of them dealt with the tragedy in different ways that weren’t always conducive to healthy sibling relationships.  Angry, bitter, and devastated, they lost touch and parted ways. 10 years later, my friend gave his life to Jesus and the two of us were in a men’s Bible study, and when Genesis 4:9 was read aloud and Cain rhetorically asked God “Am I my brother’s keeper?”, my friend though he was the youngest of the two brothers decided then and there to re-connect and reconcile with his brother based on the conviction the Spirit placed on him.  For years he thought “I’m the youngest, so I’ll just wait until my older brother reaches out to me”, but God reminded him of his own responsibility; that it doesn’t matter who is older, what matters is the relationship. Thanks to Jesus, the two have reconciled and are leaning on each other once again as they deal with the untimely passing of their parents.  

Here’s the closing question then:  do you have a broken relationship that you need Christ’s help to fix?  Isn’t it about time for you to make the first move and seek out your brother (or sister) and be reconciled?  Are you thinking maybe that it’s just not possible? There’s too much bad blood, too much history, too much hurt.  Well, you’re not alone if you’re thinking along those lines but let me provide you some encouragement once again from Jacob and Esau’s story.  After living abroad for a few years, Jacob eventually returned home and knew that he was going to have to face an older brother that previously had wanted to kill him.  On the way home, Jacob arranged to send gifts in advance to his brother to sort of soften him up a little bit, maybe hoping that by the time Jacob got home his brother would just give him a beating instead of killing him.  Instead, this happened:

Genesis 33:8–11 (ESV) 

8Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 

9But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 

10Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 

God is so good, friends.  If by His power, grace, and mercy he can fix Jacob and Esau then He is more than worthy of helping you restore your own broken relationships whether they be flesh and blood brothers and sisters, or the ones you’ve developed along the way.  You are your brother’s keeper.

Brother, let me be your shelter

Never leave you all alone

I can be the one you call when you’re feeling low

Brother, let me be your fortress

When the night winds are driving on

Be the one to light the way

Bring you home

-NeedtoBreathe

-Written by James Boerner

Popcorn and Parables (Disney Villain edition) - Week 1

Frozen: A Bad Parenting Story

So often I have heard myself say, “that will leave a mark” or, “they will be in therapy for that someday”.  To all my fellow parents out there we have to face it, we are not perfect, far from it at times. None of us set out to mess up or be “bad parents”.  On the contrary, we are trying hard to be great parents, sadly so much so that sometimes we get it all wrong.  

As we look at our first week in the new series “Popcorn and Parables” we take a look at villains and compare them to biblical failures.  Week one is Hans from Disney's “Frozen”, he is compared to Adonijah (1 Kings 1), both of whom try to usurp thrones from the rightful heirs.  The primary cause is the bad parenting of the villains which results in the actions they take. The blame falls largely on the parents for not speaking into the lives of their children and leaving them to sink or swim.  Yes, this is a bad parenting technique.

Before I delve further into Hans and Adonijah, I want to get back to my original statement.  None of us set out to be bad parents. Nonetheless, we, like Anna and Elsa’s parents, act in a way we think is helping, but in the end can be just as damaging as ignoring our children completely.  Anna’s parents thought the trolls advice to take away her memories was good, they agreed it was best for Elsa to hide the gift she had been given rather than embrace it, and they even felt leaving their children to live isolated lives from the world and one another was good for them.  King David, was also an absent parent for his children, he seldom gave them time, avoided conflicts among them, and even sent them away from his presence (2 Samuel). Both the Disney Parents and King David made poor parenting choices, but they were not evil or villainous.  

It is easy to sit back in a chair and judge the bad choices of others, but not so easy to look at our own failures.  How many of us get sucked into a TV program or our phones and ignore the child climbing the walls? How many times have we said “no” 10 times only to cave in on the 11th request?  How many of us still run lunches or homework to the school to save our child from the pain of failure?  The very person who claims to have coined the phrase “Helicopter Parent” (John Rosemond) now cringes because our society has made it out to not necessarily be a bad thing.  He goes on to now call parents “Blender or Cuisinart Parents” whose lives are so enmeshed in their children’s lives you cannot tell where one begins and the other ends (Rosemond “Parenting by the Book”).  Prior to looking at others, we must first acknowledge the query: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers’ eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? (Matthew 7:3).

Now, back to Hans and Adonijah.  Both were lost in the shuffle of where they fit in amongst their siblings.  Both seem to have had absentee parents. And both seem to have developed a ‘make my own way’ philosophy.  Hans was the 13th son of a Lord of a distant land who comes to find his purpose in marrying and then attempts to usurp the throne from Queen Elsa.  Adonijah doesn’t wait for his father, King David, to be dead before claiming the throne from David’s declared heir Solomon (1 Kings 1).  Hans and Adonijah likely had never heard their father say they “matter” let alone show them they were loved. They may have had some relationship with their mothers, but the fact is neither mother nor father had instilled in them a sense there was a right and wrong path. 

