Go Outside...Soak It In...

Go outside... And praise the God who mapped the stars out in the sky. Gather ‘round with those who love and sing...He is our King. No one should be left out... No one should be left out... No one should be left out... No one should be left out... If you have air to breathe, Hear your call to sing... I love this song by Robbie Seay. If you don't have it downloaded on your iPod yet...you should! Soak it in as you take in the wonder all around you. It evokes that sense of awe we feel when we take time to linger a bit and enjoy God's creation. A sense rises up...a wonderful sense of I'm so small...and He's so beyond my imagination. Yet a humbling sense that God created it all for you & me. You see it wherever you live or travel. In Texas you see the wide open plains, the rolling hills to the south, the forested hills and wide open spaces in the eastern part of the state. Rivers, lakes, and wonder as far as the eye can see. It's amazing, from the sky scraping metropolis of Dallas to the farms, ranches and forests surrounding Tyler, God's handy work is on display. When I lived in Hawaii, it was the majestic mountains rising over the tropical rain forests that meet the crystal clear turquoise blue ocean. The waves gently rolling in with a breeze onto the soft grainy sand unique to Hawaiian shores. When we lived in the Northwest we saw God's hand at work in a uniquely blessed location. Man it's everywhere...lush green landscapes, forests, lakes and rushing rivers. With Eugene, in particular, being such a cool area where all these things are right around us every day...and drive 15 minutes and your rolling through awesome fields of farm land and pastures of grazing animals. Go 45 minutes east and you're seeing waterfalls and snowy peaks throughout the Cascade mountains. Go 45 minutes west through the Coastal Range and you'll see the incredible Oregon coast where the forest meets the beach and rolling sand dunes. It truly is so inspiring to take some time and "go outside"...and admire God's handy work...a Master Artists' work no doubt! Whether its the rolling hills of east texas, or the oceans of Hawaii, or the forests of the Pacific Northwest...and everywhere in between...God's artistic flair is on display. The bible speaks of creation itself testifying to God's awesomeness, wonder and awe! We are so blessed to have it so close to us every day. So take some time to "go outside" and praise the God who mapped it all out...for you! I also love how the song speaks of "the call" that goes out to everyone...that no one should be left out. God's heart is that all of us are His...we're all included. It encourages me to "go outside" in other ways...perhaps out of my comfort zones...beyond my convenience... beyond my preferences...to include others. To reach out to everyone, so that they may be drawn towards the One who loves them so much...a God that's crazy about them! That means I need to get "outside" church..."outside" my home perhaps...maybe even "outside" my neighborhood...but what a privilege it is to "love others" as I am loved by God. It's a challenge, but something FRIENDS is deeply committed to...to go "outside"...so that no one is left out...so that all have an opportunity to explore and experience their journey of faith. Our privilege is to be a group of Jesus followers that is willing to "go outside", and "love others" in the hope we may point them towards a God that wants to draw them close. And together we can "go outside" and join the song of praise to the God that paints us a new canvas every day! At FRIENDS our commitment is...as long as we "have air to breathe"..."no one should be left out!"

be God's!
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas

Green Beer, Shamrocks & Lost Causes

St. Patrick's Day...man I love this holiday...one of the best holidays of the year in my opinion. Now it's not only my favorite because I am Irish. My parents were raised in Ireland, and yes most of my relatives live there. In fact my family went last summer for the very first time. Wow, what a great experience! Seeing where my parents grew up, tracing family roots, visiting extended family (many I've never met before, face to face). But also gaining a greater understanding of my Irish history and a great appreciation of the most famous of Irishmen...St. Patrick! I know most of us in America see March 17th as a holiday full of drunk folks pretending to be Irish as they drink green beer, eat corned beef and cabbage, and wear a variety of embarrassing green accessories. But you see, St. Patrick's Day is much more significant when you know the true story. First, St. Patrick wasn't even Irish. He was captured and enslaved by Irish men and forced to work for them in Ireland. After years of slave labor he received a vision/dream from God. God directed him to take a certain escape route that would lead to a harbor where a man in a boat would be waiting for him, and that man would take him safely back to his family. Sure enough, Patrick did as directed and there was a man with a boat waiting. Shortly after, he was indeed a free man reunited with his loved ones. Patrick soon came to know God personally and became very devote, even training for the priesthood. After seminary, he was serving as a priest with the usual "churchy duties", when he received another vision/dream from God. This time the vision was a picture of the Irish men who had enslaved him begging him to return to Ireland to tell them about Jesus. Patrick humbly said "yes" and returned to the very people who had hurt him, used him, abused him & cruelly took him from those he loved. Patrick was used by God to bring the truth of Jesus to the barbaric Celtic tribes warring throughout Ireland. Due to his willingness and God's grace, St. Patrick's legacy is responsible for Christianizing the nation of Ireland! That is why the Irish celebrate St. Patrick. He is the patron saint of a nation, that is responsible for millions of people sharing in the blessings of the Kingdom of God for generations. I don't know about you, but that story motivates me. To think a humble man, simply being willing to do as God directed, could be part of such a miracle! Wow, I want to be like that dude! Were the Irish just "lucky"? Right place, right time? Coincidence? Heck no, they were blessed by God intentionally through a man that said, "yes, I hear their cry, and I'll go do something about it...personally!" You see, Patrick probably was real uncomfortable going back to Ireland. He probably hated the Irish for what they did to him. He probably feared for his safety, feared for his life even. Yet he trusted God, and went anyway...to a people most of the church establishment in his day thought was a lost cause. I love that...God does miracles in the midst of lost causes! God loves to transform lost causes! Our prayer is that FRIENDS would be a church that is willing to go to people that the "church establishment" may see as lost causes. Our prayer is that we can be a part of "lost cause miracles!" Our prayer is that we would be willing to be uncomfortable...hang with those we usually don't...reach out to those we may even fear...or don't understand...or maybe don't even "like"...and learn to love them as Jesus does. Because somehow in the midst of that, God's love grows inside us and spills out on those people around us, as we learn to "love others as we love ourselves". As we serve people, with tangible expressions of God's love, grace & compassion, God shows up in us and through us! Because no one should be left out. I love that! It's God's heart, His desire...that no one should be left out! I see that in the life story of St. Patrick...and I feel its a great example to us of what a church can be...an ECHO of God's love from generation to generation! Because God's heart is that no one should be left out...can you hear the ECHO...

