Rewrite Your Story!

Anyone who has ever taken the time to write knows very well that writing a book, a thesis, or a news article requires not only a first draft, but it also requires a rewrite several times long before it is even passed onto an editor.  Writing is a lot of work.  Sharing a perspective, writing out facts from a proper perspective, documenting your facts, researching your subject matter takes time, thoughfulness, and inspiration.  

When I was a freshman in college, I had to take a course on writing and composition.  My professor was an older lady who loved english and grammer.  I hated grammer, found writing difficult and was not a fan of doing full blown research writing.  One day she said in class, "you know, God maybe calling some of you to be writers one day."  I thought not me.  There is no way I'm going to spend my life writing I'm just going to preach the Gospel.  But, along the way in my studies in Theology, biblical research, church history and the like I found it necessary to write a book that striculated my theological beliefs.  As a result, I wrote a book before I was 22 years old entitled, "Foundation For Restoration" which was later edited by Carla Bruce from Phoenix, Arizona and published by Revival Press in Bedford, Texas c1984.  My close high school friend, Rick Carter, (current pastor of CFC Dallas, Texas) and my personal secretary Nancy Eckdahl spent countless hours assisting me reading, rewriting, and checking out the scriptures to ensure that the book was accurate and would give it's readers a good presentation of my views of the restoration of a New Testament Church.  I've got to tell you it was a gruelling experience. Nancy, Carla, and I spent 40 hours a week, over a 9 month period,  pouring over the manuscript just to get the language, grammer, and theological perspectives clear. Rewrites are very necessary to ensure that a book is as clear and understandable for your readers to enjoy.  I can tell you that here I am 40 years later and there is little I find myself disagreeing with or that which has changed my perspective since the publishing of the book.  I am very proud of that book and always look forward to having my early writings examined 40 years later by those who know me, my life and teaching as a minister of the Gospel.  It's a great book.

However, the focus of this article is not necessarily on the art of writing or publishing.  In this article I would like to take another look at the subject of how God rewrites our personal stories.  Most of us come from dysfunctional families who have left deep woundedness in our souls that might need to be re-examined, framed differently, and rewritten in our own minds.  I was raised by my mother, who divorced my father when I was a year and half years old.  My mother was a lasped christian and married my who father who was an atheist.  My father was a highly decorated career military man who volunteered and served in both the Korean conflict and Vietnam War.  He often told me, you find very few Christians in fox holes.  My parents were only married for 5 years when one night they came together to discuss the terms of their divorce.  That was the night I was concieved.  For years after my birth, I found myself having to navigate between to families (The Berry and Dunfee families), having to remain neutural about their views of each other.  The Berry's always disapproved of my mother's life, decisions, and handling my upbringing.  The Dunfee family made it very clear that they didn't like my father.  In fact, my grandmother dunfee told my mother that I was one grandchild she would never get close to because she disliked my father so much.  She later changed her view and loved me very much. I found having to navigate through my family's views very frustrating.  What it produced in me was the thought that "if I hadn't been born" these two (Mom and Dad) would not have had to remain connected throughout their lives and could have gone their separate ways never again having to fight over each other's movements and life decisions regarding my welfare.  So I viewed "my very existance" as it being my fault that they had to remain connected.  So if anything went wrong (in my perspective) it was my fault.  In fact, every thing that went wrong around me was my fault.  This is what I use to believe.  As a result it led to some very poor decisions in my teenage life and early adulthood.  I had poor self esteem, found that no matter how I tried to do all the right things I was always "at fault" for my family and relationship conflicts.  Wow!  Did this story need a rewrite.   The Scripture says:

If any man be in Christ

He is a new creation

Old things have passed away

All things become new

II Cor. 5:17

Between the day we recieve Christ and finding peace or wholeness within ourselves is a process called forgiveness.  In Ephesian 6:4, parents are commanded by the Lord to, "...not provoke your children to bitterness, but bring them up in the training and counsel of the Lord."  Bitterness is the result of all the unresolved conflicts experienced in our lives that were left unresolved by not talking through all these things, finding resolve and forgiveness.  So, you can be "Saved" or Born Again but have no peace within yourself because you have not forgiven your parents, your friends, your school mates, teachers or others in your life who offended and hurt you throughout your growing up years.  So  Salvation + forgiveness = peace.  No forgiveness... no peace. (See Matt 18:21ff)  These unresolved family relationships afftect all other relationships we have throughout life and often pass on the dysfunctionalionism.  Our family sins morph unless we allow God to incarnate himself into our perspectives and perceptions built in our childhood.  My grandfather, John Berry, who led me to Christ once said to me, "Mike, often those childhood hurts in our lives get blown out of proportion as we grow up. What was probably a small incident, as viewed from an adult perspective, gets blown out of proportion as we grow up because we have not forgiven those who hurt us." In fact, what I have learned over my 47 years of being a Christian is "Forgiveness is saying that you're more valuable to me than what you did."  If there is anyone who could speak as an expert in this matter it was my grandfather.  John Berry, who I loved dearly, was abandoned by his mother, Ida and placed in a children's orphanage after learning his father Obed was declared dead in World War I.  He had to learn forgiveness and found that forgiveness after recieving Christ as his Lord.  When we don't forgive others it only clouds our relationships, our decision making processes, or afford us the intimacy we could have with our heavenly father.