No matter if you are the good parent just making mistakes like so many of us, or if you are the parent who have lost your way and need to make things right; none of us are alone.  The Lord can show you the way to be an attentive parent and guide your parenting choices if you read His Word and listen with a soft heart.  There are resources, friends, mentors, small groups, and classes all of which are available to get better on this whole parenting thing.  We are not perfect, nor will our children be, but we are all forgiven and made righteous by His blood. Let us all do our best to leave our children a little better than ourselves and the world a better place than we have now. 

“May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children.  May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalms 115: 14 – 15).

Written by Christian Love

Knock it Off--Week 4

When you hear these 2 words "attractive people" what comes to mind? If you're like me right away their beautiful physical looks comes to mind. When I was asked to write a blog about attractive people I thought what!? But then I read a little more into the concept of what they were talking about. The word attractive means to
(of a thing) pleasing or appealing to the senses.

"an attractive home"

(of a person) appealing to look at; sexually alluring.
"an attractive, charismatic man"

Similar:, good-looking, nice-looking, beautiful, pretty, as pretty as a picture, handsome, lovely, gorgeous, captivating, irresistible, sexy, sexually attractive, alluring, desirable, sensual.

My avenue of thought is geared towards being attractive for Jesus' sake. People whose efforts present Jesus to the world through their lives.


Attract to make others want to be near you or around you because of your life. God designed in the animal Kingdom pheromones that attract the opposite sex. We mimic those with perfumes and body washes and fragrance and things that attract by smell. Hollywood attracts its audience with movie trailers and advertisements for what they created, teasers to make us want to see the movie. In health, does the person that is physically fit, seemingly happy, and tan, attract you to the gym or the diet table to become fit? Or is it the one who holds up the pants that used to be 10 sizes bigger than they are now, and they stand victorious over what once held them captive?

Which makes them more attractive? 

So let's turn this thought process towards christians. What do christians do to make themselves attractive to draw people to what they believe? It's odd that this subject came up for me at the time that it did, my friend and I were talking about who the most attractive people were in our lives and the lives of our friends when we were not Christ followers by action. We believed but were not living the life. I was really surprised to hear both of us answer the same thing. Ready, drumroll... 

It was the mormon church and its members who seemingly came to the rescue and were there to be the shoulder to cry on. It was them that paid the bills and put our friends up in a house, and then came to check on us or our friends. Or came to visit and nurture a battered wife whom they didn't know. It was them that offered to go buy my groceries when my back was out or when I was down. The Mormon visitors offered to do my laundry or mow the grass, and they were complete strangers off the street-very beautiful, very attractive I must say. They were amazing until it turned to conversations about faith and our differing views of who Jesus is. I must say though they changed my view of how to treat Mankind.


Clearly now in my life, the Christians I know do these things for people, they just never did them for me when I was unsettled about my faith. I've known a lot of people who went the opposite direction when I was in need, they didn't want to get involved in the things that were messy or painful, or unpleasant, or that would cost them something and that sent me a terrible message. I learned through applying the directions in the Word of God to my life that I loved mankind better and better. And it gained me an audience with them because of it.

Lets look at what Jesus did when he saw the unpleasant messy painful circumstances of peoples lives. Well He fed them, He presented to them hope, He told them the truth, he comforted them with words and with touch, He didn't turn the children away even when the disciples said to send them away. He didn't turn away the people that were crying out even when the disciple said tell them to be quiet.

He spent time with them like the woman at the well, you know the one that was there at noon so she didn't have to see the other women who were there early in the morning?He stayed three days in her city with her and her family as a guest. What do you suppose he did and said for those three days? We're not told. He took his entourage of men some 30 miles away from home, further than most of them had ever been, to visit a woman who was not a Jew (the dog) and listened to her cries and then healed her daughter from the demon that possessed her. What he also did  was acknowledge and upheld her faith by his listening to her outcry.

He called out to Zacheus an undesirable Jewish man who was a tax collector and was disliked by the populous, that he wanted to come spend time in his house with him despite the popular vote. And when he could not do it himself, he sent others in his name to accomplish the tasks and support the people.

Jesus was devoted to the temple. He went there to worship God and to teach and when he went to other cities he visited their synagogues while he was there. He devoted 3 years to 12 men and he was noted for having the practice of getting away to be with God and spend time alone with him. He gave instruction how to live life and not sin, how to please God and rely on him. He would tell them things like:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:7‭-‬12 NIV

So what do you consider to be attractive beautiful people? 

Are you yourself part of that group?

Or are you left wanting to be the receiver of beautiful attractive people who will come love on you?

So many questions, right? 

I guess the bottom line is ...If we live by example as we are called to do, then I must say who we are using as our example matters greatly. We don't want to be fake but authentic in our outward appearance because of the work done on the inward parts of our lives.

The Saints of the Bible and those who used them as examples to test and approve their lives is a great place to start looking on how to become more attractive people for Jesus.

-Written by Wayne Clinton 

Knock it Off -- Week 2

Knock It Off! —Tolerance for the Intolerant

Week 2 Series Blog

Enduring with Forbearance, without Interference

When I was a kid in the 80s, I used to hear this phrase a lot.  “While I don’t agree with what you say, I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”   I laughed when it resurfaced in an episode of Family Guy in season 3’s Fish Out of Water episode.  For many men and women in my generation this is how we view tolerance (except with our siblings), and there are a few things embedded in the phrase that should be highlighted.  