be God's!
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas

Echo of Love

Tis the season...love is in the air...or so they say. Funny thing about Valentine's Day...it is one of the many holidays we celebrate that have roots in Christianity, yet most of us don't know it. In fact, some other countries realize it more than we Americans do. In India and the Middle East right now, there are protests, and intentional political and religious efforts to halt people from participating in any semblance of celebrating Valentine's Day...even banning the sale of "red" gifts and things with "hearts" on them, during the month of February. To many in these countries it is seen as a Christian celebration, and thus forbidden in Hindu & Muslim lands. It's been formally known as St. Valentine's Day for centuries. To us in the United States we seem to enjoy celebrating the legend of love without knowing the truth behind it. You see St. Valentine was a martyr in the 3rd century. According to early church records there were possibly 3 saints named "Valentine". Two of these mentions appear to be the same man...a priest serving in Rome during Emperor Claudius' rule...he died approximately 270 AD a martyr...and both accounts name the same burial location. So it is believed with all these similarities, that two of the accounts of Valentine, refer to the same man. Not a lot is known of him...but apparently Emperor Claudius was so concerned with having a strong & focused army that he forbade young men from marrying. St. Valentine, believing that love was a gift from God, and that marriage was one of its best expressions, secretly married young couples without Emperor Claudius being aware. Once it was found out, he was jailed and eventually martyred. Some say that Valentine fell in love with his jailer's daughter who would visit him in prison. His last correspondence to her closed with the phrase "from your Valentine"...an expression still used by many people today! It is interesting to see where these legends and customs come from isn't it? Behind every legend, there usually is a truth...and this one centers on a man named Valentine. The story of St. Valentine spread and by the Middle Ages it was commonly celebrated in England & France. Common beliefs were added to the celebration, as a matter of fact. In this era, it was commonly believed that February 14th was the beginning of mating season for the birds of the region...so the date was easily associated with romance. Of course, that concept fit in quite nicely...as did many others over time. Over the years the giving of expressions of love, called Valentine cards or gifts, has become a common celebration in the United States, Canada, Mexico, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, New Zealand and Australia. Valentine's Day is the second most popular "card giving" day of the year, right behind Christmas! Today the celebration of love on Valentine's Day is even making inroads in India, the Middle East and China (as seen in the picture below of the Chinese army in formation on February 14th, 2009). It is so interesting to see how a follower of Jesus, a man named Valentine, in the 3rd century...who believed in the God who defines Himself as Love...and believed in it so much...that he would lay his life down to defend it...and somehow that cause still lives on. At ECHO we can't help but see the parallels between Jesus & Valentine...in a sense, Valentine is an "echo"...a reminder...a continuing whisper of God's love throughout the centuries. May we, also, celebrate as we carry on the "echo" of God's love to each and every generation...


be God's!
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas

Looking Back To The Future?