When we come to Christ God wants to rewrite the internal story you have written in your mind about your memories of hurt, unforgiveness, and woundedness.  He wants us to see that Old Things have really passed away.  If we our new creations in Christ then everything that is in our past need to be brought to the Cross Of Christ and put to death in the same place where Jesus took  all our sins and transgressions.  So I have come to see our salvation as a process of putting off the old nature... the old mindsets, the old woundedness, the unforgiveness, and offenses we all have through life that were built on the cracked foundations of our earliest memories. I am not responsible for what people did, do or don't do to me.  I am only responsible for my responses.  Our angers are nothing more than an emotion of a boundary crossed.  But it can also become a sinful action taken out against to retailate against those who I feel violated by. (See Eph. 4:26) Either way, Forgiveness is the only call of the Holy Spirit.  Remember Jesus said from the cross, "Father forgive them, for they don't know what their doing."  Most of the time, our parents only could do what they knew how to do in parenting us.  I'm sure most parents haven't taught their children "How" to forgive. We need to let people off the hook and allow God to rewrite our internal historical memories.  Anyone who has become a parent understands the importance of this... I have two wonderful daughters whose very existence calls me to be the best Dad I can be and requires me to ask them to forgive me for times when I wronged them.  The same holds true in marriage, friendship, and those we've hurt in our past.  Rewrites are necessary.

In fact, one night I heard the Holy Spirit prompt me to re-examine my view that had I not been born then things would be different for my parents and their families.  Knowing God, this story needed a rewrite and the Holy Spirit was about to become my co-writer and editor.  As I began to write down the story in my private journal about the night my parents came to discuss the terms of their divorce and the night I was concieved, I had a flood of scripture of scripture come to my mind.  Scriptures like:

Genesis 33: 5

And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, 

he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, 

“The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”

Psalm 127:3

Children are an inheritance from the Lord.

    They are a reward from him.

Psalm 17:14

From men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. 

You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, 

and they leave their abundance to their infants.

The scriptures teach that children are God's gift to their parents.  All of sudden I realized that God gifted my parents a child, ME, as a gift for their reconciliation with one another that night.  Then I realized, "it wasn't my fault" that my being concieved was the basis for them remaining together.  I was God's gift to them for their choice in forgiving each other and reconciliation.  I was a gift of reconciliation.  Then when the Holy Spirit pointed this out I realized that I love "reconciliation" and have spent my entire ministry years working principles of reconciliation. In fact, what I learned about myself is that I get very frustrated when I can't assist or work through things to reconcile them.  It's one of the most frustrating things I find in myself. I love reconciliation stories.  This is why I think we need to surrender our old interpretations of our life story and let God rewrite it.  He wants to make all things new.  Give the story his redemptive perspective.  Salvation is a family promise (Acts 16:11 "Believe on the the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and your HOUSEHOLD)!

A few years ago, I had the wonderful gift of laying both my parents to rest.  I got to rewrite their story at the furnerals.  Both of them came to Christ and served the Lord in their last days. It's an awesome thing to know how both their lives were radically changed as a result of recieving Christ into their hearst. God rewrote their story,  He rewrote our family history, and is now rewriting our entire family history. As a result of their decision to follow Christ, their Christian testimony was expressed instead of their sinful past.  He promises to do the same for us if we let our salvation work in us to bring forgiveness in all our relationships so that we can find peace in yourself.  Rewriting our internal stories, beliefs, childhood memories and our intrepretation of those events are a necessary part of salvation - whether you had great parents or poor parenting. God has been at work in all of us since he planned for our coming into the world.  (See Palm 139:13-16)  Rewriting is very important!  Here's why it is so important: 

The writing process is never done--it is only finished when you need to hand something in or voluntarily discontinue working. If you were to pick up a piece of writing that you completed two years ago, you undoubtedly would see ways that you could improve it. Two years later, you could do the same thing. Because  perspectives on life and the world are always changing (even if we don't notice it), we will always look at our writing differently. We also learn more in the meantime, either about our writing or the topic that we are writing about, or just about ourselves. Nobody's writing is perfect. Nobody gets a piece "right" on the very first try, which is why writers go back many times and rework their writing so that it makes more sense, is clearer, and is more presentable to the reader.  My life is not over yet.  Every day that I wake up I find a new perspective.  The older I get the story gains fresh insights of God's redemptive work.  I'm grateful for God's incarnate work in my life and family story. He is a revisionist!  I love it and am grateful to be a writer today... especially for the on-going story within in the internal recesses of my heart.  It's amazing when you let God rewrite the story instead of letting the old story keep you entrapped by the past.

