The Gathering

The Psalms “bring the seasons of human life to speech.”  In November, we are studying a different way to look at the Psalms.  A way that will connect our souls with a deeper understanding- and value both.  Are you satisfied, discouraged or learning more about God?  The Psalms can help give your thoughts a voice.  Please be reading ahead:
November 1     Psalm 1        Introduction           Autumn
November 8    Psalm 145    Orientation             Summer
November 15   Psalm 69     Disorientation        Winter
November 22   Psalm 34     New Orientation    Spring

There are two ways before me…

To my left
a way wide and deceptive
full of turns and detours
I expect I would like
but something seems wrong

To my right
a way narrow and true
full of adventure and risk
I am afraid to look too far ahead
yet, something seems right

there are two ways before me
which will I choose?

In the style and heart of the letter to Laodicea found in Revelation 3:14-22.

To the Gathering:

Jesus is the one we worship,
dream about
and long to know.

At times he seems so close.  And then, just a moment later, he can seem so far away.

If you are anything like me, you might wonder what is going on in those moments.

It seems, perhaps, that we have a problem of perspective.

We forget
that our minds are transported away from Jesus a million times a day by
Special FX filled movies,
Children’s hungry voices
Social networks
Work and play
Fear and worry…

If we would only pause long enough to hear it.

The gentle knocking at the door…

Listen.

Can you hear it?

With all my love,

Joshua

In the style and heart of the letter to Philadelphia found in Revelation 3:7-13.

To the Gathering:

We are loved.

I believe this is true.  I know this is true.

You see, the Bible tells me so.

This is more than words I remember from a childhood lesson.  It is a lesson learned through years of trial and error.  Of wondering and wandering.  Of hoping and trusting.

We are loved.

You and I have a responsibility to let people know about this.  This is the Good News.  The great cosmic mystery.  And you and I know it.  We have it.  We posses the truth.  Should we not, then, share it?

We are loved.

Think about that for a moment.  Loved.  Not merely liked.  Not simply tolerated.  NO.  Loved.

With all my love,

Joshua

In the style and heart of the letter to Sardis found in Revelation 3:1-6.

To the Gathering:

I really hope we are not dead.

I know our reputation…

We are the “rock n roll church.”
The place where the pastor likes to wear black and always wears chucks.

We are also…
The place where you can be yourself.
Where you will be loved.
A place that cares about our city.

I hope these beats of our pulse are the signs of life.  Not the a reminder that we are merely not dead.  You see there is a difference.

I hope we are truly different.

With all my love,

Joshua

In the style and heart of the letter to Thyatira found in Revelation 2:18-29.

To the Gathering:

Jesus sees it all.  There is nothing we can hide from him.  The rich evidence of scripture informs us of his deep and penetrating gaze.

So why do you, and I, try to hide?

He sees our worry.  Our fear.
He knows the plans we have hidden in our hearts.  And he knows why we have made them.

He also knows, as do I, that we are moving forward.  The work we are doing is more than we used to do.  The love we are sharing with each other and the world around us is blooming.  The hope we have is emerging from the long winter of despair.

I do have a word of warning.  To all the would be Jezebels and Balaams in our midst.  Repent now.  Your attempts to bring us down.  Your desire to see us fall.  Will be thwarted.  We will not give you places of authority or leadership.  We will not let your words lead us away from holiness.

Be warned.  There is no place for you here.

You see, we have one eye on today and the other on tomorrow.  We know that if we stand strong, we will not only be with Jesus- we will rule with him.

There is nothing that is going to pull us away.  We are stronger than anything you can throw at us.

With all my love,

Joshua

In the style and heart of the letter to Pergamum found in Revelation 2:12-17.

To the Gathering:

Jesus is concerned with truth.  It matters to him.  Therefore it should matter to us.

Jesus knows where we live.  He walks next to us throughout our days.  He is with us when we drive to work or drop the kids off at school.  He is there in the middle of our triumphs and at the bottom of our failures.

When we are faithful to him he knows it.  And, when even for a moment, we make concessions… he knows.

And as much as he feels frustrated or angry when you and I prostitute ourselves.  I think he feels pain more.

You see, he knows what we could be.
How we could live.
what we could choose.

He knows our new name.

With all my love,

Joshua

In the style and heart of the letter to Smyrna found in Revelation 2:8-11.

To the Gathering:

The great mystery of Jesus is this…
He is the first and the last,
The beginning and the end,
Yesterday, today and tomorrow.
And so, you, and I, should place our trust in him.