The other day I was surfing through channels on the TV when I came across that old Michael J. Fox movie “Back to the Future”. As I saw it, I said, “Oh this was a cool movie”, to my son. He replied clearly puzzled, ”uh…what’s it about…it looks old…but that car seems kinds cool…” Ah, reality as spoken through a 12 year old (who happens to like cars & cool space ship type stuff). But really as I watched it, I realized how cheesy the special effects were, and how lame it may look to my kids, but oh well. Actually I had already faced that when my kids got into Star Wars a few years ago. When I told em that there was a bunch more older Star Wars movies, they got excited. As I rented them and they watched them all…the "cheesy effects factor" became all too apparent. I suddenly saw that this old movie that "seemed so great" years ago...wasn't all I remembered it to be. It reminds me of a tendency we often have in church circles. There seems to be this overwhelming sense that the “older” something is the better it must be…the closer to truth it must be? I’ve often wondered about this phenomenon. I suppose people think that the closer we get to Jesus day the more accurate things are? In some ways it presupposes that the further from Jesus day the more distorted and foggy things get. I have had people over the years insist that for followers of Jesus to “get it right” they need to study the “early church fathers”…or go back to “Eastern Orthodoxy”…or study Martin Luther and the Reformationists…or its all about the Puritans…or the famous revivals or awakenings…but rarely do any of these same people point out 2 important facts. #1. in many ways we know church writings, history & cultures better than ever before due to advances in technology, archeology, linguistics etc… #2. each of the eras I mentioned above have contributed some error, as well as truth to the Christian discussion of our day. For instance, even the people of Jesus day missed the fact that He was the Son of God, their Messiah…they crucified Him in that ignorance. Clearly living in Jesus day, seeing Him personally, didn't give them a corner on truth. The era of the early church fathers had just as many heretics among them…as well as many valuable contributors. Gnosticism was prevalent during this time in history for instance…which distorted many a concept around issues of sin, the spiritual, reality, lifestyle and what the significance of a relationship with Jesus was. Eastern Orthodoxy gave us many cool things but it also gave us unhealthy doses of religiosity and mysticism that still plagues pockets of Christianity today. They were a great example of the symbolic, iconic, and religious ritual becoming so dominant that their “meaning” was lost and irrelevancy set in. Martin Luther, who did some awesome things during the reformation also contributed to some crappy theology that still seeps into church life from time to time. For instance, Martin Luther preached many a sermon on God’s judgment of the Jewish people for killing Jesus, which helped inflame anti-Semitism and people like Adolph Hitler. In fact Hitler quoted the influential Luther in some of his propaganda speeches, as if to give a spiritual stamp of approval to his ever growing, warped ideas of the Arian race and the inferiority of the Jewish people. He actually thought it was his God given task to punish the Jewish people. Scary stuff, not that it was Luther’s fault that Hitler turned out to be a “whack job”, but Luther didn’t get it all right either. He misunderstood some scripture passages just like any of us can & do. Even the Puritans, who many hold up as the Christian ideal, gave birth to many unhealthy spiritual concepts that still plague many believers. Their over emphasis on the pursuit of holiness, to the degree that many completely separated from the “world”, so as not to be "contaminated", was not a good thing. They also helped spawn and entrench some extreme ideas of “predestination” to such a degree, that “if God has already decided” who are His people, then the need to evangelize, and tell people about Jesus became moot. In fact some went so far as to believe that this concept meant man’s “free will” was virtually non-existent. These concepts were dangerous and quite contrary to what the bible says overall, yet their influence pollutes some churches and believers hearts to this day. Now I say all this to say…each of these eras have value and have contributed to the Christian discussion…but each has also thrown a few monkey wrenches into the mix as well. It is important to realize, that because something is “older”, does not make it better or more accurate. We have a tendency to exaggerate the "old" and diminish the "new", as if God's truth was limited to some bygone era. Yet the bible tells us God's word is "alive & active"...still at work today! “Everything”, the Apostle Paul cautioned, “should be checked against what the bible says”…not what the early church fathers said, nor what Martin Luther said, nor what the Eastern Orthodox say, nor what the Puritans said, nor what any of the great revivalist/evangelists say…we should check all versus what the bible says. This is a simple discipline that protects you & I versus human error. Check everything…even what your pastor would teach…what a book may say…even what scholars say…even what that "well meaning Christian friend" may say, against what the Bible says. By saying "check what the bible says", that is not a “find a pet scripture” to back up what you believe, type of thing…it’s a "check the bible" to see what it says about that concept, principle or topic consistently throughout the bible. In that you will get a fuller, more accurate picture…not some cheesy “special effect” created, that seems accurate at an glance, but isn’t actually real. At FRIENDS we want to learn together, to consistently point each other towards “what the bible says”. We love what books, film, art, & music say…but in the end, what lines up with scripture we hold onto…what doesn’t we toss aside. The same goes for any resource, commentary, or church leader who may contribute to a discussion. We realize not one of them have a corner on the truth, just like the church fathers didn’t, just like Eastern Orthodoxy doesn’t, just like Martin Luther didn’t, just like the Puritans didn’t, just like none of the great revivalists didn’t, and just like today, where no Christian author, scholar or pastor does either…the only one with a “corner on truth”, is the One who is Truth. Jesus is the Truth, and the bible is all about Him & our opportunity to be in close relationship with that Person, who is Truth. At FRIENDS we desire to grow closer to Jesus, learning to trust Him more and more, as we continue to discover Truth that is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Be God’s!
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas

Just Another Brick In The Wall

I remember when I went to Europe several years ago. One of the most amazing things I consistently saw in the 7 countries I went to was the awesome cathedrals. Amazing works of art. Incredible architecture, stained glass, marble columns, carved altars and statues were everywhere. Every small village and town had them. The majesty, wonder and awe of these structures built hundreds of years ago, was so impressive, yet so sad. You see each weekend many of these cathedrals were empty. Hardly anyone attended their church services, and those that did seemed to take the wonder of the cathedral for granted...they were no longer impressed. Its a sad lesson. One I'm afraid we haven't learned yet. In our striving to "grow" churches we spend so much of our time, energy and resources on creating impressive programs and sprucing up our impressive buildings. Actually "we" may be impressing "ourselves", but the people we are trying to reach are not impressed! We've spent millions of dollars and countless hours of energy on things "we're impressed with", yet our churches are not growing. Oh sure, you may attract "other church people" to see your cool programs or spiffy new building...but statistics show we may actually be pushing the "not-yet-believer" further away. 90% of churches in America are shrinking or have plateaued. 10,000 "empty" churches a year are closing. Many churches look self-indulgent rather than like self-less servants of the community. I read where 91% of people do not think that churches care about their needs. Even more shocking is that 74% of Christians do not think their church cares about their needs. I think I hear God crying. How it must break His heart. Our church budgets are stretched to the max as we "compete" for the same believers, trying to out "wow" each other...while people with real needs go unattended...even unnoticed. Perhaps our "if we build it they will come" mentality is keeping people away, rather than attracting them. The "come and see" mentality to church is not working. Clearly the "not-yet-believers" are not impressed. In fact their first criticism is..."they just want my money." I wonder where they get that idea? Maybe, just maybe, our attempts to attract them is actually pushing them further away. Just another brick in the wall that separates them from a God that's crazy about them. There has to be a better way. At FRIENDS we are intentional about being different than most churches. Instead of being a "come and see" type of church, we choose to be a "go and be" church. We choose to invest our time, energy and resources in serving the people of our community in real, tangible ways that look and feel (to them) like we're loving and serving them as Jesus would. Tearing down the wall, brick by brick, one act of love at a time. Our hope is that as we authenticly care for our community, people will experience the love of God...as we do...when we experience it AND express it.

