Go and Do Likewise

Yesterday I got to do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Chad and I were invited to share about what God is doing at Truth Baptist Church with the Village Baptist WMU group. Since we landed here in Oklahoma City I’ve wanted to get over there to thank them for helping our family during a critical time in our lives.

In 1995, When my mom and dad found out it would be necessary for them to move to Oklahoma City and be closer to the transplant center at Baptist hospital, a huge draw back was not having a place to stay in the city. Most people from out of town bring a motor home or stay in local motels. About one week at the Days Inn was all Mom and Dad could afford.

Mom, who has always been resourceful, decided to call and see if any churches in town still had houses open for missionaries to stay while on furlough. Without knowing any more about us than that we were a pastor’s family and had a need, Village Baptist allowed us to use their mission home indefinitely.

When Chad and I arrived at Village yesterday morning we were greeted by a retired missionary named Helen. As the rest of the group gathered and introduced themselves, I realized that almost everyone in this group had served on the mission field in some way. I felt at home sharing our stories. They, more than anyone else, understand the sacrifice and importance of planting a church in an apartment community with over 15,000 residents who are largely un-churched.

The problem we all have, and I believe it is our human nature, is that we want a clearly defined group who we are obligated to love and serve. In Luke chapter 10:25 a Pharisee came to Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responded in verse 26 by asking this expert of the law, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” 27 “He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 “You’ve answered correctly,” He told him. “Do this and you will live.”

29 “But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’”

What the Pharisee wanted was to make sure that he was following the letter of the law. It even says he was asking for clarification in order to “justify himself”.

Jesus answered by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan.

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers who beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down that road but when he saw him he passed by on the other side. In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan on his journey came to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and told the inn keeper , ‘take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for any extra you spend.” Luke 10:30-35

Yesterday, as I shared the story of how their church had helped my family not a single person in the room could remember us staying in their home. They weren’t sure whom the members of their congregation were who brought the huge holiday baskets and made sure the house was furnished with clean towels and linens. At the time, we didn’t necessarily fit into any of their programs and had nothing to offer in return; still they had compassion. However, this gift, which was insignificant to the life of their church, had a huge impact on me and on my family.

It was in this home that as a family we prayed and sought God for direction for our future. It was the place where God called us as a family to go back to Amarillo and start Citychurch.

I get asked a lot of times, why Chad and I chose apartment ministry. The truth is that our heart is not just for apartments. This just happens to be one of the greatest concentrations of hurting and lost people in our city. The reason why I can be at peace living here is because I’ve been poor, I’ve had to write papers in the dark because the electricity is shut off. We’ve stood in line at the food pantry to get groceries for our family. I’ve had to walk home from a lousy job because my car ran out of gas and watched someone I loved dearly be physically destroyed by a horrible disease. I understand first hand that those in need of rescue are seldom in flattering positions.

Looking back I can also remember all my “neighbors”; those who rescued us by showing mercy and compassion in our time of need. In verse 10:36-37 after telling the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus asked the Pharisee, “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”

“The one who showed mercy to him,” he said.

“Then Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’ “

When I consider those who have blessed our family in times of need and whose friendship helped heal our hearts, when I think of the sacrifice of Jesus, it moves me to do for others what I can and minister to others His name. We must learn to obey the principle of this parable, which is to be less concerned with defining who our neighbors are and more concerned with whether or not the world around us considers us theirs.

Surely The Presence

This time last year I was sitting in the parking lot of P.F. Chang’s about to go in for another job interview. Having lost a bunch of weight none of my clothes fit, so Chad’s mom who is about six inches shorter than me loaned me some pants.

Something about feeling the cold air on my ankles has always blown a hole in my confidence; still I walked in with my head up, sat down for the interview and tried to convince the twenty-year-old that I was capable of serving food to people in a cheerful and timely manner.

They didn’t give me the job. The last thing I wanted to do was drive back to Jones having failed in yet another job interview. It was so frustrating! I went back to the car and just sat there and cried. I needed to feel God’s presence but could not see Him, could not hear His voice and we so desperately needed His direction.

My senior year of high school my mom and dad moved to Oklahoma City. Dad had been put on the waiting list for a liver at Baptist Hospital and they needed to be closer since they could receive a call at anytime.

My two older brothers and I took part time jobs and were going to school. We would pool our meager income to take care of the household needs, but nobody had money in their pockets. Every weekend we’d drive from Amarillo to Oklahoma City to spend time with mom and dad.

One night I was working a double shift at the fabric store. It was during the holidays and it felt like everybody was buying beautiful things to decorate their homes and celebrate. I had almost forgotten what time of year it was, because we were so focused on what Dad was going through.

