Soma Community Church

Gospel/ Family/ Mission

GIVE BACK WEDNESDAY 2012

A few years ago (in a different life) I had the pleasure and privilege of working with, and ministering to a young woman with an amazing story and heart of gold. Her name is Crystal Renaud and she is the founder of a ministry called “Dirty Girls Ministries” and author of a book named “Dirty Girls come clean” which are both aimed at providing help, hope, and healing for women dealing with pornography and sexual addiction.  The other day she tweeted this,

Crystal is a dynamic, honest and very creative young woman and the idea from that tweet reflects this reality. I pray that you don’t just read this post but get involved!

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Black Friday. Small Business Saturday. How about Give Back Wednesday?

As we know, Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks for all the blessings we’ve received over the last year. But it seems like for many of us, we go from giving thanks for all we have to the very next day shopping fighting for everything we don’t. And this year, Black Friday is beginning on Thursday (which, can you still call it Black Friday?).

What if before the big bird is carved and the big screen TVs go on sale, we all took a moment to give back to the ministries, organizations and individuals who serve others all year long? 

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with shopping this weekend and getting in on the great deals. But consider giving back on Wednesday first and support the causes that rely on your generosity to keep them going. Check out the “GIVE BACK” tab above for some organizations that would greatly appreciate your donation. If you would like to add to this list, please reply below with the name and website you would like for us to add.

Share this idea with your friends using the social media links below (#gbw). If you decide to give back, please leave a comment on the “I GAVE BACK” page. We’d love to track how many organizations are impacted by this effort. 

Below is a list of causes who would greatly benefit from your donation. Click a link to visit their website for more info and to donate. If you would like to add to this list, please REPLY HERE with the name and website you would like for us to add. Non-Profit Organizations/Tax-Deductible Giving only, please. If you decide to give back, please leave a comment on the “I GAVE BACK” page. We’d love to track how many organizations are impacted by this effort.

Listed Alphabetically

Blessings,
Crystal Renaud
Founder of Dirty Girls Ministries

Dodging bullets in KC

I have many vivid memories from my childhood that do not reflect current reality.  Growing up on the outskirts of the Kansas City Metro (KC) yet consistently interacting with the each part of the city I was given a very unique perspective and love for the whole city.  Just like any other metro area, things change, some parts get better and vice versa.  One of these areas in KC is called “Bannister”  which is named after the road that the area is centered on.  While growing up I have so many great memories from this area.  After church my parents would take us down the Bannister mall to the SUPER WALMART to shop.  I remember seeing the traveling Lego collection (specifically the Lego Statue of Liberty, life changing), filling up on all the samples (don’t judge you’ve done it), and generally having a good time.  I also remember the night we were watching the news that there had been a “shoot-out” in the parking lot of the Mall and from that point everything started to go downhill, quickly.

Sunday afternoon my mother and I were trying to find a place on the Southeast side of the city to meet so she could see the kids and I could give her the camera we borrowed from my parents.  I pulled off of I-435 and merged onto Bannister Rd, an area I have been to thousands of times.  I noticed a gold Mercedes  (E-class) coupe flying towards me in the inside lane, so I continued on.  A few seconds later this car is next to me and the driver is livid, apparently he felt that I had cut him off (intentionally) and decided that he needed to scream this at me while we drove.  I sped up to try to get away (Sienna vs. MB E-class) and he easily kept pace with me so he could keep up his obscenity laced tirade.  This is the point I looked over and noticed a pistol laying on his passenger seat as he points to it and then back at me.  At this point my inner “Bryan Mills” comes out and quickly begin planning how to safeguard my family if he began to shoot (this is what happens when you grow up with a father who should have been in the CIA).  My wife, noticing that something is wrong,  asks what is going on, to which I lie to her and say nothing at all is wrong (I repent).  Eventually, I [skillfully] found a way to lose him and found a place to meet my mom.

What was the point of this story?  Well I want to tell you this for a couple reasons.

  1. I am part ninja…
  2. Ares of a city are just a microcosm of our nation which relish in prosperity, ebb, and then die.
  3. There are broken places everywhere and we were almost another stat for no apparent reason

In this [overly] political season we need to remember that it is our privilege to make the invisible kingdom [of God], visible through our [redeeming] fidelity to it.  So how do we begin to encounter these broken people for the glory of God and the good of the city?  I’d love to hear your thoughts below.

Some encouragement to start your week

  • Why do we sleep through church where we worship the God of the universe but we can stay awake for a 3 hour movie?
  • Why is it hard to pray when the God of the universe said He will listen but find it easy to curse, gossip, or slander others?
  • Why do many 0f us never pick up the Bible but can discuss the latest Non-fiction or fiction book on the market in depth?
  • Why are we able to worship celebrities, sports, families, and every other idol in our lives but not God?
  • Why are we able to post all types of ridiculous things on our social network sites but can’t post scripture or honor God in our words and action in the public square?

“Do you believe that what you believe is really real? Because if you really believe that what you believe is real, then Christians will change the world.”  

–  Dr. Del Tackett, the Truth Project

I know that there are many more questions that I could have asked but I just wanted to ask some questions to hopefully change the trajectory for your week.  These questions are just scraping the surface of our idols but I hope that begin to open our eyes to the difference between what we say and do.

The Dead Church

While listening to Dr David Jeremiah over the last week I heard him reference a painting by Vincent Van Gogh one of my favorite artists.  Later on that day I overheard some associates at work discussing this same piece in reference to a Dr. Who (which is apparently epic) episode.  So in curiosity, and because I could not recall it immediately, I looked up the painting that was referenced and this is what I found.
If you are not familiar Van Gogh’s paintings are considered by many to be the epitome of Impressionism. 
I ran across this painting by Van Gogh today, and was not only struck by its beauty, but sensed something more in the symbolism of its colors and form, so I decided to do a little research.  Here’s what I found out:

Toward the end of his life, Vincent van Gogh succumbed to his mental illness, cut off his own ear after a fight with friend, and in May 1889 committed himself to a mental hospital in Saint Remy.