be God's!
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas

Opportunity Still Knocks

Oh, the New Year is upon us...2011 has arrived! With all the parties, late night laughter, toasts and watching the "ball drop." It's all behind us now as we move into the uncharted territory of 2011. Going where no man has gone before! As most of us do, we usually start strong... with good intentions...but our New Year's "resolutions" soon become New Year's "reservations". I mean, we meant those "resolutions" to change our New Year for the better, right? But they have now become the things we will have "reservations" about for the year...the one's that got away from us, so to speak. While "resolutions", in and of themselves, are noble attempts...that's all they usually become... "noble attempts". We look for the "thing we won't do", the "habit we'll finally break", the "new behavior we'll start"...all with the intent of changing our life for the better. They usually don't, do they? In many ways, it is very similar to how many people read the bible...looking for "the rules to obey", the "command" to follow, the "promise" to claim, and the "behavior" to begin. For many of us, reading the bible is like how we approach our New Year's "resolutions". It is as if God was only concerned with rules, commands and behaviors? I wonder if we're missing something very vital with that mindset? Is God really that concerned with our performance? Doesn't the bible tell us, we are saved by God's "grace, not by works, so that no one can boast"? Yet we often live "as if" God and our eternal destiny is all about what we "do" and what we "don't do". Though we live "as if" we're scoring points for the afterlife...that is not what Jesus taught. In fact Jesus cautioned us that on Judgement Day many will come to Him and tell Him all about their great deeds...feeding the poor...miracles...and other churchy stuff...yet Jesus responds, "go away for I never knew you". Hmmm, apparently relationship with Him is more important? In the book of Corinthians it tells us that if I speak in tongues of angels...give all I have away to the poor...and do lots of churchy things...but do it without "love"... then "their is no benefit to us". Hmmm, this love & relationship stuff is taken pretty seriously by God, apparently? Wow, notice the diminishing of "doing things" for God...and the emphasis on "knowing God" and out of that "loving others" in what we do. Without that, those "things" we do are meaningless...or rather of no benefit "to us". Now it benefits the poor family you bought groceries for, but in a sense, it gets you no credit or benefit. But God does honor the things done as acts of love, motivated by God's Spirit. Our relationship with Him is central and the goal...not what we "do". Who we "are" in relationship with the "One who is Love"...is of greater concern in God's economy. This becomes a great opportunity for each of us. Instead of reading our bibles looking for the "thou shalt not's"...or the next behavior to acquire...to add to our check lists...we get to look for the heart of God! We have the opportunity to get to know the "One who is Love", better...and learn what true love is supposed to look like! It's quite a freeing thing to go from a legalistic rule oriented, performance based thing with God...to a relational journey of trust and opportunity. At FRIENDS, we want to continually equip people with a correct biblical view of God...the One who wants us to know Him...to trust Him...to journey through life with Him...through the good, bad and the ugly. The One who knows us better than we know ourselves, yet loves us anyway! The One who says His grace is sufficient for each of us...Lord knows we all don't have it together...so isn't it cool to be free enough to enjoy the daily opportunity of experiencing this God of Love personally! Even better to allow His love to flow through us to others! At FRIENDS that is an opportunity we embrace, experience, enjoy, express and explore...together!

be God's!
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas

Body Double

I love movies don't you? The stories...the drama...the humor...the villains being defeated...the fantasy worlds coming to life...exploring places we never even knew existed...often on the shoulders of some hero we identify with...yet can't be. Now with computer generated images, CGI, the special effects are insane! Our hero's do the most amazing things. The stunts and scenes can be completely other worldly, its crazy, but so much fun to experience the adventure. Having known some people who work behind the scenes in film, its amazing to get a glimpse into how all this is done. The computer effects...the sets that are built and look so real...and the stunts, wow how do they do all that? It turns out most stunts are not done by the actual actor or actress, but rather they are done by a what's called a "body double". Someone who looks very similar to the original actor or actress, yet is given the task to do what the actor or actress cannot. They are usually difficult stunts or dangerous maneuvers of some type. The kind of things you need to be equipped and trained to do properly. But on film, the body double represents the original in such a convincing way, that the audience doesn't see a difference, they seem as one! In many ways I believe the people of God, those who follow Jesus, the church, if you will, are intended to be body doubles. Let me explain. Jesus was the physical representation of God on earth...Jesus loved as God loved, healed, forgave, and taught truth as God the Father does. Jesus was the physical manifestation of God to us humans, so that we may understand God on our level... human to human...yet also the spiritual expressed through humanity. Why? To teach us. Because Jesus would then ask "us" to be "His body"...the physical, human representation of God on earth. You see, Jesus passed the baton, so to speak, to those that would believe. Jesus was the light of the world, but now He says "we are to be the light of the world." The baton has been passed. We are now the "body double" continuing to do what Jesus did. We are the current representation of God's love on this earth. Human beings, in cooperation with God's Spirit, living out His ways, so that others may come to experience the love of God through us! Wow, quite a concept! Now unlike an actor who can't do his own stunts...Jesus clearly didn't hand off this task to us because He could not do it Himself...rather He chose to allow us to do it, so that we could learn what His love is like when lived out. So that we could learn to trust the Spirit of God as it guides & directs us. So that we could be part of the Story He is telling, and hopefully, people will not be able to see the difference between Jesus and us. Jesus said "when you see me you see the Father"...may we become a people that others will say, "when you see them, you see Jesus."