Maybe it's time to dust off that old story and rewrite it one more time

It takes more than facebook to be a friend...

A brief time ago, I had the privilege of studying with Dr. Len Sweet at George Fox University Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon.  During this time, Len had us read a book entitled, "Relational Holiness" by Michael Lodahl.  The basic premise of the book had to do with how those churches born within the American Holiness Tradition had to redefine themselves for the 21st century. Lodahl suggest that one possible way forward was for the church to look for ways to bring about relational wholeness with God and others.  This really sparked a thought in me.  

I'll begin with a biblical premise.  In Genesis 2:18, God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone!"  This is a very powerful foundation for us to explore in an understanding as to why relationship is important and was designed by God for us.  Every human relationship God designs and gives us is his gift to us. God not only gave Eve to Adam but he also gave them sons and daughters and called them to fill the entire earth with others.  Many people have stopped and said that Eve was designed by God to fulfill Adam's aloneness.  However, the bible shows us that this relationship was designed to build a myriad of relationships with others throughout the world.  So, from the foundation of this first relationship God gifted Adam and Eve with others to expand them beyond themselves.  God did not design a world to be "us four and no more."  In fact, Acts 17:26 St. Paul states, "From one man he created all the nations or tribes were created throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries." In each of our worlds or spheres of influence we have forty people in our lives whom we regard as our friends.  Who we choose to be in those spheres of trust says a lot about who we are, what we value, and where we are heading in life.

Over the years, I have found that there are a lot of people who don't know how to do friendship well. First, too many failed relationships have been based on unspoken expectations.  Why do you choose the people in your life that you call friends?  Do your friends know why they are in your life?  What are their expectations of you?  What role have you assigned them? What place do they have you in?  Years ago, Brian Houston of Hillsong said "there are three kinds of relationships:  (1) relationships that refresh you, (2)  relationships that you refresh, (3) and relationships that drain you."  Do you know how others regard their relation with you?  In my experience of working with people, I have found six types of relationships: (1) consumatory - where people treat your relationship with them as a consumer; (2) transitory relationship - where people are just in your life for a season. Usually God brings these people into our lives to leave a deposit of something that we need to grow up in; (3) business relationships - where we work, exchange ideas, and conduct business that enables each other to reach our business goals; (4) community relationship - like neighbors, parents and teachers who our kids go to school with and community, church, or civic groups; (5) family relationships- our parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, in laws and kids; and (6) covenant relationships. Each of these types of friendships are designed around shared values, roots within ourselves, and strongly held beliefs about ourselves.  All designed to build our inner lives.  However, there are some common enemies to strong friendships that contribute to relational breakdowns and the creation of dysfunctional relationships.

Unresolved conflicts, unforgiveness, iniquity, bitterness, disputes, beliefs, judgements, inner vows, unrealistic expectations, and addictions and ACOA behaviors all contribute to the breakdown of our relationships. Another problem that breaks down relationships has to do with conflicting values.  I may have high values on family... A friend may have have high value on work or education. Another may have high value on recreation. Without agreed shared values conflict and breakdown may occur. I'm convinced that the high divorce rate is based on competing values. So how can we find our way to building healthy sustainable relationships?  

Throughout my life I have made many friends. Most all my friends have been life long friends. Throughout the stages of my adult maturity the relationships with my friends have had to grow and change through each stage of development. Going to college, grad school, and then getting married changed my life. Having kids, parenting them and helping them get their lives started was another important stage in life... Each stage has had to adjust to life's circumstances. You find out in each stage (good times and tough times) what kind of friends your friends are. Some are close, intimate, best friends. Some friends are just there to have fun and laugh with, some friends are seasonal and come in and out at various stages. To have life long friends of all types you need to know who your friends are, why you choose them and where they fit into your life and where you fit in theirs. I love my friends... All of them and I want to work hard to keep them around till death takes us into a different expression of friendship and experience in the next life.