I have been wondering if you and I really understand what suffering is.
And because of the drought of paying a high cost for following Jesus,
we don’t realize how privileged we are

to worship him freely
And loudly
And openly
and, if we dare, with reckless abandon

We are rich, but in so many ways we seem poor.

What are we afraid of?
What are we waiting for?

With all my love,

Joshua

On Sunday, September 13 a good friend of ours passed away.  Here are Jenny Collins thoughts in response…

I am deeply saddened at the loss of Prabha George and very sorry that I am unable to attend his funeral and memorial service. Prabha was a remarkable example of humility and godly leadership. I met Prabha in January 1995 when he hosted a Taylor University Lighthouse mission team I led. I was deeply impacted by Prabha’s unwavering faith, sincere prayer life, contagious joy, absolute dependence on God, kindness, gentleness, and amazing wisdom.  He was especially patient and gracious with our group of loud and uninformed Americans. Today I am involved in directing an international mission program for university students largely due to things God taught me through Prabha and my experiences of working alongside him, his family, and the India YFC staff.

Prabha has been one of Taylor University’s most faithful international partners for 15 years. He hosted 11 Taylor mission teams and several other Taylor graduates who visited for longer terms. He helped create and lead powerful three-week learning and ministry experiences for more than 190 Taylor students and faculty/staff leaders. Many of them have shared with me in the past four days how greatly their life was impacted by Prabha’s leadership and example.  We have seen Prabha’s ministry and the work of India YFC first-hand and have met many whose lives have been transformed by God through it. We at Taylor are part of that spiritual fruit and we are very grateful.

Prabha was honored as a Distinguished Friend of the University at Taylor’s Homecoming Celebration in October 2007; he visited campus often and shared in chapel services and classes numerous times. Many students who were not able to visit India were also greatly touched by Prabha’s teaching and sharing on Taylor’s campus.  I can think of several young people who are in full-time missions work because of Prabha’s influence.  Prabha has left a God-honoring, gospel-centered legacy at Taylor and he will be greatly missed by many.

Personally, my husband J.D. and I have considered our friendship with Prabha and his wonderful family one of God’s greatest blessings in our lives. As an educator, I value learning. Today our hearts are heavy because we have lost a great friend and mentor who taught us many things about missions, cultures, following the Lord, servant leadership and friendship. We are thankful to God for the opportunity to know Prabha and experience his passion for Christ and the ministry of the gospel. As hard as it is to accept right now, Psalm 116:15 reminds us that “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” and Prabha is definitely one of the Lord’s saints.

To Nilo, Andy and Dipti, Joanna, and all of the YFC family, we pray that in time your memories of Prabha will bring joy that will ease the sadness you are feeling now. May the Lord’s comfort, hope and peace surround and sustain you.  May the ministry of YFC continue to be blessed and flourish.  May we all strive to honor Christ as Prabha did, so that like him, we may be welcomed into our Father’s presence as good and faithful servants.

With deepest condolences,

Jenny Collins
Director of Lighthouse and Assistant Professor of Missions
Taylor University
Upland, Indiana, U.S.A.

In the style and heart of the letter to Ephesus found in Revelation 2:1-7.

To the Gathering:

These are my words and wonderings.  They are mine alone, though I hope they catch Jesus’ heart.

He alone is the ruler of this church.  I hope you realize this.  I hope I always remember this.  He holds us in his all-powerful hand.  And we exist at his pleasure.  He sustains us and holds us, and in a moment he could shut our doors forever.

I know how hard you have been working.  I am amazed by the renewal in perspective and hope that has firmly rooted deep inside all of us.  I am delighted by the perseverance toward the goals we have set before us.  I see the good you have done…

Working to clean up the neighborhood around Kirby Avenue Church of God.
Raising thousands of dollars and walking in the bitter cold for the Muncie Mission     through Walk a Mile.
Feeding the homeless at Christian Ministries.
Uprooting the weeds from the ground and children’s lives at Motivate Our Minds.
Greeting, leading groups, making coffee, setting up chairs…

The list goes on and on.

And yet, I wonder.  Why?  Why do you, and I do, all these things.  Is is out of the momentum of doing?  Or is it out of the wellspring of our love?

I wonder for you.  For me.  For all of us.

I think it is time for a pause.  Not a long one, trust me.  Just for a moment.  Just long enough to allow ourselves the time we need to look deep inside.  To ask the hard questions:

Why are we working so hard?
Have we lost our First love?  Have we become heartless?

If so we must repent.  We must turn from our legalistic work back to love.

Then, and only then, can you and I grasp hold of our greatest desire.

With all my love,

Joshua