ECHO: January 2010

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

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A Terrible Prayer

by Mike Yaconelli

I have always been terrible at praying

I forget

My mind wanders

I fall asleep

I don't pray enough

I don't understand what prayer is

Or what prayer does.

If prayer were school...

I would flunk praying.

But prayer isn't school.

It is mystery.

Maybe the mystery is...

Jesus loves terrible prayers.

Maybe...

When I can't think of anything to say,

He says what I can't say.

When I talk too much,

He cherishes my too-many words.

When I fall asleep,

He holds me in His lap and caresses my weary soul.

When I am overwhelmed with guilt

at my inconsistent, inadequate praying

He whispers, "Your name is always on My lips."

I am filled with gratitude, my soul overflows with thankfulness and I...

I...find myself saying over and over again, "Thank You."

Praying the mystery.

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

It is interesting...and ironically appropriate that yesterdays blog post was on "compassion". Little did we know that a huge earthquake was about to hit Haiti. Truth and bible trivia is not what's needed...but compassion is the answer. A call for the people of Haiti to suck it up and buckle down and be 'committed'...isn't gonna do anything but burden a weary and wounded people. But compassion my friends, is the call of the day...weeks...months...years. Perhaps it's the eternal call from the heart of God that we all to often forget or ignore. In Haiti, we see an already poor and downtrodden country...this earthquake has devastated an already devastated people. I hear of many believers, even leaders assessing the situation with their bible knowledge and attempts to determine the "why" and "how comes" of this situation. Why waste our time on that? Why try to determine the mystery of all this...rather than tackle the reality? Isn't it sad that it takes war for us to cry out for "peace". That it takes disease for us to cry out for "healing". That is takes failure for us to cry out for "mercy". And in this case, it takes tragedy upon the innocent, for us to become "compassion". It's sad it is that way...but maybe that is also why? The reality is hundreds of thousands of hurting people... already poor...diseased...and at risk...are now in an absolutely destitute circumstance. Bible knowledge and church commitment is not the answer...but compassion is! Jesus with skin on is what we are called to be! Too often the not-yet-believing world understands compassion better than we, the "believer", do...that should not be. At ECHO, we pray for and applaud those followers of Jesus who, with hearts broken with compassion, are doing whatever they can to assist the Haitian people...and we applaud those who are not-yet-believers who are allowing the compassionate heart of God to ooze out of their lives to others...even if they don't know it as being that. It is a very godly thing regardless...even if they just see it as 'doing the right thing'. The resaon it feels like you are "doing the right thing"...is because it is...compassion says so! And that is the very heart of Jesus!

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Brilliant

Have you ever been overtaken by the beauty of creation? Have you ever been in awe of God's brilliance? When you look at nature and the intricacies of how things function in creations systems...be it weather...animal kingdom...or plant life...or within our oceans or outer space...it is absolutely mind numbingly obvious that God's ways are far, far beyond our ways!!! At ECHO we are so thankful that God graciously gave us His love letter (scripture) so that we may explore His love in action...experience it personally...and then see how we can learn to express it to others. His brilliance is so beyond my thinking and my ways. It's as if nature is a constant God reminder to us "know-it-all" humans, to not miss out on partnering with His genius. His way really works...if we trust Him. It really is better than what we try to cook up on our own. Most of what we do in "ourselves", creates more problems for us and others, than we care to admit. For instance, I read recently only 10% of people respond to the challenge of "commitment"...the challenge to signup and join us! Only the already "committed" commit to be more committed! LOL. Yet, we, often in church circles, challenge people to be "committed"...get on board...join the cause...be here every time the doors are open...read your assigned bible reading every day...give financially as we ask...and volunteer to do what we need you to do!!! Because a "few" respond to this...we assume "all" will. But recent history has shown that most don't respond to this at all...in fact they feel pressured or even manipulated by it. It actually pushes more away than it attracts. Yet we persist? huh? Even more interesting is that hardly anyone responds to "reason". Most cannot be convinced you are right, and they are wrong. Most believe what they want to believe regardless. Isn't that interesting...in church circles we often focus on people "knowing lots of bible stuff"...cause if they get the right info, they'll believe. Well that hasn't worked too well has it? There is more bible info published in virtually every creative form known to man kind...yet a smaller percentage of the population believes today than ever. Perhaps our "brilliance" is not sufficient? But as we look at Jesus...who was the Word of God...scripture and truth...in the flesh...you rarely see Jesus use reason to pound people into biblical submission. In fact, He usually only used it to humble the religious "know-it-all's" who "knew the scriptures well...but not the One who it was speaking about"...Jesus Himself, hello! What we don't see Him doing is demanding people commit to a cause or a club...but, rather, to enter into a relationship. Jesus invites those He meets to discover who He really is...and follow. Not coercive...but in relationship...by choice...not pressure or manipulation. So what then? Have we been doing this church thing wrong all these years? What's the answer? Well, a huge stat jumped out of this study...something Jesus people should not just know...but live... 90% of people do respond to "compassion"!!! What we do see in Jesus...consistently... over and over...was compassion. He cares for the downtrodden...the widow...the orphan...the guilty...the outcast...the sick...the hungry. His heart of compassion drew huge crowds. His teaching was so unlike the know-it-all teachers of the day...His words oozed grace...mercy...forgiveness...love...compassion. It didn't demand...it accepted. It didn't judge...it forgave. It didn't beat down...it lifted up. It spoke of another chance...an opportunity to get back up. At ECHO, we hope to be a group of Jesus followers that is known for compassion...as Jesus was. Yes, there are times when loving instruction from scripture is helpful and needed...but its done in love. Yes, there is the encouragement to press on and not give up...but its done in grace, mercy & forgiveness...not as a demand or some kind of performance thing. If 90% of people respond to compassion (as the study suggests), then maybe Jesus was onto something...How brilliant is that!?