Len Sweet, a few years back wrote a book on the 11 indispensable relationships we all need in our life.  He thinks that each of us need an "editor," a "true Friend,"  A "Butt-kicker," an "encourager," a "back-coverer,"  etc.  His point is that we need relationships that serve different kinds of roles in our lives to keep us accountable to God, ourselves and our place in our world.  But not everyone will value their role in your life and may want to opt out sometimes... and that's okay because you can always choose a new friend.  I call this "friending-up" because sometimes some friends cannot and will not go with us in our next stage of our lives.  The Apostle Paul said, "When I was a child I thought as a child but when I became a man I put away childish things..."  this may include our childhood playmates who refuse to grow up with us.  Tough decision but sometimes some people just have to move on and let go of that high school buddy who still wants to sit in the bar and talk about that 1976 football game we won for the 100th time. Sometimes there just needs to be exits and endings to a chapter in our lives.  The sad part of endings is that a lot of people just don't learn the fact that friendships require mutual benefits for them to be enduring and sometimes they might be getting something out of the friendship that no longer benefits us as well as them.

The final thought here I want to leave with you is to understand  that there are seven types of friendships that we all need to "place" and qualify our friends with:  Some people will be just (1) Acquaintances; (2)   or neighbors; (3) sidekicks who just hang out; (4) pals; (5) close kin; (6) co-workers; (7) or a covenant friend.  Whoever we choose... to serve in whatever place we assign them in our lives... know this:  each relationship that you are have, you have been gifted.  You need to steward these relationships well by defining them, encouraging them and communicating why they are in your life.  All these relationships are a sacred trust and need to be stewarded well.

The Unsurprizing Theology Of John MacArthur

   Recently, Fundamentalist teacher John MacArthur held a conference in California called "Strange Fire." What is strange about all this hullabaloo for me is that there is nothing new about John MacArthur's attack against "Spirit-filled" believers/churches.  He has been well known for his positions since the publication in 1992 of his book "Charismatic Chaos."  Everyone has reacted to his position like there is something new about what he's held as a "ideological" position for 20 years or more. 

  First of all, John MacArthur regards himself as a Calvinist.  Most Calvinist are Cessationists. Cessationists believe that all signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit (especially Speaking in Tongues) ended with the "giving" of the the scripture (or the closing of the canon) or death of the apostles. Contrary to his calling those who hold that "charismatic" gifts outlined in scripture as heretics; I have a hard time with him declaring men like George Fox, John Wesley and Charles G. Finney, heretics because they spoke in tongues.  Having been raised in a fundamentalist Baptist church,  with a pastor who did his undergraduate degree at Bob Jones university like John MacArthur did, I know his positions and views on scripture.  John MacArthur holds an "inerrant," "interpretation," view of scripture... which means that while claiming he believes the bible is inerrant - the real position is that he and others who hold this position believe that "their interpretation of scripture is inerrant.  This position is ridiculous.  This whole argument was born out of the scope's trial in 1929 with the introduction of evolution into American Public schools.  

    The proper scriptural position is that we have an inerrant God who inspired the writers of the various books of the bible.  As we read the scripture, we find God speaks to humanity in various ways... Hebrews 1:1 says, "In the past God spoke to our ancestors at many different times and in many different ways through the prophets."  God didn't speak through the scrolls of these men, he told these men to write down what he said on scrolls.  God spoke to Moses in a burning bush.  He spoke to Elijah in a still small voice. He spoke to all of us through Jesus, God's only begotten son.  He spoke to Paul the Apostle through many diverse circumstances... and God still speaks to us today through the same empowering Holy Spirit as he did through them.  The primary problem with Mr. MacArthur's view is his interpretation on I Cor. 13:9.  This verse says, "But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away."  He holds that "when that which is perfect comes" means the Bible is that which is perfect.  What this means in his "religious context" is that all gifts, all signs and wonders ceased "when that which is comes" came.    However, any cursory reading of the text demonstrates that the context clearly is referring to Christ not the Bible.  So, where did they get the idea that the gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased?

    Well,  Mr. MacArthur gets this position from dispensationalism.  The view that there are different periods of God's dealing with people.  In other words, he would hold to the position that there was an Apostolic age which ended around 100 CE. The Apostolic Age of the history of Christianity is traditionally the period of the Twelve Apostles, dating from the Great Commission of the Apostles by the resurrected Jesus in Jerusalem c. 33 until the death of the last Apostle, believed to be John the Apostle in Anatolia c. 100.  After the conclusion of the this apostolic age we moved into an age of grace which will last until the rapture of the church.  As a system, dispensationalism is expounded in the writings of John Nelson Darby (1800–82) and the Plymouth Brethren movement, and propagated through works such as Cyrus Scofield's Scofield Reference Bible. The theology of dispensationalism consists of a distinctive eschatological end-times perspective, as all dispensationalists hold to premillennialism and most hold to a pretribulation rapture.  John MacArthur holds to these views and probably would die on the spot if he knew that all these views arouse from a "charismatic" church movement he declares as heretical.  On the one side, he denounces the "charismatic" expression of gifts but holds to a view that was birthed in the very type of church he denounces through the prophecies of Margret McDonald (a woman too!).