It came time for my dinner break. Without a car to leave the store and without any money I just sat in the break room. I was hungry and thirsty and wanted my momma. There was nothing to be done about any of my “wants” so I just put my head down on the table and started to cry.

About that time I heard a “clunk” in the coke machine behind me. I turned around and a cold Diet Dr. Pepper had fallen out. Just happened to be my favorite!

Of all the times God has made His presence known to me this is the one I recall the most often. I felt like the most insignificant person on earth, still He provided and comforted me in the middle of my pain.

This was my “Jacob moment”. God made His presence known to my soul and like Jacob I realized “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not.” Genesis 28:16

As I sat in the parking lot last January, after failing in the interview, I recalled this moment when as a young woman and all the other times in my life that I became aware of the presence of my Heavenly Father. Even through this difficult time He was at work. Not long after this day we moved into our apartment and started Truth Baptist. Having been guided by God’s hand through a series of disappointments, trials and victories we are making progress today.

Recently I ran across the sermons of G. Campbell Morgan, a British Evangelist and Bible Scholar in the early 1900’s, who wrote

“To be conscious of God is immediately to have a new interpretation of life, to discover that the earth itself is more than dust, that all flowers are more than the operation of blind force; to believe with Jesus that God clothes the grass, and robes the lily as Solomon was never arrayed, that He is with the birds, and remains their comrade in their dying. All creation utters forth this great evangel when a man is conscious of God. "This is the age-abiding life, that they should know Thee the only true God, and Him Whom Thou didst send, even Jesus Christ."

What a beautiful awareness! I pray to never lose sight of the presence of God and His plan to transform the lives of those around us. Relying on this promise “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

Our Shield and Portion

Last Sunday night some of the TBC youth came back up to the church to hang out while Chad and I were cleaning. They began to kick-fight and get rowdy. David and Sean were wide eyed watching wondering how long these big boys would get away with this behavior before Chad called them out. Their “Play fighting” escalated into wrestling and name-calling. Chad quickly stepped in and asked the boys to go on home so we could lock up.

The next morning on our way to school, Sean spoke up from the back of the car. He was complaining that the boys at church last night were acting like a bunch of “DJ Dancers”. Then he asked, “Why is everyone who lives around us a bunch of DJ’s and dancers except for us?” What I wanted to say was, “I wish that were true!” Truth Baptist could put our selves on the map with a great praise team! I could tell by the tone in his voice that he wasn’t being complimentary.

I quickly reminded him of one of our neighbors, Miss Ursula, who prays for our family and loves the Lord. I reminded him about the boys from two doors down who came to his birthday party and have become good friends. Then I felt like I had to level with him.

“Sean, I know we live in a hard place in the world.” I admitted “But what's awesome is why we live here. God wants all our neighbors to know He loves them so He sent us to tell them about Jesus. You are a big part of His plan too. We couldn’t do it without you!”

I watched his countenance lighten from the rear view mirror. Really, I think my little explanation was for my own good. How can I expect a five year old to understand this life long lesson of finding fulfillment through the discovery of who God is, How He created us, and the life He has for us to live.

Days later, I don’t remember how it came to my heart, but I started singing the old praise chorus, “He brought me to His banqueting table, and His banner over me is LOVE” It is a song taken from Song of Solomon 2:4 and I was taught many versions throughout my life beginning in pre school Sunday School.

As I studied the passage God brought it to life in my heart. This beautiful picture of a banquet being prepared for an unworthy bride. The Banquet we have been invited to is not a more elaborately decorated version of Golden Coral where we fight over who gets the biggest turkey leg. We are brought into the presence of God where we can know His promises, His truth, healing and provision. One day we will be brought into the presence of our victorious King to celebrate in all His glory.

We won’t just be shuffled in the side door either. His bride will be brought to this banquet with a royal procession under the banner of His Great Love.

Right now, though, we’re still in the heat of battle. It feels like everywhere we go we’re surrounded by the influence of evil. The world is closing in to make a mockery of all the truths Christians hold to. Every day we must lift our eyes to the “rallying standard” of the Gospel. To remember why we even bother confronting a lost and dying world.

The Love of God that gives us life and hope is the reason we move forward into the darkness. It is our protection and provision. "For God so loved the world that HE gave His only son. . ." is our battle cry.

When I was four years old my two older brothers were in school, so I spent every day with my mom. It was the best time of my life. We lived in East Texas and mom was working for a short time at the department of human services. She would go into the homes of families whose children had been taken into foster care and help them clean up.