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Boxing Day

OK, in the aftermath of Christmas bliss, does anyone know what's up with "Boxing Day"? How weird...we celebrate "boxing" the day after Christmas? Well, at least in Canada and the British Commonwealth they do. Why is the sport of boxing glorified...and if so...why the day after Jesus birthday? Now I'm not a sporting prude of any kind...I get the sport of boxing, as violent as it is to some...so I'm not saying, "boxing sucks"...but why the holiday? Are those beer swilling, hockey brawling Canadians that desperate for another day off work? Whats up with that, and who signed off on it? So I checked a bit on why...and guess what "Boxing Day" ain't what most of us think it is. It's not about "boxing" the sport at all...though we often joke and refer to it as such. It's actually a day firmly rooted in the Great Commandment...in the true Spirit of Christmas. "Boxing Day" was a tradition that took place the day after Christmas...it was a day to give gifts to those less fortunate than you. The more fortunate gave to the less fortunate. Often those items were very practical...clothes, food, tools, cash... usually based on the families needs you were giving to....and they were often put in boxes to be given to those families. Hence the term "boxing day". It was a "loving others as you love yourself" kind of day. After being showered with gifts on Christmas by those that love you...you in turn, took December 26th to give to those with less than you. Wow, how'd we miss this holiday in America? In our churches? It's quite the cool thing really...this "Boxing Day". Somehow we missed the point. It reminds me of how we often miss the point in church circles. Too often we get caught up in building our kingdoms... our churches...our ministries...our legacy...but we miss the main point. Jesus summed it up for us...love God with all you got...and love others as you love yourself...the "point" is relationship...with God and with others. Real, authentic relationships of love, grace, forgiveness, compassion...of being known and of knowing...of doing life together. But somehow we box ourselves into what "church is"...its 2 fast songs and 3 slow songs...announcements and a message...its cool, state of the art performances that are as slick as slick can be (even timed to the minute)...its Walmart greeter type people at the doors saying "hi", but never knowing or caring to really know me...its programs that dazzle...its events that attract the biggest crowds...its buildings built to impress...its eye catching marketing to draw people in...oh ya, and of course we need to work in some kind of small group thing, cause that 'community' thing is popular these days. What? Have we boxed ourselves in? How closed in are we? Because that's what others "do"... are we to do the same? Is that what Jesus really asked us to do? Have we missed the point entirely? "Community" isn't a cool trendy word to put on your website...its the goal. Relationships are not "one of" our programs to attract more people...it is THE "point". It is emphasized throughout scripture...over and over...without love you are not God's...even miracles done without love are meaningless (even annoying)...and lest we forget...even churchey stuff done super well, if done without love, Jesus says, "go away I never knew you". Relationships...real authentic, relationships as God designed...is the point...not a peripheral add on or option. All we do at ECHO gets filtered through this...does it enhance a persons growth in their relationship with Jesus?...and does it create an environment where love grows person to person?...if not, we don't do it. It simply is not what its all about. Some of that stuff can be helpful...but without relationship...it is a waste. So why waste time thinking church is about something it isn't. In the end we look foolish...completely ignorant of the obvious...yet our boxed in viewpoints limit our perspective. Jesus would challenge us to look to the source...look to what He says is vital...if you do, you'll be able to step out of those boxes of "church-ianity" and begin to live life as God intended...a process of loving Him more and more...of receiving His love at a deeper level...and of passing that love on to others, as His Spirit teaches you. At ECHO, we love getting out of the box...how about you?

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude, ECHO

Friday, January 1, 2010

Overcome

As the 2010 arrives, we often think of resolutions. Things we can change...hopefully for the better. Lose weight, get a better job, stop smoking, drink less, cuss less, work out more, go back to school, pay off debt...or whatever. They are all usually things we try to muster up the self-discipline to do. Unfortunately, statistics say that most people don't make it to the end of January! I wonder why? Perhaps it is the "self" part of self-discipline. Maybe we lack the ability to "stay the course" when it comes to this thing called "self". As noble as our "resolutions" are, we meltdown within weeks. "Oh well, maybe next year," we say. At ECHO, we applaud those of you trying to make a change, we really do, it's often not easy...that's why we avoid tackling these issues till each New Year comes 'round. But we also know of a God who says He can "be" in us, what we cannot "be" in our own strength. Perhaps this year you will invite Him to "be" in you...what you cannot be otherwise. After all the hardest changes are internal... not external (and they sure can be hard, can't they?). Those internal deep things of the heart and soul...are so hard to understand...and control...and live with. Its often easier to control our actions or appearance...rather than our emotions. Perhaps this year we can work inside out...rather than outside in. At ECHO we encourage you to rest in the love of Jesus and invite Him to "be" those very things your heart & soul long for...and struggle with...in God's love may you overcome in 2010. If you've never asked God to work in your life in this way before...may these words of song be your prayer. May the lyrics of the following medley encourage you as they remind you of God's heart for you... and His desire to work in you!

And I can see that my hands are trembling,

I can see that my legs are weak

I can see that my head is spinning,

but I will overcome

And I know that my heart is hurting,

And I know that my soul it aches

And I know that it seems I'm failing,

but I will overcome, yeah

O Lord I'm strong in You

O Lord I am wise in You

O Lord I can see in You

so I will overcome

O Lord I'm loved by You

O Lord I am free in You

O Lord I'm complete in You

So I will overcome

I will overcome

Oh God, You are my God

And I will ever praise You