    A friend of mine, Richard Mull, has recently completed what he calls the "God Speaks Bible."  The God Speaks Bible traces every time God has spoken, every individual whom God has spoken to in the Bible and every conceivable way that God has spoken, using color coded identification. It also contains valuable resources to help you learn to hear God and to grow in your intimacy with Him. This Bible will certainly demonstrate that God doesn't just speak through words written down on paper.  God forgive us that we would limit God to a "paper pope." The Bible clearly teaches that God speaks through the guidance the Holy Spirit, who will guide us into all truth, not through the reading of words with preformulated views I bring to scripture.  That is called indoctrination. Problem with most Calvinist is they think Calvin was the only voice of the reformation... anyone heard of Zwingli?  

    The unfortunate thing I find with Mr. MacArthur's position is that it's nothing new.  I guess the rise and popularity of churches like Hillsong, Christian City Church, Lakewood Church or Gateway etc. he is threatened by a declining eschatological view that is evidence to him that we are now in the period of the "great falling" away.  I'm glad to be a part of that falling away he points to.  I fell away from "preachers" who are arrogant enough to proclaim themselves as the holders of all "truth" and if we don't agree with them then we don't have a disagreement with them... we have a disagreement with the word of God.  WELL, Mr. MacArthur, not that you'll ever read my blog, but You're not God, I know God, and your not HIM and your interpretation of the Bible is not inerrant.  Jesus Christ is always the same, yesterday, today and forever.  (Hebrews 13:8)

Finish What You Start!

Over the last few years, I've been trying to complete several projects that I have on both a personal and work level.  Both have been equally challenging.  As I have begun working through all the distractions that have been standing in my way to get these projects done I've been hearing What does a "Finished" look like?  

In Acts 20:24 The Apostle Paul is quoted as saying,"I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task (diakonia, "ministry, service") the Lord Jesus has given me -- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." 

Then in II Timothy 4:6 he writes,  "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith."

I have often thought that Paul's words, along with the words of Jesus, would make a good epitaph for a Christian man or woman at the end of a life well lived.  However, who gets to define what "Finished" looks like.  We are not in a class to get a grade, get a diploma, or on a stage waiting for the approval of some audience.  "Finished" is what you or I think is "Finished" look like.  The Apostle Paul was no different than us.  He knew when he completed the tasks that gave him that sense of fulfilling his life... and he knew when to move on.  He goes onto write in II Tim. 4:13, "When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments." Paul was preparing to move onto another phase of his life.  Think about it!

When I was 18 years old, I completed my High School program and graduated with a High School diploma. What did that "finished" product give me?  The ability to read, write, analyze, evaluate, develop critical thinking, math skills, understanding geography, history, literature, music, art, and so on.  I am very appreciative of those who taught me all those life skills. But, that diploma and my High School transcripts also gave me the opportunity to get into college.  Likewise, my college work led to Grad school then into my doctoral program. At each stage of my educational levels I finished the requirements, graduated, and then moved on to the next phase of what I felt I needed to do educationally.  I didn't do this to prove anything to anyone else or to gain approvals of my colleagues, peers, family members, or the general public to become famous.  I did it to give myself the necessary skills for what I felt I needed to do with my life.  God gave us one "human" life experience to spend.  What we do with our time, resources, and energies to need to be important to two people... You and God. At the end of your life you have a right to look back and say "I lived a life well lived."  You can't expend all your energy worrying about pleasing the "others" whoever they are.  

How I finish my life, my career, my job is no one else's business.  Throughout my life, I have worked in sales, marketing, estate management, care giving, and pastoral work.  In each of these jobs there came a time for me to quit.  I had done my best.  I had finished my time and moved on.  The very first church I served as a youth pastor was "Christ United Methodist Church."  I served that church the first two years of my college years.  I had a very successful outreach and lead 150 kids to Christ during those two years.  When I went to the church there were only 3 kids in the youth program.  When I resigned I raised up a young guy to take my place who was born ad raised in the Methodist church.  I left because I was overloaded with college work, I had no taste for boards and committee processes at the time and I knew that the church deserved a youth pastor who understood and could participate in those practices.  So, I finished what I came to do, did my best to transition, and moved on. I was finished.