be God's!
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas

Christmas Myths, Legends & Truth

I once heard a story of a lady preparing a special family meal, passed on for generations. Oh, this meal was delicious, a very tasty pot roast. One of the "family secrets" to the recipe, was that mom would cutoff the ends of the pot roast before she cooked it. Sure enough it was delicious as always! One day her daughter, while learning to cook, asked her mom why she cutoff the ends of the pot roast before cooking? "Well", the mom said, "I don't really know, I just know that is how my mom cooked it and it always tasted wonderful." So the young girl goes and asks her grandma why she cutoff the ends of the pot roast before cooking? Grandma replies, "I'm not sure dear...that is how my mother cooked it...and it always turns out perfect." A few weeks later, while visiting her great grandmother in the rest home, she asks, "Great Grandma, why do you always cut the ends off the pot roast before you cook it?" To which Great Grandma replied, "because my roasting pan was too small." In many ways we do the same thing in church. We believe many things that have been passed on to us, without ever trying to examine the truth of the matter...or the roots to the truth. Many church myths and legends have been passed on from generation to generation, without us ever knowing why or where they came from? Most legends have a grain of truth from where it came. Most myths are misinterpretations of the facts, as in this "pot roast example". But as believers in the One who is the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life...then shouldn't pursuing "truth" be central to our lifestyle? Now I am not suggesting that followers of Jesus "know it all", but shouldn't we, at the least, be pursuing the truth...seeking it out...striving to know & understand it. Occasions like Christmas are fraught with church myths & legends. Unfortunately some of these divide people and cause strife. Sad that at a time when peace, brotherhood and good will to all men are the underlying theme...that church myths & legends cause us to be antagonistic, argumentative & divisive. In my previous post I touched on the "myth of the Xmas scandal" that sweeps through every Christmas. Also the Santa scandal is a big one. Oh how those evil Santa secularists have robbed Christmas from Jesus. When in a brief examination we discover that first off "santa" is Spanish & Italian for the word "saint". Hmmm, Saint Claus, how odd is that? Upon a more thorough examination we will discover that there was a bishop in the 4th century, named Nicholas, who eventually became St. Nicholas. And guess what? St. Nicholas was best remembered as a man, who loved Jesus, and was also very wealthy. He felt God's heart was a giving heart, so Nicholas committed his life into giving away his wealth, mostly to children, especially poor children. He often threw gifts through their open windows at night or put surprises in their boots, as they sat out at night, on their porches. This legend of Santa began with a very real man named Nicholas. This legend spread to virtually every nation & culture. Some call him Father Christmas, or St. Nicholas, or Sinter Claus, as the Dutch called him. The Dutch brought Sinter Claus to North America...Sinter Claus became Santa Claus...and the legend lives on to this day! Now of course there has been some fancy & exaggeration added to the legend to make it fun for children...you know, flying reindeer, flying up & down chimneys, elves making toys, and naughty & nice lists...but the truth of Santa Claus goes all the way back to the 4th century. To a real man named Nicholas, who loved Jesus, and loved children, and simply wanted to give some of that love away. Why don't we embrace this truth and draw the Santa lovers towards Jesus, rather than argue them away with the "Santa is stealing Christmas from Jesus stuff"? Nothing attracts (insert sarcasm here) like bashing peoples fun childhood Christmas memories, doesn't it? Why don't we embrace the truth, and share that truth as a bridge...rather than blowing up that relational bridge with a debate based on error? We too often in church circles "believe" what we've been told, and pass it on from generation to generation, without ever consider the merits of truth involved, if any. We see this in the Christmas story itself...we tend to believe there were 3 wise men...even though the bible doesn't say how many there were. We tend to believe Mary & Joesph were 2 brave little teenagers on a mission from God, ignoring the cultural and historical fact that a family would not allow their young teenage daughter to be engaged to a 15 year old boy in those days. The common was an older man, who had proven his ability to support & take care of a family, and who had the "where with all" to pay a substantial dowery, would be the likely husband to be. Obviously, those requirements were beyond a 15 year old boys purview. He at best was apprenticing, most likely with his father, at the job that may provide for himself and his future family...as most 15 year old boys of this time would. Joseph according to history was more than likely over the age of 40, and may have very well been married already, his first wife dying. This also explains why we never hear about Joseph in scripture after Jesus is lost in the Temple at age 12...Joseph, it appears, died between Jesus' 12th year and his 33rd year when his public ministry began. If he was an older man, this would make sense. But we don't like that story in our Western world. Child brides? Older men with 15 year olds, gross? Ok, I get the creepiness factor for us Americans. But that is accurate to the common marriage in this place & time, around Jerusalem. I get why we have changed the story to fit our American/western cultural bias...but it is factually incorrect. Because we don't like the image of a 40+ year old man with a pregnant 14 or 15 year old bride...doesn't mean the biblical story changed. In fact, many middle eastern, asian and african cultures still would have marriages like this today. It doesn't make it right morally perhaps...but it is the truth. Another area of myth...the wise men, with the shepherds, Mary & Joseph in the manger? Nope, didn't happen that way. Where do we see that in scripture? The wise men most likely never saw the manger, and probably visited Mary & Joseph within 2 years of Jesus birth...but not the evening of the birth...in the manger. In reading the bible we see they visited a "house"...not a manger. The Greek language speaks of visiting a toddler, not a new born. This also explains Herod asking that all male children under the age of 2 be killed...and yet also, why Herods soldiers weren't waiting to kill every male baby presented in the Temple as was Jewish Law would dictate, just days after Jesus was born. The wise men saw Jesus sometime after He was presented in the Temple (40 days after birth)...yet before He was 2 years old. In addition, we also know that Mary & Joseph traveled, as committed Jewish people, to Jerusalem for at least 3 major feasts a year...and their friends in Bethlehem, were very likely a stopping place for them, since it is only 5 miles from Jerusalem. This appears to be more likely scenario than what we usually depict in our church plays. All this and so much more, is interesting in the quest for truth... but rather than unpack many more biblical & historical discussion points...the main gist of this post is this...we believe many things, because they have been told to us, yet not necessary because they jive with scripture or history. Because our "church plays" at Christmas have been condensed & sanitized into a one evening event of all the characters arriving at a manger...we believe that's the way it happened. Because we prefer culturally to have two teenagers or young adults be Mary & Joseph...we believe that is how it must have been. Because we decided long ago that 3 wise men was a good number...we assume it must be factual. But, once again, as people of Truth, shouldn't we seek after, examine & communicate the truth as best we can. If we don't, we confuse people, debate with people, and ultimately push people away from the very Jesus that came as a Gift of God's love for them. These myths & legends can actually become bridges of relationship that point people towards Jesus...rather than confusing them away from Him. If we seek after truth...and point people towards it...and admit we don't know, when "we don't know"...how refreshing and attractive that may be to a world seeking truth...not just the truth about Christmas...but the Truth about life...and ultimately the One who is Truth! May we be a people that pursues & expresses truth well...so that others may encounter a Truth that will set them free! Rather than chopping off the parts of truth that "don't fit" and ultimately misleading them into believing what isn't so.