1. Freedom of expression is good.

2. Disagreement is expected, and dialogue about those disagreements is healthy.

3. If we can’t agree, we don’t have to be enemies.

According to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary: 
tolerate
■ verb

1    allow the existence or occurrence of (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) without interference.

2    endure (someone or something unpleasant) with forbearance.

Let’s face it, dealing with people that disagree with our world views is often very difficult.  Sometimes it’s downright grating. However, it’s well within our capabilities as rational human beings to accept that while we may not agree with everybody we can at least acknowledge and accept that other views do exist, and that their mere existence isn’t necessarily harmful.

At some point in the last couple of decades, the cultural definition of tolerance has had a major shift and is now in direct conflict with the first definition of what it means to tolerate, such that interference (even to the point of violence) is encouraged.    

Simply stated, it goes something like this: If you don’t agree and accept my view as true, you’re intolerant.  

Or the even more extreme version: If you don’t agree and accept my view as true, you’re a bigot and I have the right to harm you in order to change your mind or remove your harmful presence from my space.

We’re facing two distinct views of what tolerance is, then.  The first that acknowledges the existence of other views and encourages a spirit of dialogue and truth seeking to resolve differences.  The second which says disagreements shouldn’t exist at all and we must accept all views as true, lest we be labeled as intolerant!  Yikes!  

What Does the Bible Teach?

How are Christians supposed to navigate this mess?  It’s impossible for all things to be true at the same time.  Based on the second definition of tolerance we’re all intolerant bigots!  How as a Christian can I tolerate Islam if that means I must now accept Islam as truth to avoid being labeled Islamophobic in the process?  Should I tell people they’re intolerant bigots for not accepting my Christian worldview? Somehow I think spreading the Gospel would be less effective if after sharing the message I add “and by the way, if you don’t believe Jesus was the Son of God, you’re an intolerant bigot” at the end.  

Navigating the balance of holding to objective Christian truths in a world that’s increasingly hostile to Christian faith is tough.  Let’s be honest, much of the intolerance floating around is directed at Christians, because from the outside looking in, we’re the very definition of intolerant bigotry.  Why? It’s because we pin what we hold as true, good, and right onto God, and not man.

Here’s the TL;DR answer:  Holding to the first view of tolerance will more and more bring with it a high cost, from those who think you hate them or even want to harm them if you disagree.   That said, the Bible has some things to say about all this and what to expect.

1. Persecution should be expected (John 15:18-25)  

It’s harder to get upset by something you were told in advance would happen.  I don’t mean you have to be happy about it. I’m just saying that if we remember this fact, it can take some of the personal edge off accusation of intolerance (and every colorful metaphor that goes with it) when they come.

2. The Bible’s high view on peace (Romans 12:8, Jeremiah 29:7)

We’re not doing the Gospel any favors if we’re fighting all the time.  Pick your battles. Let compassion and the Holy Spirit be at the center of all disagreement.  Some questions to ask yourself that might help with this one:

• If I don’t speak up, (in a compassionate way) is someone’s salvation at stake?
• Am I being pressured into accepting a view or action that would cause me to violate God’s Word?
•   Is my acceptance of a view or action impeding my willingness to carry out The Great Commission to spread the Gospel?

3. Be prepared to defend yourself (1 Peter 3:15)

If the answer is “yes” to any of those things, then by all means engage in winsome apologetics to draw someone into the beauty of the kingdom, remembering that Peter put a condition on this imperative.  

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Have you ever walked away from a discussion or debate knowing that you spoke Truth and yet known at the same time that not one word of it pierced the heart and mind of the listener for the Kingdom?  Yea, I’m guilty as charged on that one. It’s because my delivery of that truth was completely devoid of compassion, gentleness, and respect. These things must be part of our toolkit as we engage with a post-truth culture that’s desperate for truth but is deaf to it when presented harshly.  Makes sense, right? If people view the church as full of hate because we don’t affirm and agree with every whim and desire of humanity, then a harsh delivery of truth pretty much confirms that view to the person we’re sharing with.  

Conclusion

I’m fond of saying this: “The further this country gets away from God, the worse things are going to get.”  Things are going to get worse, and the worse it gets, the more the culture around us will need what we have to offer them.  The Gospel.  

As Christians we can be model citizens of the first brand of social tolerance (endurance without interference) without sacrificing the truth of the Gospel in the process.  Like anything else in the Bible that Christ followers are asked to do, it’s just not easy. Expect conflict as our placement of objective truth and morale values upon God flies in the face of the ongoing culture war that says such things don’t exist.  Be effective peacemakers within our neighborhoods and workplaces by choosing our battles wisely. Finally, when those battles do come, defend the faith winsomely, respectfully, and gently to the glory of the One who is eager to welcome all who will come to Him.   Given the stakes, I think that’s something we can all tolerate.