In my second church experience, as a young adult, I faithfully worked as a children's pastor, youth pastor, learned to lead worship, and served wherever the pastor needed me... including cleaning up the restrooms weekly.  I was never afraid to get my hands dirty.  I also worked at a Christian Radio station.  When the pastor resigned his position and retired. I choose to move on and begin a new venture... pastoring a new church plant in Wilmington, Delaware.  I had finished my work in New Jersey.  I guess the most important thing to say in both church experiences before moving on to be responsible for leading a church on my own was that no one seemed to care that I moved on. I didn't need approval and everyone wished me well in my future endeavors.  So who do we have to prove "what finished looks like to?"  When you've done all you can, you've done your best, you have the right to call something finished!  

Think about art work.  When an artist says he or she is going to paint a painting they have a goal to paint what they want, choose the colors they want, finish the painting the way they like it and move on.  They don't have anyone to please but themselves.  It's their artistic expression and they don't care if you like it or not.  Not everyone will like it but many may.  But I know that that artist is not painting their work for everyone to admire... they may be painting for their own walls, a museum wall, or to sell or hang in a coffee shop. Do you really care what "finished" means to the artist.  No, when the artist says it's finished it's finished. Each stage of life has a "finishing" touch.

When my mother died a few years ago... she said to me a few days before she died that she didn't want to die.  However, because of her cancer she had no more time left to spend. She had "finished" her course.  Time to graduate to Heaven!  I wanted to give my mother a lasting tribute so I planned a beautiful funeral to express my feelings for her.  I didn't do it for her large family. I didn't do it for her friends. I was very selfish... I wanted to speak something directly from the bottom of my heart to her and about her.  So I planned a very beautiful funeral. I chose a wooden casket because she came from a family of carpenters. It was beautiful. I hired strings, brought together the best worship leaders and singers I had available to me. I choose her Methodist Church to be the setting. I asked particular family members to speak and I had chosen a very special site for her grave.  When I completed the arrangements, went through the funeral process, I finished my expression of love and didn't care what anyone else thought because it was an expression of my own life. I got to finish her story with a wonderful tribute to her life.

What does finished look like to you?  In this age of American Idol, X-factor, Hillsong and or The Voice living a life that matters to you is what's important.  Not fame.  I know several former famous people... they lived in a moment in history where they were the popular one. Now that they are older most of them are trying to recapture their fame by developing "Born-Again" careers.  Think about all those who audition for the X-factor and tell the judges that their stupid, don't know what their talking about, and get furious when they are rejected for how bad their act was.  Who are they seeking the approval of?  Likewise, in the modern contemporary church movement... too many are looking to become the "NEXT" big thing in church.  How about just living life and letting God promote you?  Did you know that many of those who have worked behind the scenes are just as important as those in front of the audience?  I love video projects.  I love filming, editing, and choosing the scenes and music to make my projects a thing of beauty.  It's an artistic expression.  It maybe for television, church life, or my own personal enjoyment.  But when I finish the project I put it away and work on another.

What am I saying? Next time you hear that "preacher," "television or radio show personality," challenge you to "finish" well... don't be intimated.  It doesn't matter what they think "finished" should look like to you.  You know when you finished a project well.  You know when it's time to move on. You know how to do well and when you're not doing so well.  Do your best. Finish your job, your degree, your projects and don't worry how pleasing it is to everyone else. Just do you best... and be happy with yourself.  Even Jesus said, "IT IS FINISHED!"  That wasn't the end of his existence or work.  Jesus moved on to the next level and has been working on projects like you and me ever since.  It's time to move on to the next important aspect of your life that you want and feel you need to accomplished.  Just make sure you finish what you started before you start the next task. Don't let things be undone.  Finish those projects, tasks, and aspects of life that need to be finished up before taking on any more projects.  Define what finished looks like to you.  Give it your best so that you can feel proud of the work you've done. Let Jesus be the determining factor... let him one day say, "Well done! good and faithful SERVANT!  That's the only approval you need for a life well done.

An Open Letter To My Contemporary Church Friends

Back in the late 1980s I had the wonderful privilege of meeting and developing a great relationship with Dr. Frank Houston founder of the now famed "Hillsong" church movement.  Frank and Hazel Houston adopted my wife Andra and I and came several times to our home here in Annapolis, Maryland to visit us.  And for several years, in the early 1990's I had the privilege of ministering at Frank's church, Christian Life Center, in the downtown section of Sydney, Australia known as Waterloo.  Frank hated the association with Waterloo! Lol.   It was there that Frank taught me about the nature, function and mission of a spirit-filled contemporary church.  It was an awesome experience and for many probably still is... but it has been almost 10 years since I've been associated with the contemporary church model of church (except for a brief visit last year to a service in London).