In the last 10 weeks of his life, while in the care of the doctor, he created over 100 pieces including The Church at Auvers (pictured), a scene from his youth created out of memory.

The foreground seems to be in daylight, whereas the church itself and the sky seem to be in shadow, nearly a night scene. The church’s form is distorted adding a feel of gloom to the scene. A church painted in this manner may reflect van Gogh’s feeling about the church and religion after his failed studies as a preacher and missionary.

One other site explains it this way:

Rather than the church looking like a place of refuge and solace, Vincent has shown it as a place of impending doom and gloom.

Early in his life, Van Gogh aspired to be a pastor and missionary.  However, he failed miserably at both callings and, even though there is no specific documentation about his spiritual crisis, it’s pretty safe to bet that he got turned off from religion because of his inability to “meet the expectations.”  Ironically, van Gogh committed suicide shortly after he painted this impression and The [actual] Church at Auvers refused to host Vincent’s funeral because he had killed himself.  His service took place across the river at Mery-sur-Oise the next day.

This is a sad story, and comes to life through this man’s paintings.  His life circumstance certainly colored his view of this grand edifice and I think it serves as a message to the church that needs to be heard today. A few things I notice about the painting are…

  1. The church dominates the canvas. Literally, there is no way to avoid it.
  2. There are two paths leading around the church – both happen to lead through the shadow of the church.
  3. Sadly, there is no door into the church.

I’ll leave it to you to generate your own conclusions about the message Van Gogh is sending us from 1890 I definitely have my own.  I’d love to hear what you think…

30 Simple Ways To Be Missional In Your Workplace

I know that most of what I write is descriptive of what happens throughout the biblical narrative and in my life but it is not always immediately practical.  So today I wanted to offer some practical application of living your faith in the place that you work.  This does not take the place of [verbally] explaining the Gospel to your co-workers.  Honestly, it’s difficult to find practical ways to be a blessing in your workplace. Rapid pace, mounting deadlines, or co-worker conflict can often derail even the best of intentions to say and show the love of Jesus at work.

Recently, Josh Reeves posted some very practical ideas for blessing others in the workplace:

1. Instead of eating lunch alone, intentionally eat with other co-workers and learn their story.

2. Get to work early so you can spend some time praying for your co-workers and the day ahead.

3. Make it a daily priority to speak or write encouragement when someone does good work.

4. Bring extra snacks when you make your lunch to give away to others.

5. Bring breakfast (donuts, burritos, cereal, etc.) once a month for everyone in your department.

6. Organize a running/walking group in the before or after work.

7. Have your missional community/small group bring lunch to your workplace once a month.

8. Create a regular time to invite coworkers over or out for drinks (ignore this one if you are Baptist, lol).

9. Make a list of your co-workers birthdays and find a way to bless everyone on their birthday.

10. Organize and throw office parties as appropriate to your job.

11. Make every effort to avoid gossip in the office. Be a voice of thanksgiving not complaining.

12. Find others that live near you and create a car pool.

13. Offer to throw a shower for a co-worker who is having a baby.

14. Offer to cover for a co-worker who needs off for something.

15. Start a regular lunch out with co-workers (don’t be selective on the invites).

16. Organize a weekly/monthly pot luck to make lunch a bit more exciting.

17. Ask someone who others typically ignore if you can grab them a soda/coffee while you’re out.

18. Be the first person to greet and welcome new people.

19. Make every effort to know the names of co-workers and clients along with their families.

20. Visit coworkers when they are in the hospital.

21. Bring sodas or work appropriate drinks to keep in your break room for coworkers to enjoy. Know what your co-workers like.

22. Go out of your way to talk to your janitors and cleaning people who most people overlook.

23. Find out your co-workers favorite music and make a playlist that includes as much as you can (if suitable for work).

24. Invite your co-workers in to the service projects you are already involved in.

25. Start/join a city league team with your co-workers.

26. Organize a weekly co-working group for local entrepreneurs at a local coffee shop.

27. Start a small business that will bless your community and create space for mission.

28. Work hard to reconcile co-workers who are fighting with one another.

29. Keep small candy, gum, or little snacks around to offer to others during a long day.

30. Lead the charge in organizing others to help co-workers in need.

Be sure and check out the full article here.

Do you have some other ideas or ways that you’ve been missional at work? Let me know below in the Comments section!

Missional Tip: Pick one or a few of these ideas and act on it this week. Let me know in the comments how it went!

[ HT: Zach Nielsen and Brad Andrews ]

We Don’t Need More Christians…..

We don’t need more Christians who are trying to be radical.

We don’t need more Christians who are trying to stand out.

We don’t need more Christians who are trying to be celebrities.

We don’t need more Christians who treat other Christians like celebrities.

We don’t need more Christians who don’t listen.

We don’t need more Christians who look down others.

We don’t need more Christians who think they’ve arrived.

We don’t need more Christians who fight about things that don’t matter.

We don’t need more Christians who exclude.

We don’t need more Christians who intrude.

We don’t need more Christians who make promises they can’t keep.

We don’t need more Christians who turn a blind eye.

We don’t need more Christians who are better at politics than community.

We don’t need more Christians who pretend.

We need more Christians who look like Jesus.

———

The days are short. The fight is hard. The journey is worth our lives.

HT: Catalyst Space (read the rest of the post)

What do you think?

Soma Community Church

804 Fairmount Blvd
Jefferson City, MO 65109
(573) 635-4832

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