"Come …"

"Come" an invitation. I sat at breakfast recently talking with a man who's life is in trouble. Many things he's done right and one thing he's failed to do - follow Christ. Sure, you can say that's not important. It wasn't important to him either. Until now. Now he's looking for answers to life's questions and he's looking for help and direction. It is during those times many people turn to the church. Often it's not about going out and proclaiming the gospel on the street corner. It's often about reaching out to the person sitting in the pew. Lord, help us that we do everything we can to make people feel welcome. I'll tell you why because I know you're asking that question. I believe that we've run off more people by the way we've treat them when they come through our doors. It's time to realize and embrace people, no matter their background, social status or appearance when they come. So I did what I do best that morning. I let him talk. You find out a whole lot about other people when you give them a chance to talk.

By the end of the conversation we had a plan of action. This plan of action was something he needs and wants to participate in. Later when I ask him in a public setting what he experienced during our experience one thing resinated like none other, an invitation. All I did was offer to meet him for breakfast, listen to his story and together help him with a plan of action. The invitation was extended and he accepted. Life begins now. Pray for him because the road ahead will not be easy. There will be ups and downs. But one thing for sure - I'll be there by his side with each step he takes. "Come"

Expect the Unexpected - "What I learned about Life while working with th Dead"

Starting any new job means new experiences both foreseen and unanticipated. The first thing I learned about the funeral business was that minute-by-precious-minute, no day was ever normal. In the beginning I would get aggravated as I spent an entire week with almost nothing to do, each hour dragging itself along tediously until the weekend would arrive followed quickly by all the work that had seemingly vanished from the days before. As often as that occurred, it could easily become the anticipated norm. However, the funeral business is ever-changing and far from predictable and I would all too soon learn that the only thing I could come to expect would be the unexpected.

My very first week was no different and one in which I received quite an initiation. One day in particular started out the same as any other, though it ended on a definitely unexpected note.  We received a call from the police department to respond to a house call. Let me just say, first and foremost, when the police department call, they want you on the scene ten minutes ago. Second only to that rule is that when dealing with house calls, you never went in alone. A one-man cot works great when you’re heading into hospitals and nursing homes with easily accessible ramps, automatic doors and the occasional helping hand, but you never knew what you were going to get heading into a private home. Endless stairs, storm doors that won’t stay open, narrow hallways that prevented getting a cot into every room are just some of the obstacles that one would find. These just served to add to the stress of the job where the primary focus was a deceased person who was rarely convenient in their choice of resting place, which would sometimes include the most unfortunate locations such as a bathroom, on a bed in the far back bedroom, or even on the floor between a bed and the wall.

The point is that things can and will change with only a moment’s notice or warning. This is just as much true in life as it is in the funeral business, to which I did not adapt well. For many years I spent countless days frustrated that my job was so unpredictable and thus, my life was unpredictable. Now I see why this lesson was so important for me to get and for me to share.  Today, I am able to work with many unpredictable situations and I never flinch. Just when I think I’ve heard it all, I hear something new that changes everything, but I am still able to process the information without the shock factor.

Expect the unexpected. I do.

(Old home just to illustrated the difficulties of maneuvering a cot into and off a porch let alone inside.)

What I Learned about Living while working with the Dead - Introduction

My journey started on December 1, 1990. If you had told me as a child that one day I’d be in the funeral business, I would have thought you were crazy. In fact, I had not attended my first funeral until I was 16 years old and it wasn’t something that I handled too well. However, my life had taken me a direction I did not anticipate and at 33 years of age, I found myself looking for a new career.

All I knew was that people die, get buried and that somebody has to do it. My best friend and his father owned a funeral home and my inroad was to write pre-need business and work funerals. As time passed I realized I liked this business. Now before you think I’m bizarre, let me explain. I learned that a funeral is for the living.