-Written by James Boerner

Knock it Off--Week 1

Click Responsibly

“But DAAAD all my friends have Snapchat, and all my coaches use Facebook to coordinate the team and let us know about schedule changes!” …I remember the argument so well.  This was the day I let both my daughters know the household rule…NO Social Media until you are 18 (the age they are legally adults). The argument has ebbed in and out in the years since then, but now my oldest (just on the cusp of turning 18) admits it was a good call on our part as parents.  After seeing the years of drama and discord it has caused among her friends, family, and community, she feels it really is not worth it. As if high school were not enough stress already, this new method of comparison, fighting, and backbiting only exasperates the drama. Boy am I glad high school is over for me…

Wait a second…Social media is still like a big high school drama.  We now see highlight reels of people’s so called perfect lives, perfect meals, perfect children, and glorious shots of everyone else’s fun activities for us to compare ourselves too.  We fight over everything from politics, religion, music, and the way we “like” or “not like” one person or another’s posts. We have lost our sense of propriety and ability to speak respectfully.  Yes, too many of us have fallen back into the old habits we dreaded about high school. Only problem is now, we are older, angrier, and short of restraint simply because the nebulous “they” cannot physically reach out and smack us across the table or slam the door in our faces.

We cannot rely on “I am a good Christian” to protect us.  Some of us “Good Christians” have said and done the most hurtful things to others (and even to ourselves) in person and online.  Yes, Jesus loves us, forgives us, and saves us from all our sinful, shameful, and hurtful ways, but He is not a shield to hide behind while passing judgement and hurt from the keyboard on our phones or computers.  Jesus warns us “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). Is there anyone, anywhere that you are willing to forgo Jesus’ forgiveness for the sake of being angry or judgmental?

We are called to “love one another” (John 13:34-35) this means even when we cannot look them eye to eye.  Set your belief aside Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Atheist, or Agnostic; isn’t “love one another” good wisdom no matter where it came from?  Remember, we don’t even have to know someone, yet hurt them from thousands of miles away. I challenge everyone, regardless of belief, gender, race, or however else you identify; go forth in love, kindness, patience, and most of all empathy for all humankind.  To my fellow Christians; I challenge you to go forth in love with a full heart knowing to love your neighbor is far more encompassing than the people next door to your place of residence (See Luke 10:29-37). 

We owe it to ourselves and our children to be better than we are and leave this place better than we have made it.  Please click responsibly.

-Written by Christian Love

Why Visioncast? Committing to Hammer and Nail

Visioncast: Committing to Hammer and Nails

    I bet you might be thinking the obvious connection with the title “Committing to Hammer and Nails”.   It is true God did use hammer and nails in His plan to save us all…but this is not what I am referring to by my title.  

    As I was preparing to write this blog, I pondered what to write about and was stuck.  So, I took on the task of repairing the fence and a raised garden bed that had been damaged by the lawn mower.  As I worked, I got to thinking about this weekend’s Visioncast, its theme, and what I could say about it. I asked myself over and over what it was about Visioncast I could share with you that might enlighten you to why we do it, what it means to me, and hopefully encourage you to join us.

    It was not until I had already mended the garden bed and was going around my fence driving in nails that had come loose that I got it.  Mending, strengthening, fixing, restoring; these are the reasons for Visioncast. We (AC3) as a church are a family, and like my fence and garden bed, we get pulled apart, weakened, and separated as time goes by.  Visioncast is our chance as a church to breakout the hammer and nails, mortar and glue, and do the much-needed maintenance our lives and church family need.  

    It is more than just a new coat of paint; Visioncast is about coming together to learn from each other, commune with one another, and restore our connections.  In a sense, this is our time to drive in the nails that have come loose in our relationships, bind ourselves into the community, be restored, and replenished. From the main messages and worship to the breakout groups and even the free time, we are all rolling up our sleeves, picking up our tools, and declaring to the world we are AC3.

    Just like my fence which is still old, but with a little mending still holds up and defends the perimeter.  With a commitment to hammer, nails, and a little time we can all be made stronger. And like my garden box, we can all help each other to cultivate new growth and produce the fruit God wants from us and why He saved us.  Hmm…maybe this IS about the hammer and nails He used in His plan after all.

-Written by Christian Love

Why VisionCast?

Why VisionCast? 

I am completely and humbly sold out to God. The Lord in His abundant provision is the  foundation of which Lee and I have built our core values. We trust God with the way we approach our marriage. We lean into Jesus with the parenting of our young daughter. We rely on the Holy Spirit while navigating the relationships we have with our adult children. We prayerfully move into healthy relationships with friends and family. We are sold out to God and His local church, AC3. Over the years I have been growing at AC3 with one exception, Vision Cast. Can I say that here? On a blog written to encourage you to attend this critical event I have said “no thanks, that is NOT for me.” 

My Husband and one of our sons started attending Vision Cast a few years before I did. They came home with powerful examples of how God showed up and how they connected with people they normally would not have. My daughter listened with anticipation for the day she would be old enough to attend. My friends and acquaintances would talk about what a great weekend they had and I would change the subject without missing a beat. In fact, I would do anything not to attend including having my teeth cleaned or any other less than desirable appointment. 