One day she took me with her. I remember playing on the porch with a little boy who was barely walking. I watched through the front door as my mom washed dishes, gathered up infested clothes and linens. The whole time she would gracefully offer advice to this young mother about how often these things needed to be done and how she had learned to clean growing up. The most important thing she shared with the family that day was how they could know Jesus.

Being just a child, I probably shouldn't have been anywhere near this home; however, I'm glad she took me along to witness the love of Jesus overflowing from one life and into another. I pray our children will understand and grow in faith as they witness the transforming power of the Gospel. I pray they will lift up the banner of the Gospel in their own lives and continue to live for Him!

“May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose. Let us shout for joy at your victory and lift the banner in the name of our God.” Psalm 20:4-5

Jesus is Merciful, Jesus Will Save

“And Jesus said, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:17

On Monday, Chad spent his day helping move a lady who was being evicted. She also needed help towing her car to the auto shop. She and her pet guinea pig were locked out at 8:30 in the morning, so Chad, one of the men from QSBC, this woman and her guinea pig all rode together to the auto shop.

On the same day, another couple in our church landed here from New York. They are looking for work and needed another week in their motel room. We agreed to help them because they are making progress they just needed some assistance.

Chad and “Craig”, from New York, were standing at the counter of the motel to pay for the room. The owner of the establishment read the name of our church out loud in a thick Indian accent. “You are from a church?” he asked. Chad answered, “Yes, I am the pastor.”

The owner went on to explain that there was a crippled woman living in his motel who cannot walk without braces on her legs. Her husband has been beating her and forcing her into prostitution. “If I give you the room number, will you go visit her?” He asked.

They took the number and went to find the room. Chad said he knocked on the door, and after some yelling and shuffling the door opened. He looked down to see a badly beaten woman. She had crawled to the door on her knees.

Both of the man and the woman are terminally ill with cancer, and they had no food. The woman had grown up in church. Not knowing how much longer they have to live she had been praying day and night for a pastor to find them. Chad prayed with them and the couple from our church who are living in the motel drove the woman to the store to buy groceries. That night her husband was hospitalized with low oxygen levels. If the woman is able, she wants to come to church on Sunday.

So many people we encounter are hurting tremendously. While their situations at first glance seem overwhelmingly complicated, what they really need most is to be shown the love of Jesus Christ. I pray we will always have the strength and courage to follow Jesus to the dark places. With confidence in The Gospel and by the power of The Holy Spirit we can witness lives transformed!

Rescue the Perishing

By Fanny Crosby

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,

Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;

Weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen,

Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,

Waiting the penitent child to receive;

Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently,

He will forgive if they only believe.

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,

Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;

Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,

Cords that are broken will vibrate once more.

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it

Strength for your labor the Lord will provide;

Back to the narrow way patiently win them,

Tell the poor wand'rer a Savior has died.

Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying;

Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

His Love Endures Forever

We've finally moved all of our things from Amarillo where from among other treasures, the kids found their sleeping bags. They are all snuggled down in them soaking in the warmth from the fire. There is a peace in our home tonight I thought we'd never know again.

One year, on the anniversary of his successful liver transplant, my dad used Psalm 118 to remember all the ways God's love had been demonstrated to him and our family. He took the stanzas and made them personal for all God had brought us through. Since I am overwhelmed with thankfulness and unsure how to express it all I decided to do the same.

Psalm 118 reads . . .

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.”

Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.”

Let those who fear the LORD say:

“His love endures forever.”

When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place.

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

The LORD is with me; he is my helper.

I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them down.

I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me.

The LORD is my strength and my defense;

he has become my salvation.

Now to make it personal. . .

God has redeemed us and is restoring our life.

His Love endures forever . . .

God renewed our sense of calling and placed us in a field of lost souls.

He has helped us be effective, provided a facility and given us a vision for growth.

His love endures forever . . .

God has gone before us in so many instances and given us favor with people we hardly knew.

His love endures forever . . .

We have a church family who prays for us, serves with us and encourages us daily.

His love endures forever . . .

We have learned to make family a priority. God is blessing our marriage

and enriching the lives of our children.

His love endures forever . . .

In a two week span our family battled colds, the flu then croup.

One by one the kids are healing and were all able to go back to school this week.

His love endures forever. . .

I have the love of Chad, David, Sean and Ruby.

His love endures forever . . .

My mother and best friend.

His love endures forever . . .

We get to see Chad's parents more often and share in special days. Last month after I told Chad's aunt Mary how much I appreciated them travelling all the way to Oklahoma from Kansas to help with lunches

she said, "We're family. We support each other!"

His love endures forever . . .

He has provided extra work so we can make ends meet.

His love endures forever . . .

