God of this City

This is a video that I made for Sunday worship. It is made up of pictures from our churches target communities: Bicknell, Bruceville, Edwardsport, and Freelandville.

Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Four: Part 5

I can't help but look at this tube and think big thoughts.
I can't help but look at this tube and have great sadness for the lost.
I can't look at this tube without thinking that I need to do something.

You see this tube contains 4734 broken, used, seemingly worthless crayons. Those crayons represent 4734 real people. Broken people. Hurt people. Used people. People who need us to share Christ's Truth in Love. It's our job. It's our responsibility. It's our calling.

What will you do?

Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Four: Part 4

“Beth Bicknell”- Beth is a 30 something woman. She grew up in a good family. She got good grades in High School. She got accepted to a good college. She was involved in the youth group at church. She loved Jesus. She was even Baptized as a child after making a decision to give her life to Christ. Something changed in her life when she went to college. The first semester went well. Then she started to hang out around a different group of people. Then one night she did something she never thought she would do. She tried methamphetamine. From that night on she was hooked. She tried to go with out it. She tried to stop using it. She tried everything. She wanted to be a nurse so bad, but all she could think of was how she was going to get her next fix. She failed out of school. Her parents though that if she moved home they could help her, but the addiction was just too strong. She found sources in Bicknell. They tried to send her away, but she just found more Meth wherever they sent her. They even tried an expensive drug treatment facility. She left after two days. Then she enlisted in the Army, but they kicked her out after only a few weeks. She wants help so bad. She wants to change. She wants to be different, but she thinks that all people see in her is the drugs. She thinks that they only see the rotted teeth and the noticeably unhealthy weight loss. She has gone to church off and on when she is trying to give up the Meth. It only lasts a few weeks and then she is back to her old habits. She thinks that she’s not good enough for church.

The Gospel according Luke tells this story: (43-45)In the crowd that day there was a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with hemorrhages. She had spent every penny she had on doctors but not one had been able to help her. She slipped in from behind and touched the edge of Jesus' robe. At that very moment her hemorrhaging stopped. Jesus said, "Who touched me?"
When no one stepped forward, Peter said, "But Master, we've got crowds of people on our hands. Dozens have touched you."
(46)Jesus insisted, "Someone touched me. I felt power discharging from me."
(47)When the woman realized that she couldn't remain hidden, she knelt trembling before him. In front of all the people, she blurted out her story—why she touched him and how at that same moment she was healed.
(48)Jesus said, "Daughter, you took a risk trusting me, and now you're healed and whole. Live well, live blessed!" – Luke 8:43-48 The Message

“Beth” is this woman today. She is an outcast. She is the person no one wants to deal with. Notice that she tried to hide from Jesus. What was she thinking? My guess would be that when she fell at his feet, she expected him to say something like, “You dirty woman, get away from me.” Instead Jesus loved her and blessed her life. Beth expects us to say something like, “You dirty woman get away from me.” God has other plans for us. He wants us to treat her like Jesus would. With love and compassion. Many of the 4734 are like “Beth.” They have problems that make them look dirty, unclean, and unworthy. Jesus made them worthy and we should make them feel worthy.

Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Thrity Four: Part 3

“Bobby Bicknell”- Bobby is a 55 year man who has lived in Bicknell all his life. He has some issues. He was born prematurely and has spent his life as a developmentally disabled person. He grew up in the age when people with disabilities did not get the same opportunities as other people did. His school was more like a day care. No one tried to teach him to read or to develop skills that could help him become a productive member of society. When he was finished with public school he was quickly put on Social Security Disability and he has stayed there most of his life. His parents tried to do the best that they could for him, but they are now deceased. They left him the house that they lived in, and his sibling try to help him out when they can, but they are busy with families of their own. Bobby does not like to go out because people look at him funny. One thing that really bothers him is when he goes out to eat with his family. People seem to just talk about him to his family members. They never seem to talk to him. His biggest wish is to have people love him and treat him like he is a real person. He has never had anyone take a real interest in him. Once in a while a social worker will become his friend, but it seems like they don’t stay around long enough to get close. He has never been to church his whole life. He parents didn’t send him to VBS in the summers because they didn’t want him to be a burden to the volunteers. His opinion of the church is that he doesn’t have one. He doesn’t really know anything about what a church is or what it has to do with him.

I think the best Biblical counter part with Bobby is found in Luke 5:17-26 -- (17)One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and religion teachers were sitting around. They had come from nearly every village in Galilee and Judea, even as far away as Jerusalem, to be there. The healing power of God was on him.
(18-20)Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher. They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus. When they couldn't find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus. Impressed by their bold belief, he said, "Friend, I forgive your sins."
(21)That set the religion scholars and Pharisees buzzing. "Who does he think he is? That's blasphemous talk! God and only God can forgive sins."
(22-26)Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking and said, "Why all this gossipy whispering? Which is simpler: to say 'I forgive your sins,' or to say 'Get up and start walking'? Well, just so it's clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both. . . ." He now spoke directly to the paraplegic: "Get up. Take your bedroll and go home." Without a moment's hesitation, he did it—got up, took his blanket, and left for home, giving glory to God all the way. The people rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then also gave glory to God. Awestruck, they said, "We've never seen anything like that!" –the Message

What stands out the most to me in this passage is not that the man was healed or that Jesus forgave his sins although those things were important, it’s what happened first. What happened first is that this man had friends. You see the man would have never met Jesus, had his sins forgiven, or been healed without those friends who loved and cared about him. You see what Bobby needs is friends who want to be Jesus in his life. Friends who love him unconscionably because he is God’s creation. When we take the time to love people like Bobby and show them what Christ is all about the healing comes. Not a physical healing. Bobby may never be what we call “normal,” but he is entitled to the spiritual healing that Jesus has to offer. What we have to do is pick him up and take him to Jesus. He is one of the 4734 we are called to reach. Do you love him? Do you want him to see Jesus? What are you going to do?

Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Four: Part 2

I talked about 4734 people on Tuesday, but now I want to give you some specific information about these somebodies:

“Betty Bicknell” – Betty is a 25 year old mother of three. Her oldest child is 10 years old. Her youngest is less than 2 years old. All three of the children have different fathers. Two of them are at least one year behind in child support and have nothing to do with their kids. She lives in a rented house. When she works, she usually works in fast food or some other type of service industry. Her yearly income is about $14,000 when she is working full time. Her biggest problem when she is working is not paying her bills or buying groceries, it’s finding quality and affordable child care. Her mom helps out when she can, but she has to work to. Her grandmother lives alone and is not physically able help, so when she works it’s a daily struggle to find someone to watch the kids. She hates using EBT (food stamps) at the store. She doesn’t like the way people look at her when she uses it, but most of the time she has no choice. She loves her children. She wants nothing more for her kids than to have a better life than she has. She doesn’t want them to grow up and have a baby in High School or live on government assistance but she doesn’t know any other life. She has no idea how to get out of this cycle. Her opinion of Christians is not good. She felt judged when she got pregnant. She sees most Christians as rich people who look down on those who don’t have anything.

"Betty" can best be represented by this Biblical passage:
A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, "Would you give me a drink of water?" (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.)
The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, "How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" (Jews in those days wouldn't be caught dead talking to Samaritans.)
Jesus answered, "If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water."
The woman said, "Sir, you don't even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this 'living water'? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob, who dug this well and drank from it, he and his sons and livestock, and passed it down to us?"
Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life." -John 4:7-14 “The Message”

See what Jesus did there. He offered hope and love. He told here the truth and made an investment in her life, even though she was not the kind of person that he should have been spending any time with. Jesus and that woman had nothing in common. No reason to be talking to each other, but he loved her. He showed his love to her. He offered her something that the world could not offer.

If we are going to reach the 4734 in our community, we are going to have to make the investments in them. We are going to have to hang out with people we would never hang out with before. We are going to have to go above and beyond. We are going to have to love “Betty” as if she were our daughter, sister, mother, and friend. Because we know that the only way for Betty to truly break cycle that she is in, is Jesus Christ.

Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Four

This is an article for our upcoming Church newsletter. I hope you will enjoy!

That’s a big number.
-If it were money, we could buy: a used car, 6 computers, 5 flat panel televisions, or lots of other stuff.
-If it were miles, we could travel to LA and back - twice.
-If it were gallons of gas, it would cost us $14,202.
-If that number represented airplanes, it would equal about a quarter of the commercial flights in the United States each day.
-If it were visitors, it would be about half the people who visit the Willis Tower (formally the Sears Tower) each day.

...But we are not talking about any of those things. What that number represents is people. Here's what I mean:

The population of:
Bicknell- 4696
Edwardsport- 363
Bruceville- 496
Freelandville- 868
Total- 6396

On average, about 75% of the population in the NK area do not attend church, so in our area that averages out to 4734 people. That’s a big number. It's a number that represents people who may not have a relationship with Jesus. It's a number that shows there is much work to be done in our communities.

We have a calling by God in Matthew 28:19-20 to go and make disciples of Christ. Our mission field is full and ready. There are approximately 4734 people we can reach with the Gospel. Did you know that a major Evangelism study of new converts in the US said that 79% of them only came to church because someone invited them? Not because of a sign, a special program, or even because of the pastor. They came because someone they knew asked them. There are 4734 Someones out there. With whom will you begin?

1 Corinthians 16// Message Remix Pause

(13-14)Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, and love without stopping.

I have been thinking about attitude lately. I have been thinking a lot about my attitude. I told all of you about a year ago that i had a problem with negative thinking. I have been trying to correct my negative attitude and work towards the mind of Christ. Today I was reminded that I'm not doing as good as I should. I need to work harder at changing my attitude. I still have moments of negativity. It leaks out of me when I get frustrated or when I get mad. It sneaks in and takes over my brain and I don't even see it. I don't even recognize it until it is to late.

Look what Paul says to the Corinthians: Hold tight to your convictions. If my convictions are to be positive. If I am to have the mind of Christ, I need to change. I need to turn from my ways and go toward His. He goes on to say give it all you've got. Everything. All of myself. Not just the moments when I'm thinking clear or when others are watching. But all of me all of the time. Then he says something that stopped me in my tracks. Be RESOLUTE. I love that word. It means, "marked by firm determination" (thanks Mr Webster!) A firm determination. A decision to push forward. I have to be resolute in my decision to change. I need your help. You have to hold me accountable for my attitude and pray that God will help me change!

How about you? What about your attitude needs to change? What do you need to be resolute about?