For most church people, the contemporary church has been defined by casual dress, cafes' in the foyer, contemporary Christian worship music, and what some of my friends use to call "froth and bubble" preaching because of it's "pop-culture" lifestyle coaching approaches vs. more traditional biblical exegesis.  I think it's sad that this is the image that most people have taken away from the contemporary church experience.  Unfortunately, the model has been reduced down to an attractional, propositional, and colonial (starbucking) experience due to the lack of understanding of the denominational background from which Frank and Hazel Houston emerged.  First, let me be clear that Frank and Hazel were very dedicated members of the Australian Assemblies of God when I met them. However, they were dedicated to reforming and transforming their movement which has been accomplished in Australia through their son Brian and the myriad of leaders that Frank and Hazel raised up in their ministry.  Many of these leaders today have gone on and impacted our world in ways many church leaders wish about.  But, before Frank and Hazel became pentecostal they served as Officers and leaders in the Salvation Army Church founded by William and Catherine Booth; and if you examine the Hillsong churches worldwide you will find that it is a hybrid spirit-filled salvation army type church.  The entire model is totally a morphed version of William and Catherine Booth's vision. Here's why?

William and Catherine Booth were a part of the historical Methodist-Church in England.  In 1865, The Booths were dissatisfied with what they felt was an all too traditional approach to evangelism and he set out to form a group of evangelical street preachers with a focus to bring the poor, thieves, prostitutes, gamblers, and drunkards to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. He preached hope and salvation with an intent to connect them with a church where they could be discipled.   Preaching to a small congregation in the East-end of London, their spirit was as militant as that of professional soldiers while battling an almost overwhelming impoverished situation in the slums. His congregation were desperately poor. He preached hope and salvation. His aim was to lead them to Christ and link them to a church for continued spiritual guidance and to empower them out of poverty.  The Booths had seven important approaches to reaching their world for Christ.

(1)   The Use Of Contemporary Music that was familiar to the unchurched.  William Booth knew how much people loved "Marching Bands." The primary purpose of all Salvation Army bands is to serve as an instrument to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Within the framework of the primary purpose, a brass band can be a powerful evangelistic tool.  Music for them was also a means to attract and hold members to the movement. Many individuals were originally introduced to The Salvation Army through the music programs. The judicious "salvationist" choice of music for a worship service also set the mood and enhance the message, preparing the congregation for the desired experience. 

One of the first aspects of "Hillsong" that impacted me was it's music.  Initially, before it became a Nashville formula and copied sound, former Hillsong leader Geoff Bullock explained to me, that their church worked at creating musical sounds that were familiar to the "pop" cultural radio sounds that ordinary Australians listened to around their city.  They would write worship music to bridge the unchurched of their region into their meetings that made their worship revelent to them... this is exactly what William Booth did.

My sense is that most contemporary churches outside "Hillsong's" context have reduced the use of contemporary music down to be the cool church in town.  For me, most churches do not carry the sense of music or worship as did the "salvationists" or Frank.  One question that needs to be cleared asked is, How are the words of the modern contemporary worship music scene proclaiming to Christ in meaningful ways that even atheist are gripped by it's proclamations?  What are these songs proclaiming about Christ or the majesty of our creator?  Most lyrics I have heard reduce God down to weather patterns... He's like the tree, He's in the wind, He's on the water.... very pantheistic!   William Booth's understanding of the marching band in his day provided the foundation in his generation to bring people into a sustainable understanding of God and the worship due him.

(2)  Social Justice. The second aspect of William and Catherine Booth's mission was their commitment to social justice.  The salvation army understood that a Christian Mission is a volunteer army that need to devote itself to women's social work, the first food depot, the first day care nursery, attending to those who needed medical care and other social services.  They also devoted themselves to addiction recovery in 1872 when they opened the Water Street mission in NYC.  The Booth's daughter, Evangeline, sent wagons out to pick up the drunk throughout the city and brought them to church. Some actually fell of the wagon - which has become the term now for people who have relapsed.  Two major groups that have emerged out of the Salvation army's mission are Volunteers of America and the American Rescue Workers.

Frank took me personally to Brian's work in the Western Suburbs know as "Hills-care" which was attending to the social needs of the poor.  CLC Sydney also had it's own rehabilitation ministry's during the week.  You will also find today a strong commitment to taking care of the poor in Africa, ending human trafficking, and a very strong commitment to social justice.... Not just a .50 cent paypal on an app commitment.  They are engaged in social justice.  Some of their main social works focuses at the time I met them were counseling, welfare, day care, camps for kids, rehabilitation programs, disaster relief programs - all similar to the salvationists understanding of the Christian faith.

(3)  Small Groups. William and Catherine Booth were raised Methodist who were committed to discipleship.  Anyone who has an understanding into the nature and founding of Methodism knows that it emerged from the Wesley's method of using a home group for spiritual formation, discipleship and accountability.  Small groups are were always a part of the Salvation Army's infrastructure.  Likewise, when Dr. David Yoggi Cho visited with Frank - Frank ensured that 100 home groups were firmly planted across Sydney to ensure these spiritual formation process were in place.