By God's hand we were lead to a beautiful school called King's Gate Christian School

where our children are learning and growing in wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

This opportunity is one of the greatest testaments to God's faithfulness to us and we are thankful everyday.

His love endures forever . . .

Chad left Monday to gather up all of the things we left behind in Amarillo.

It was the last week to sell our home and the bank had already taken steps to foreclose the property.

While Chad was in Amarillo the realtor called and asked if we would be willing to accept a short sale.

A couple had been waiting for their preapproval and praying we would accept their offer.

By the end of the evening the contracts were signed and a burden is being lifted.

His love endures forever . . .

We went from having to visit the food pantry for our own family in February

to serving 960 meals in the month of October.

His love endures forever . . .

What started with one family in our living room grew to over 60 in worship each Sunday.

Last month we baptized four new followers of Christ.

His love endures forever . . .

I have a home being built for me in Heaven, by my Creator, Savior and Lord, so that

where HE is I can one day spend eternity.

His love endures forever . . .

"You are my God and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt you."

Psalm 118:28

Broken Bottles

Saturday Morning I took the kids to the trails at Lake Hefner just to walk. It was a beautiful day, but the lake level is very low. The sun was hitting the beach area around the water and all of us were distracted by all the glass sparkling in the mud. We stopped and carefully pulled some of the pieces out, brought them home and cleaned them off. I guess I'll make something out of them. They were just too beautiful to leave behind.

I lead the ladies Bible Study last night. Two women came who did not know each other before. All of us have a relationship with The Redeemer and this was our common bond. We shared our stories together. One lady had been in Prison. She said the day she was released she came home got on her knees and prayed for Salvation. The other lady had been on her own since she was 16. Both expressed how living in these apartments they felt alone until one of them saw us leading worship on the tennis courts. The other lady saw pastor Chad praying with her neighbor. They shared how they felt God had sent us here just for them. As I was falling asleep, I wrote this poem.

BROKEN BOTTLES

You're just a piece of what used to be a whole

Now your sharp and ragged edges show

Stuck in the mud where by the waves you were buried

Still the light hits and your beautiful colors shine through

Try to remember who claimed you once,

Then try to forget who tossed you away

It doesn't matter now what you held or who held you

All the places you were shattered make sense

As He takes the edges down and fits you together

With other beautiful broken pieces

To make something new

My God is Mighty To Save

Sunday  night we met in our new space at Artisan Ridge for the second time. Already we are experiencing a need for more space. After serving the burgers outside on the patio we invited everyone in for worship. As I looked around the room there were families with children, older adults single adults lots of children who came on their own and a group of six young people right up front.

Many of these young people I already knew from the summer. Most of them come by to get a drink and snack in the afternoons after school. There was one fifteen year old boy on the front row who was new to me. He was trying his best to act like he didn’t want to be there.  As soon as I began to lead worship he stuck a pair of headphones in his ears and clapped loudly and off beat with every song we sang.

After worship, we dismissed the children and youth to their classes. I was excited to have the opportunity to teach the youth, especially this young man “Michael” even as he sang, “OUR GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE! MIGHTY TO SAVE!” loud and sarcastically all the way to our class. I said, "See, you thought you were being so cool. Now you can't get that song out of your head!"

Having endured years of this type of behavior I carried on un-phased to teach. However, before starting my lesson I explained to “Michael” he was not obligated to stay. If he would rather listen to his headphones and cut up, he was welcome to leave. Surprisingly he stayed. Then listened intently to my lesson on how “Blind Bartmaeus” cried out in desperation to Jesus knowing Jesus was the only one who could heal his blind eyes and free him from sin.

The next day while cooking dinner I heard the familiar sound of a knock on the door. When I opened it there was “Michael”. He asked, “Is pastor Chad here?” I invited him in to visit with Chad in the living room. He wasn’t hungry, didn’t want anything to drink, but he seemed to just want to talk.

From the kitchen I could hear Michael and Chad’s conversation about football. He plays for John Marshall and had just finished practice. Then he got quiet before he explained to Chad how scared he was right now. His mother is in the hospital. She has abused alcohol her whole life and her kidneys are failing. Michael is living in a less than stable situation with his mom’s boyfriend. Then he said there had been something on his mind from Sunday night. “Why did Jesus HAVE to die?” He asked bluntly.  

It was a perfect opportunity for Chad to witness to this young man who is now realizing, despite all the horribly wrong things in his life – there is Hope.

Calling Artisan Ridge "home" is not always easy for me, it’s a challenge to have the faith to fight discouragement day after day; However, we are desperate to tell the good news and we’re living in a world that is desperate to hear it. Seeing lives transformed day by day to the glory of God keeps us planted.