I went on to become a college student for the very first time and spent two years obtaining a degree in funeral service. Twenty-two years later here I am, and I’ve changed careers again. Today I am the Spiritual Development Pastor for a church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And how did the funeral business prepare me for my position now? All along I’ve worked with people at the lowest point of their life. I’ve experienced the joy of no more pain, the bewilderment of the frailty of life and the bitter shock of tragedy. I’ve buried stillborn babies and 103-year-old grandmas. I’ve seen far more than I ever cared to see, but all of that has all prepared me for what I am doing.

During my ordination interview, a pastor I’ve known for many years said, “Mike, you’ve buried the dead all these years, now you’re going to resurrect the dead.” That statement sums up everything I am about today. My prayer is that you gain understanding of who I am, how big God is and that there is hope for everyone.

In Remembrance of Me

In Chapter 22, beginning with verse 17, Luke records, "After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, 'Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.' And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, 'This is my body, given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

"In remembrance of me" can be translated or taken in the context to mean "In Memory Of." Now this is certainly a term that I find relatable. Having worked in the funeral business for over twenty years, I've had many "In Memory Of" moments. Times of rejoicing and times of tragedy. You can do something "In Memory Of" someone who is dead. But as it relates to Jesus, there is a problem. Jesus is not dead, He is alive!

The word idea or implication of the "Remembrance" or "Memory" as it relates to Jesus is (now get this!): participating presently in a past event.

Huh? What did you just say? Well you and I were not there that night in the upper room. The disciples were and they physically participated. We cannot do that. But wait! Yes we can. How is that possible? If you are a believer, then Jesus lives in you. There is the spiritual experience of communion with Him. Which in itself is far more intimate than just the physical.

Paul poses two questions and a statement to the church in Corinth, and they can help us understand this concept. "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf." (1 Corinthians 10:16-17) “The one loaf of bread, of which all partake, pictured their unity as members of the one body of Christ.” (Walvoord, J.F., Zuck, R.B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985) The Bible Knowledge Commentary.

Devoted Followers

We live in the information age. Yes, another article to read in the already mind boggling world, with information being thrown at you constantly. Information that, for the most part, is absolutely meaningless. Hopefully, you'll take a moment and contemplate what I have to say.

I'm really interested in discovering methods to reach this world with Good News. News that is worthy to take to heart. In this effort to create methods of learning I realize the importance of being brief and to the point. We get slammed with far too many points, so we stumble through the day without any clear direction or thought. I find the book of Acts very interesting because it describes the early church. This church wasn't located on Main Street in Jerusalem. They didn't have a large building with a sanctuary and stained glass windows. There was no fellowship hall for a daily potluck. There were no parking lot problems. I would describe this first church as multi-sited, in homes. The Disciples moved from one place to another and spent a great deal of time together for one cause; that cause being Jesus Christ.

These people were devoted followers who were hungry for change. They were hungry to discover this Word, this Good News that was spreading throughout the land. Verse 42 of chapter 2 reads, “They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Church seems so routine to me and I want to do everything I can to shake things up. To stir the pot with all these ingredients to create something new, something exciting and something worth taking time to unpack.

How do you define a "Devoted Follower"? Are they a twice a week attendee? Twice a month? Occasionally? Questions that you probably don't even have to think about too much to answer. The truth is that we could come up with arguable answers to every question. I really think it's an attitude more than a time line. Last night I talked to a new believer and asked them why they didn't attend a particular class on Sundays. There response was, "I don't get much out of watching a video." They enjoy the discussion but we lose them with the video. They went on to say, "Sermons are great but we are left to sort it all out, but the time we spend together here on Wednesday nights is great because we work through it together.” WOW. To me, this speaks volumes. This is what small connect groups are intended to be, a place where everyone is participating and discussing together what is being presented. This is exactly what was going on in Acts 2. We not only find instruction but we find community. Fellowship was just as important as listening to the teaching. Fellowship, along with sharing meals and prayer together, was and is a winning formula. The church of Acts 2 best describes what we refer to as Connect Groups. Whether that connect is on campus or off campus. Whether it's Sunday morning or Wednesday night, Sunday night or a weekday gathering. Your attitude toward your group and what you bring to the table is of great importance - if it centers around Jesus Christ.