In fact,  Hillsong Church itself was birthed in a home group in the Western Suburbs of Sydney.  So here again is another proof that Frank and Hazel were only doing what they had done all their lives (as salvationists) before they joined the AOG of Australia. 

(4)  A Commitment to the supernatural. Apart from church historians, few people today are aware that the Army, in its early days, was considered to be among the most flamboyant of religious movements. Speaking in tongues, slaying in the Spirit, words of knowledge, prophecy, faith healing and ecstatic behaviour are part of the story of the Church from earliest times. Such signs marked the beginnings of Pentecostalism, as well as Methodism and the Society of Friends. The Salvation Army, as a child of Methodism, followed the growth pattern of its denominational parent, from these charismatic beginnings to a more controlled approach to church life.   Before William and Catherine Booth commenced revival meetings in the East End of London in the 1860s, they spent years as successful itinerant evangelists. Attendant signs and wonders marked their meetings.  

It's important to note, that all early twentieth century Pentecostalism emerged from the Methodist holiness movement.  So it is not surprising that both Frank and Hazel eventually made their way from their traditional "salvationist" experience into the early charismatic outpourings in 1968 in New Zealand, where they were citizens before moving to Australia to plant "Sydney CLC" now known as "Hillsong."

(5)  Other important aspects of "Salvationists" include:  Traditional pastoral care, Leadership Development (The term Salvation Army implies leadership terms, ie, After two successful years of training, cadets are commissioned as lieutenants, ordained as ministers, and assigned to active duty while continuing their education. Lieutenants are required to devote five years to additional studies),  and Bridge Events to attract the unchurched (like former Crystal Cathedral's "Glory Of Christmas).  Each of these components were unfamiliar to me when I first met Frank and Hazel but over my years getting to know them and my own educational background in church history provided me major evidence that Frank and Hazel were challenging the Australian Assemblies Of God to pick up the work where the "salvationists" left off.  I can't tell you how many times I met salvation army officers sitting in the services at CLC when I ministered there.  In fact, one young man who currently pastors "Hillsong" in Paris, Brenden White was raised in the Salvation Army.

So what does all this mean? and why have I taken the time to write about this model of church? So What?

I am writing this to "call" my contemporary church friends back to the roots and life of the so many "Contemporary Church" models cross-denominational.   This model has been reduced down to nothing more than an attractional, propositional, and colonial model.  Our music doesn't have the cool factor anymore.  In fact it isn't original and it all sounds like Hillsong.  Is your music and worship styles designed to minister to the unchurched or just designed to bring in the cool factor?  Too many churches have become a stage show and have relegated the Holy Spirit right out the door.  This contemporary movement will soon die if there is not a return to the foundation it was birthed in... It was birthed in a commitment to reaching people for Christ, introducing them to the Holy Spirit, and firmily getting people discipled, planted and active in the ministry outreaches of their local church.  It was not a center for "DEEP TEACHING" and apologetics to a world that doesn't darken the church door.  When I met Frank and Hazel Houston, their church was committed to  being a mission first and a church second.  As a result, of their own encounters with Jesus... God got into their story and incarnated himself into this wonderful couple's lives and family, then gave them a mission that began with 13 people in 1976, which in turn touched the lives and hearts of millions of people around the world (relational - and Australia's mateship culture is all about relationship).  So why is this important because the focus is the same whether is was the Wesley Brothers,  William and Catherine Booth, or Frank and Hazel Houston... God isn't interested in starbucking the church.  When we give ourselves to being a part of God's mission he gets into our story and draws people to the saving grace of the Cross Of Christ.  It's not ecclesiology first, missiology second, or Christology last... It all begins with our relationship to Jesus... finding out what he's doing and join hm in his cause.  

So when you think about this story remember wherever you live, no matter how big or small your village, town or city is... God can do it where you live to if you follow him and let him use you whether you emerge from a denominational background or have no background... God wants to write your history!  But don't expect God to work through some copycat model of a church.  God incarnates himself in diverse ways, in different time periods, in different cultures and speaks in languages yet to be understood... See Hebrews 1.  He's incarnational, relational, and missional... and he wants to use you like those who have gone before us like these mighty examples of faith I've talked about.  I am certainly glad God gave me the experience of knowing this great couple... I am forever grateful for them and their family who continues this great legacy and has expanded it to touch our world for Christ.  

Yours For The Kingdom,
Mike Berry

PS>  For Those who have sought to make a mockery of my friends story... here's a thought "God uses broken people to reach broken people."  I Corinthians explains to us that God chooses ordinary people of the world to confound the wise... Read William Booths autobiography and see if that is the case! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Booth