What am I saying? Am I really comparing Vision Cast to a root canal, not exactly, but what I am admitting is that my attitude was poor, my perspective colored by past hurts and my fear paralyzing. Why exactly did I change the subject when someone mentioned Vision Cast to me? Why was I terrified of a church retreat? The very simple reason is that I felt like I didn’t belong, I felt inadequate. I felt like the church retreat was nothing more than a painful way to magnify my self consciousness about being an outsider. The idea of a prolonged awkward conversation in the church lobby did not appeal to me let alone a whole weekend! In addition, I was just not emotionally up to standing on the outside of a group where everyone knew each other. The thought of attempting to break into that kind of established circle made me consider a root canal. I just did not want to be vulnerable, it felt too draining, too much of a risk that I was unwilling to take. I liken my intense anxiety to being chosen last in a game of dodgeball, where I know deep down in my bones I am going to get a ball to the face if history repeated itself. 

Part of my problem is that there is a discrepancy in the approach to talking about Vision Cast. If someone asks me “hey are you going to Vision Cast?” My response is no way or perhaps a more subtle “I don’t think so.” I have so many excuses ready on the tip of my tongue: lack of child care, no pet sitter, the cost, taking time off from work, random dental cleanings…..you get the point right? BUT if you were to say to me “Hey, Dea I am thinking about going to Vision Cast do you think you would like to check it out with me?” There is an invitation to do life together. To walk alongside me in scary and unknown social environments where I may feel more comfortable knowing someone is in it with me. We need to offer an invitation to attend Vision Cast while also accepting an invitation to attend Vision Cast. Walking into AC3 on the arm of a friend makes a huge difference and knowing that I have received a personal invitation to attend Vision Cast makes a huge difference as well. 

Good stuff happens at Vision Cast. God is at the center of everything we do at AC3. Our mission and vision honors the Gospel of Jesus. It took me a lot longer than it probably should have to know and believe that AC3 needs her body to show up at Vision Cast, that I needed to show up. The church needs YOU sharing your ideas, offering your gifts, telling your stories, being part of the fellowship that makes our church vibrant, unique and sold out for Jesus. I am also learning that we can’t be all the things God calls us to be if we don’t step out in faith and take some risks, even if those risks are out of your comfort zone. What does that risk look like? It looks like you living a life sold out to God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us this: “therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here (NIV)  And that my friends is the game changer. Even if you get hit in the face with the dodgeball- remember you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. So step out in faith and give Vision Cast a chance to connect with God and His people in real and deep ways or in light and frivolous ways. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you into opportunities to grow in fellowship and in your vision of what this next ministry year looks like for you and your brothers and sisters in Christ. Collectively, let us cast a vision for what God can do with you and through you. I think when you do that you will say Vision Cast is exactly for me. For those of you who don’t have any difficulty in attending Vision Cast seek out someone you would like to get to know better and ask them to attend with you. And for those of you who don’t attend find someone you are interested in getting to know and ask them to go with you. For those of you who receive an invitation to attend say yes. And I promise you it is better than that root canal and if I am wrong go ahead and have me committed!   

Humbly yours,

Dea 

Why Church on a Blanket?

Why Church On A Blanket:

So for those of you who may not know how or why church on a blanket got started I will give you a brief history..  Almost a decade ago my then wife Cammy asked me if I would help her do an event in our yard during the pause. Its purpose was to gather our friends and family from the church for a backyard picnic style event. It would be open to everyone and we could put signs out then invite our neighbors, which we did. As we shared our idea with people from the church the desire of people to be a part of it increased and boom we had our volunteers for the day of the event. The first year we had Blake Paine a then AC3er preach a message. And we played minute to win it games At the tail end of it.

 At the close of the day when the last guest had left  and the last paper plate had been thrown away we sat back at the fire pit and talked about how good today was. We met people we did not know, and we made new friends. It seemed as though people connected on a level that we hadn't seen before It was as though the cliques that do exist were thrown away for the day and it felt like family had come to visit. The day left its mark on our yard and our hearts. 

A lot has changed in my life since then but the reason I  Continue to do church on a blanket is still the same. It feels like a family reunion, It feels more personal than inside the building, and it blesses the lives of those who come, and it certainly continues to bless my life. 

This year its location changed because my friends wanted to make it easier on my physical body, due to my struggle with ALS.  So new spot same gig. Come as you are, invite a neighbor or family member or a friend. Bring food you like or something to share or nothing and enjoy the abundance of the food that comes. I hear there's secret stuff brewing behind the scenes.. but i won't pry (YET).
Wayne-o

The Big Game-Week 4

Reverse Engineering the Faith

When I was freshly saved, newly bowled over by the peace of the Gospel, I immediately began to explore why “it worked”!  The question plaguing me was something like this:  did it work (to bring me peace with God, to fill me with an overwhelming sense of being reconciled, sins forgiven and a hope for heaven) because it was true, or was it merely “true” only because it “worked”?

In this way you could say I was suddenly interested in reverse engineering the Gospel. 