be God's!
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas

Putting the X Back into Christmas

It's such a great time of year...when all around us breaks out in celebration. Bright lights, decorations, Christmas trees, Christmas sweaters, scarves, gloves, shopping, parties with friends, family & work associates. Holly...garlands...bows...ribbons...snow (or fake snow)...reindeer...Frosty...Santas...elves...gingerbread cookies...egg nog...all familiar stuff, you know the drill. But in the midst of the parades, parties & festive gatherings strange little myths arise. Myths that often confuse or at least separate, even the best of friends. Now I'm not talking of the obvious here...the myths surrounding Santa Claus...or the Christmas tree...or the Mistletoe. I am talking about the myths the "church" has created. Yep, Jesus followers...the pursuers of truth...sometimes miss the mark and in the process create their own "church myths" about Christmas. One of my favorites, or least favorites, is the Xmas myth! Oh nothing gets a unsuspecting believers dander up like calling Christmas, Xmas. How dare you remove "Christ" from Christmas they will say! This is a perfect example of the secularization of the sacred day we call Christmas... how dare they remove Jesus from Christmas, they often say! As well meaning as their bumper stickers that declare "Put Christ back into CHRISTmas!" are, they are misguided. Actually ill-informed, is a better take. First of all, you have to understand that it is not the letter X that is put into Christmas…to somehow take CHRIST out of Christmas. You see the English letter X there, but actually what it involves is the first letter of the Greek name for Christ. Christos is the New Testament Greek word for Christ. The first letter of the Greek word Christos is transliterated into our alphabet as an X. That X has come through church history to be a shorthand symbol for the name of Christ...the "Anointed One". In fact "the Messiah", in Greek is written as: Ο Χριστός (ho christos). This Greek word is where the English term "Christ" comes from in the first place! So all this ruckus about the evil secularists taking "Christ" out of Christmas are misguided by a self created religious myth...a very uninformed myth. As believers shouldn't we pursue "truth". If so the "truth" of this Xmas scandal is found in this simple truth...X has been an ancient symbol for the name of Jesus the Christ since the first century! Whether people know it or not...that is the fact of the matter. And if this is true, then in that truth we should rejoice this Xmas!!!

be God's
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas

Thankful? For What?

Happy Thanksgiving? Well, at least I think so. You see, I say that in light of the many different ideas about what Thanksgiving "is". Someone recently on Facebook shared, "its not a religious holiday, its when the pilgrims thanked the Indians for helping them". Huh? Did I miss the memo on this one? Is this what the school books say now? I don't know, but before we declare "Happy Thanksgiving" we should at least get some sense of what this holiday is all about. After all every holiday has an occasion or historical event we are remembering...so it would be best to get some idea of what we are remembering to be "thankful for"...and what isn't. Now being thankful for the Indians for their help to the Pilgrims isn't a bad thing...its just not the main thing! Historically there appears to be some cooperation between the Pilgrims & the Indians...and yes it helped. But according to the earliest writings on the subject, the Pilgrims prayed & fasted for several days in Thanksgiving for God and His provisions.

George Washington endorsed this idea when he declared the first official Thanksgiving in the United States.
"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and

Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness":

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best."

Given under my hand, at the city of New York,

the 3d day of October, AD 1789

George Washington

Abraham Lincoln echoed his sentiments when he declared Thanksgiving a Federal Holiday as well. There seems to be a consistent thought running through both of these presidential proclamations...I wonder why so many miss the obvious?

Proclamation of Thanksgiving

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION.

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battlefield; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union."