Which reminds me of the B-29 Super Fortress Bomber the US developed in WWII.  That plane was a game changer for world powers because it was the only weapon in the world that could deliver atomic bombs anywhere in the world.  Seeing its powers at the end of WWII, the Russians were worried and jealous.  They had no such tech and didn’t seem close to developing it.

Then, they received what they called (ironically in an atheist country) a “gift from God.”  In 1945, 3 B-29’s that were in trouble in the South China sea had to land in (then fellow Allied power) Russia.  International law gave Russia the right to seize the military equipment but return the combatants – which they did.  America considered the planes a loss.

2 years later, an American delegation showed up in Russia for one of their gaudy public displays of military hardware.  At the end, they were stunned to look up and see not one, not two, but three B-29’s fly overhead!!  At first they assumed these were the three confiscated planes, but then a 4th flew.  And eventually 300 Tu-4’s would fly!!  The Russians had reversed engineered the B-29 down to the last rivet, making a perfect copy of the superweapon.

With that kind of zeal, I wanted to know HOW the Gospel worked, WHY the Gospel worked, and so I needed to investigate (after I had accepted it) all its inner workings.

Sometimes the questions people ask about Christianity, come BEFORE they accept Jesus, and they can’t accept Him until those questions get answered, until the plausibly of Christianity is established.  That’s why apologetics and Ask Anything series matter. 

Other times, the questions people ask come AFTER.  And this doesn’t make them any less important.  For if we ever want to reproduce faith in Jesus in others, we need to understand, not just THAT it works, but WHY it works.

And finally the careful investigator finds that it works, because it’s true!  And truth can always handles the hardest questions.

-Written by Rick Thiessen

The Big Game-Week 3

The Big Game—Week 3
Ask Anything:  You’re only a Christian Because Your Parents Are

As a teenager I received this very accusation from some of my atheist friends.  During this season of my life my parents were going through a divorce which meant an otherwise stable environment I had always relied upon was uprooted.  The Enemy used this temporary lapse in life stability to introduce an argument against my faith which at the time carried with it an element of truth that I was unable to explain away.  I really hadn’t investigated Christianity’s truth claims for myself.  The appropriate response should have been to do just that.  Unfortunately, the angry and hurt teenager that I was back then threw in the towel on God and I turned my back completely on God and everything I believed had to do with Him.

Much later in life (January 2009) I finally did embark on that journey and it only seemed natural to first tackle the problem that led to my doubts in the first place.  A variation on the argument can sometimes go like this if we break it down into a logical syllogism:

1) You were born in a Western culture that is predominantly Christian.
2) If you had been born in Mumbai, India you would be Hindu.
3) Therefore, Christianity is false.

If you’re scratching your head wondering what the first and second premises have to do with the conclusion, then you’ve landed squarely on the problem of recognizing that this formula has an error in it, formally known as Genetic Fallacy or fallacy of origins.  It is the idea that you can invalidate someone’s belief/position by showing how a person came to hold that position or belief.  How a person came to believe something (even if they have inadequate reasons for doing so) has nothing to do with whether the belief or position is true or not.

Coming to this realization, I then applied the same formula to my own situation and realized I now had 1)  permission to investigate the truth claims for myself with no commitment to a particular outcome, 2) resolve any doubts encountered to the best of my intellectual powers of reason and known data at that time, and that 3) given a thorough investigation, putting truth and evidence above all other factors, I could have confidence I would arrive at the truth and have peace in it knowing I had done proper due diligence.

If you’re investigating Christianity for yourself, and if you happen to be attending AC3 for the next couple of weeks during that process I hope you’ve found an environment where you’re encouraged to ask questions and do your own digging without fear of condemnation.  We’re glad you’re here!

-Written by James Boerner

The Big Game--Week 1

Ask Anything: Cattle, Hills, and the All Powerful

If God has the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10), then why do I need to tithe (give a tenth of my earnings)?  What about all this stuff about trying to break free from the bondage of our creditors (Proverbs 22:26-27), shouldn’t I use my money there instead?  If God is all powerful and created all things, why does HE need my money?  Questions like this are among some of the hardest I have had to deal with while I was exploring my faith; and even today, especially when money is tight.

Many of us have heard the most direct answer is, God doesn’t ask for our money, time, or harvest specifically, and it’s not because He needs it.  God asks for us to tithe, or more specifically give to Him from the best of our first fruits (Leviticus 27:30).  What He is really asking for is the thing we are most likely to replace Him with in our hearts.  In our time and culture, it is not fruit or cattle that is important to us, but our finances which are the gateway to the things we want (stuff) and physically need (such as food).  So God asks us to trust Him and He will provide, therefore through our trust we can tithe willingly.
So, God does not need my (or your) money and He asks for the purpose of winning my heart for him…OK.  Now, we come to the stuff about getting our house in order and not being a slave to the lender (Proverbs 27:7)?  Wouldn’t it be easier to overcome those debts with that tithe (or tenth) applied to pay them off, getting me free so I can do good for others?  In the extreme short term, the answer is most likely “Yes”, however, our hardened and stubborn hearts would not really do it the right way, would we?  Most people who pay off debt or consolidate debt don’t end up giving more, they just harness it to go back or further into debt.  Therein is part of the lie the devil tells us to help us justify not following God’s command.

Now, here is where it gets even stickier.  If we justify taking our tithe away from God to pay our debts, which He has told us not to get into in the first place (Proverbs 22:26), are we sinning to pay for our sin?  Put another way: If I take God’s requirement of a tithe and disobey so I can pay my debt which I got myself into by not following His command, am I committing a new sin to cover an old one? Yes, I would be.  It is true we should let no debt remain outstanding (Romans 13:8), but we should never venture down the path where we disobey a command of God to try and pay for our previous sin.

Tithing is necessary for my heart to be right with God.  We should not therefore use our tithe for anything other than a tithe.  However, you might wonder about the debt that still needs to be paid.  Four points to ponder: 1)  Trust in God and His provision, 2) Budget with Discipline, 3) Pray and praise God for the guidance you need and the good He has done, 4) Trust in God and His abundant provision.  Ok I know the first and the last were the same, but it is so vital it needed repeating.

-Written by Christian Love

Man Up--Week 3

When my son was young and in school, I used to dream of being a teacher myself. But as a single mom of three boys and working long hours, there was no way to go back to school. Still, I longed for it. I remember the eventful day that dream changed, however. My young son and I were sitting at the kitchen table and I was trying to teach him to tell time. (Remember analog clocks?!) It did not go well. Tears may have been shed. He wasn’t happy either. Not only did that session change my ideals about becoming a teacher, it made me doubt myself, my son and whether I really knew how to tell time! What I said and what he received from me seemed to be two different things. I had no idea how to teach this boy. When he turned 16 and got his driver’s license, I tried to teach him to drive a stick shift. These were hard days, people.

What I realized is that all the things I tried to teach my kids: kindness, the Golden Rule, the love of Jesus, fractions…. I was teaching them the way I would want to learn them, not the way they could easily learn them. In particular, when it came to growing into young men with the strength and confidence of becoming adults, no teaching from me was going to do it. I realized that mentoring and accomplishment were the ways my boys were going to come into their own. My kids were still  in elementary school when Shea and I married. He let them get under the hood of a car and help change spark plugs. He apologized to them after an argument that had unnecessary words in it. He let them try things, do them badly, then help them correct it patiently and with praise. This is mentoring.
Mentoring is more than just teaching. It’s modeling, encouragement, problem solving together, coming alongside. It’s not solving someone else’s problems, it’s helping them work through them beside them. Mentoring a child or an adult should feel like support to the mentee. It should feel empowering, encouraging and give them a sense that they can solve the issue at hand or make an idea happen. When it’s done well, mentoring is a beautiful and organic thing.

When done poorly, mentoring is the worst thing that can happen to a person who is vulnerable and ready to be led. It tears down. It is judgmental and full of ridicule. It conveys disapproval and condescension. It is not beside someone, it is over them. The fact is, most people using this kind of “mentoring” don’t even realize they are doing it, but it is harmful. It can cut the growing branches off the tree entirely.
Think of someone who’s been a great mentor in your life. Were they generous? Patient? Did you walk away from them feeling better about your situation or yourself? Empowered? When you look back at the people you feel have helped you in your life, did you even realize you were being mentored at the time? Everyone loves a great mentor- it feels good. But here’s a harder question: Who have you mentored? Who have you let walk beside you and watch you and ask questions? With whom have you been patient and generous?

Jesus was a tremendous mentor. He modeled all the important things for his disciples that are hard to teach on a blackboard: Love, forgiveness, generosity, trust, prayer, when to pour into people, when to go away alone and commune with God. He modeled loyalty, teaching, follow-through, how to pray, when to get angry and when to turn away from anger. He had strength of character and was not afraid or influenced by others. He is not done mentoring these things, friend. He’s mentoring you today if you let him. Scripture lets us continue to learn from him.
If you have been yearning for a mentor, asking God to send someone your way that you can glean from, maybe you are forgetting the other part of what Jesus did. He mentored others. There is always someone who can use the mentoring you have to offer. I’ll go a step further: Maybe you are already mentoring someone, though maybe you haven’t realized it. Your kids, nieces or nephews, siblings, co-workers, small group members, neighbor. Someone who looks to you and your actions for guidance and example. Maybe ask God who he has brought into your life that needs you. Maybe you are the person God will send to someone else who has been praying for a mentor. When you participate with God in this kind of activity, you are in the sweet spot and it is amazing.

As for me, I have had the great benefit of learning from others and mentoring others, both. Both are rewarding. There are great rewards and teachings in being the mentor as well. I have received many, and I am thankful. I’m thankful for all the ways people have taught me. I’m thankful for the ways Jesus continues to mentor me. And I’m thankful for digital clocks.

The Heart of the Matter

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The Heart of the Matter~

The Heart of the Matter~

I have a complicated and slightly neurotic approach to the third Sunday in June. To say I have daddy issues is what I consider to be a vast understatement in regard to Father's Day. When the elders looked at our blog calendar, it seemed only natural to have me write this week's introduction to weekend services. After all, that, my friends is how we grow. We confront the things that make us uncomfortable, and we lean into God in ways that allow HIM to be glorified even when it hurts. So here I am putting to paper the issues that nearly consumed me and writing about my own triumph over deep sadness and loss. I know it is only by the grace and mercy of our mighty Yahweh-Rapha that I am able to truly say GOD in His mercy and righteous nature bestowed upon me a supernatural blessing of a forgiving heart.