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed,

Done at the city of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Somehow I think George Washington & Abraham Lincoln have a better knowledge of why we have Thanksgiving here in the United States, than most of us. I trust their own words, rather than the ideas of others. How 'bout you? For that I am Thankful.

be God's!
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas

The Point

This summer, my family & I accepted the opportunity to pastor a great group of people that call themselves Friends Community Church. It is located in Tyler, Texas. Truly a church for people who don't like church. A church that is willing to be different for the sake of reaching those who are not comfortable or attracted to other more religious expressions of church life. Though Texas is known as the land of many churches...and east Texas as part of the "bible belt"...and as a fellow pastor friend would say, "its pharisee heaven"...FCC recognizes the need for a different kind of church. I like that. That is why we made the big move from Eugene, Oregon to Tyler, Texas. It wasn't for the "big bucks"...it wasn't for just "a job"...it wasn't because I always "dreamed" of living in Tyler, Texas...it was for a reason more important & worth laying my life down for. In short...I "get" where FCC is trying to go...more importantly, "who they are trying to become"...and that is a journey I want to be a part of. The contrast is stark, yet the result is the same. Eugene, Oregon is highly unchurched...90% of the population do not attend church regularly...sadly most don't trust the church as an institution. In Tyler Texas, most are supposedly "churched"...they say just under 50% attends church regularly (defined as once a month). But when you get to the actual numbers of committed church goers... even in "pharisee heaven"...only around 30% are regular church goers. The result in either extreme, in either city, is the same...more people do not trust the church...than do. How sad is that? More people are left without hope in their spiritual needs...distant from the Jesus that loves them so. Yes, the religious mask is more commonly worn in east Texas... but the lack of spiritual vibrancy lives on. Are lives being transformed? Is Jesus likeness growing in His people? Has the "religious" taken precedent over "relationship"? Are we practicing a 'form" of spirituality..."yet denying its power." Friends is a church committed to being different, for the sake of the "majority" that do not like...trust...or "get" the other church expressions in Tyler & its surrounding areas. Does that mean every other church in Eugene, Oregon or in Tyler, Texas (or anywhere for that matter) don't get it? Does it mean they are wrong and FCC is right? Does it mean they are all fake & only Friends Community Church is real? That's a definite NO! We as a church, are a messy bunch, and we are on a journey too. FCC is a group of people growing into the people God designed us to "be"...but perfect, HA, HA...we definitely are NOT !!! Our hope is that Friends Community Church can be uniquely different for the sake of those we are able to reach...perhaps some people other churches cannot reach will find a home with us...& that is a good thing. We know that those other churches will reach "some"...we will reach a different "some"...but together the Kingdom is expanded...and isn't that the point? More people exploring the Love of Jesus...more people experiencing His Love personally...more people expressing it to others...and after all, isn't that the point?

be God's!

Brian O

ECHO

Lead Pastor dude

Friends Community Church

Tyler, Texas

Reality? What a Concept !

Interesting, isn't it? Reality that is.
Or at least our search for it. Humanity's search for meaning. There is only one reality...anything else is an illusion...hence the dilemma! Is it to the extreme "right?"
Or to the extreme "left?" Is it a place of legalistic constraint without purpose...without meaning? Or is it a free form illusion of unhindered self-expression? Somehow, someway, both have failed us miserably. The puritanical restrictions of the past often seem senseless. Oh sure, some do have value...indeed even wisdom...but most seem senseless. But the extremes to which their "do's" and especially their "don't's" take us are often too much to handle...let alone take seriously! Yet the idea that the ultimate freedom has no boundaries at all...well that too has proven itself disastrous. What has the era's of 60's and 70's freedom proven? Our current era has reaped the consequences. Our media is full of alcohol and drug rehab commercials. The sexual revolution has led to a sexual paranoia, as diseases, AIDS, unwanted pregnancies and abortions abound. Our culture is plagued with welfare babies, single parents galore, emotionally and physically scarred men and women, sexually confused people, plus millions burdened with disease. Broken homes, divorce, children without a parent (or parents) and our societies obvious breaking apart at it's seams, leave us still searching. Is this as good as it gets? Perhaps "freedom" is not what we thought? Can humanity exist without boundaries or guidelines or parameters? Have we neglected something in our hedonistic search for fulfillment? Surely, we cannot go back to the senseless superstitions of the past? Perhaps though, there is reality within some of these boundaries? Perhaps real freedom exists somewhere within them? Perhaps, reality says, "Life without parameters leads to self-destruction!" Perhaps, the illusion is finally fading as reality sets in... it's called the "truth!" If there is "truth" then it has a "source". That truth then is the Source of all wisdom. Anything else is just a lie...a facade...a deception. That deception leads to error, which inevitably leads towards destruction. Has the scientific, technological, and spiritual "advancements" of our day really done much to improve the human condition? Does the "cake" of our life, simply have more decorations...does it really taste any better...does it really satisfy any better? Are we the victims of this cruel hoax...or perhaps, we've learned the hard way? At ECHO we want to be a safe place for anyone to explore the reality of life...to come along side people as they search for the Truth...the Source of all Truth & Wisdom. This journey is not a quick one...but a patient one...and different for each of us. But the Truth...is a constant, and found in only one Source...that we can discover together!

Be God's!
Brian O
ECHO Lead Pastor
Friends Community ChurchTyler, Texas

Grace

Grace

by U2

Grace, she takes the blame

She covers the shame

Removes the stain

It could be her name

Grace, it's a name for a girl

It's also a thought that changed the world

And when she walks on the street

You can hear the strings

Grace finds goodness in everything

Grace, she's got the walk

Not on a ramp or on chalk

She's got the time to talk

She travels outside of karma

She travels outside of karma

When she goes to work

You can hear her strings

Grace finds beauty in everything

Grace, she carries a world on her hips

No champagne flute for her lips

No twirls or skips between her fingertips

She carries a pearl in perfect condition

What once was hurt

What once was friction

What left a mark

No longer stings

Because grace makes beauty

Out of ugly things

Grace makes beauty out of ugly things

be God's!
Brian O
ECHO
Lead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas

Jesus Is For Losers

I had a couple interesting conversations lately. More than once in the past few weeks I've sat with pastors and church leaders and had them say something along the lines of, "...the key to a successful church is, you need to spend less time with the 1's and 2's and spend more time investing in the 8's and 9's..." (now in this context they are speaking of a 0 to 10 scale, where the best, most skilled, most valuable, most important, most wealthy, most influential are the 10's) My response has been simply, "Where do you see that in scripture?" It's a simple question, one no one had a ready answer for. The CEO mentality of pastoring and church leadership has projected this concept of not wasting time with the "losers" and invest in the "winners" instead, because they can get you somewhere the quickest and easiest. Now I can see the temptation in how that may "seem right", since businesses often run on that principle. Yet regardless of whether that method works in business or not, the point as believers should also be filtered through..."Where do you see that in the bible? Where do you see Jesus model that for us?" The answer is you don't see it. Jesus didn't teach it nor model it for us. In fact He modeled quite the opposite. The 12 men Jesus selected as Apostles were a rag tag bunch, made up of mostly fishermen and farmers, quite common for that time period. Matthew was a tax-collector for the Romans, a dubious job at best in his culture. A very cut throat occupation that was not well respected at all. Simon & Judas' occupations are not readily known, and appear to be inconsequential, though some suspect Judas may have had some money skills since he was the one given the responsibility for the Apostles purse (a responsibility that proved too tempting, to the point of self destruction & betrayal). This motley crue (not the band in the midst of their reunion tour by the way) was used by God (except for Judas) to change the world! In spite of their flaws, insecurities, doubts and fears Jesus delivered a message through them that still is alive and well to this day! Not because they were "8's or 9's", but because they had the right heart, and trusted Jesus enough to follow Him, learn from Him, be shaped by Him and carry out what He asked them to do. In many ways the apostles were losers by today's standards...1's & 2's...so to speak. Yet in that, I'm reminded of a Steve Taylor song written over 10 years ago entitled, "Jesus Is For Losers". It was a satirical song that reminded us that Jesus wasn't enthralled with the things we're impressed with. Jesus didn't chase after the wealthy...the influential...the talented. He invested in the "losers"...the whores...the lepers...the outcasts...the poor...even women & children (which in His day was a big deal). Jesus died for losers. He died for those on top of the hill also. He gave Himself for everyone. The question here is, not who Jesus pursues, but who do we? Who, do we as churches, pastors, & leaders pursue and what's the result? Who do we as believers "choose" to invest in and is it consistent with what Jesus taught? If we are honest, we all are losers underneath the veneer of ego, pride, selfishness and our thirst for power. Reinforcing this, I was reminded twice in the last 2 weeks of a similar concept, one I found in 1 Samuel, chapter 22. On May 28th at a cool Eugene-like coffee house in Austin, Texas called Progressive...God drew me to this portion of scripture. In it God describes the 400 men who would team up with David (eventually to be King David). These 400 men would go down in history as "David's Mighty Men"...known for incredible exploits for God. But this passage describes them as they began to gather as the 400...before anything had been done yet. They were described as "in debt, in distress & discontented". This hardly sounds like a bunch that would do mighty things. This hardly sounds like a group most churches would pursue, or seminary's would teach to attract, or "church growth people" would encourage you to embrace as world changers. Yet in God's hands, they did mighty things! I felt God encouraging me that day regarding ECHO, saying this is who ECHO will be built on..."the in debt, in distress & discontented"...don't seek after the elite. And you know, in many ways that is who God has brought and is bringing to ECHO. In fact just a few days ago I met with a local pastor and was describing the people who are being drawn into ECHO...and he said, "sounds like David's 400...the in debt, in distress &...I forgot the other "d" word..." At that moment I felt I was in the midst of a "God thing"...cause I knew I never told him of my scripture in 1 Samuel at the coffee shop in Austin a few weeks prior. I blurted out "...the disillusioned...". He said, "ya that's it...the disillusioned...that sounds like who God is bringing to you...and look what God did with those guys" Wow, God is cool...He reminded me even further that He doesn't require the talented, the beautiful, the wealthy, and the status people to accomplish His purposes. Even though our western church culture tends to project you need to be an exceptional orator, a talented musician, a seminary degreed, beautiful person with perfect smile, hairstyle, weight & snappy clothes...yet God shows us something very different. Is it any wonder why so many are spectators in our churches? How few fit the criteria we model? Yet God's criteria is very different, it begins with a heart that's willing to use what you got to impact people for God's purposes...everybody has a place...everyone is eligible...everyone has an opportunity! Jesus criteria says the "last shall be first"..."blessed are those who mourn"..."it is hard for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom"..."it takes the faith of a child to become part of the Kingdom"...and "the servant is the greatest in the Kingdom of God". Clearly His ways are not our ways...so aligning with His ways is our challenge. When in fact, it's a greater miracle when He uses people like you & me...regular folks...even losers, if you will...people who don't have their act together...then you know it's God doing something, cause it surely ain't us! There's nothing we can take credit for in that, and that's a good thing...it's just us depending on Him. Isn't that the way God has always meant it to be?

be God's!
Brian O
ECHOLead Pastor dude
Friends Community ChurchTyler, Texas

Graffiti On The Walls of Heaven

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
ECHOLead Pastor dude
Friends Community Church
Tyler, Texas