Early on a Saturday morning my foster father Terry Joe Carlson lost his battle with leukemia. He died in a hospice bed in the living room of his home. He was surrounded by people who loved him most in this world. During the last days of his life he said things to me that I will always hold dear to my heart. 

Dea's foster father, Terry and her oldest son, Chase.

Dea's foster father, Terry and her oldest son, Chase.

When he took his last breath, in that moment I believed I would cry every day for the rest of my life. He had been my father for almost a decade, and all I wanted was more time with him. I had taken off my watch the last week of his life in a foolish attempt to slow down time. And yet, time continued. The man who had opened his home to me was gone. Although I wasn’t a believer, I did have a seeker's heart. Matthew 11:28 says “come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart and you will find rest for your souls.” Despite being lost and broken and having the proverbial rug ripped out from under my feet, I was also a young wife and mother. I found that I just had to deal with the hand I was given and would be a broken-hearted daughter who was untethered, hopeless, and fatherless the day before Father’s Day.

I hadn’t always been fatherless. In fact, over the course of the last few years I discovered I was like the character Sophie in the Meryl Streep movieMamma Mia! I had three possibilities for the role of father in my life. In recent months, I have named my neurotic notions The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (queue spaghetti western-themed music). The good dad is my notion that a father wants all the right things for his child and knows how to give good gifts. The one who if he knew about me would move heaven and earth to make his way to “rescue” his precious daughter. My idea of this man is one who is both sacrificing and loving and strong and brave. This man who not only hates injustice but does his part to defeat it in any way he can (within the limits of the law). The one who embraces his role of father and nearly every choice he makes is one that is measured against the lens of Scripture. The father that will raise his children in ways that honor God so when they are old they will not depart from it(Proverbs 22:8). By contrast, since I fashioned the idea of a good dad, then it stands to reason that I conceptualize the bad dad. The bad dad idea is the type of dad that is distant, removed, preoccupied—the one that puts his own needs and desires above his family. This dad squanders his abundant blessings of family. He does not intend the harm he causes, and yet he does not cherish fatherhood as an honorable pursuit. The good and the bad can be two sides of the same coin. They are the potential, the beginnings, the foundation of who a man makes a choice to become the moment he takes on the role of father. 2 Timothy 1:7says “for the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self discipline.” To be a man of integrity and character is not for the faint of heart. The reality is I was not raised by either of these ideas of the good or the bad. I was raised by The Ugly.

Ugliness is the epitome of the father I had known the longest in my life. This father is the one that like the enemy, prowls around like a roaring lion looking to devour. This enemy destroys and hurts and robs and breaks hearts. This is the father that tortures psyches and steals innocence.The Ugly dad is the antagonist in every good versus evil scenario. This Ugly brings with him chaos and destruction. He is the father behind the staggering statistics of childhood abuse. The reason in which little girls are removed from their homes by detectives on June mornings. The father in which forgiveness is reluctantly given—eventually—but given nonetheless, so that peace is paramount, not anxiety, brokenness, and despair. This supernatural approach to forgiveness can only come from our sovereign God in Heaven. A human heart in my experience can only forgive because the cross teaches me the hard lesson of forgiveness.

The ugly earthly father with all his flaws and demons set me on a course that would ultimately bring me into the home of Terry Joe Carlson, an earthly father of flesh and blood. Terry and his wife would embrace me and call me daughter. Terry and Launa would begin to heal in me my deep-rooted sadness through love and humor. They modeled healthy boundaries and discipline. I am a slow learner, and there were definitely pitfalls in the process in which I could discover what it means to be loved by a doting parent. I made quite a few false steps that were riddled with consequences, but no matter how far I veered to the left or right, I could come back to center because my foster father fostered in me the desire to live a life that is good. And in giving me the idea of good, how could I not find myself pointed in the direction of the Gospel?

God, in HIS mercy pursued me and introduced me to HIS Son. Jesus did not come for the healthy; He came for the sick. He came for me so that I may live! God in HIS divine nature gave us the gift of the Son so that we may not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Jesus came so we may have life in abundance (John 10:10). I am healed from my broken heart. I am a new creation in Christ. I know who my Father in Heaven is, and He calls me His. I am redeemed. There is power in fixing your eyes on Jesus and overcoming the things of this life that seek to destroy you. There is hope and a future for us because God made a way with Jesus.

Over the course of this last year, my daddy issues, though not completely resolved, are greatly simplified. I discovered I am the biological daughter of Jesse Bryant, a man my mother mentioned by name on my 25th birthday. Through the wonder of spit in a test tube, I connected with family and visited the Mississippi cemetery where Jesse has been for almost fifteen years—that is a blog for another day. But in that chapter of self-discovery, I have learned God gives and He takes away. But in all things there is forgiveness, and that is the heart of the matter.

~Written by  Dea Braaten