Feeling wrung out?

I am tired. Do you ever get that feeling of being overwhelmed, overrun, beaten down, pushed around and defeated? You know what I mean. Everything seems to be going wrong and you don't feel like doing much. I know, though, that I am in good company. I read this passage today about Moses and how he got tired of standing and holding his arms up in prayer to God. It's in Exodus 17:8-13. While Moses held his arms up in prayer the Israelite army would be winning. If he got tired and dropped his arms, even to just rest his weary limbs, the army would begin to lose and soldiers would be killed. Moses got tired and that affected the outcome of an important battle.

Is our battle any less important? People are lost and struggling and losing their battles all around us unless we step up and do something. But, like I said, I am so tired. How did Moses do it? For a whole day he stayed on that hill and held up his arms in prayer to God for the soldiers. The key - Moses had help. "When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other - so that his hands remained steady till sunset." Moses needed help. He needed help to hold up his hands in prayer to God for the people. If a mighty leader like Moses needed help, guess what? I realize that I need help, too.

I need people to gather around me and join with me in prayer for the work of the church. I cannot do this alone. I cannot lead by myself. At the times when I feel that I need to do it all myself, that is exactly when my energy begins to decrease dramatically. So, if you are a part of New Community, I need your support. I am asking you to come alongside and hold my arms up in prayer. Join me in praying for this church and help me by holding me up in prayer, too. If you are part of another church, your pastor and leaders need you to support them. Some of us leaders might be a little too proud to admit this - but we get tired. Join with me. Pray with me. Let's support each other through prayer and see how God begins to make the battles go our way.

It's About Time

I received a nasty (not really nasty) anonymous email today saying that I have not blogged in 3 weeks. Sorry. I have been consumed by other things. Several home improvement projects (which I enjoy, but am not that good at) and lots of excitement around New Community. Thanks for most of you who have been so patient with me.

This past Sunday evening we had a Vision Night for New Community Christian Church's leadership. We invited anyone who was currently serving or "should be" serving. Great turnout and a very important time for us. Many commented that they thought some of the discussion bordered on being too negative, but I felt that some things were shared that needed to be brought out into the open. I am not usually the person who is comfortable with conflict, but I am learning the importance of allowing conflict if we are going to keep moving forward. I have to remember that not everyone thinks like I do (thank heavens) and different thinking is what makes a church grow, expand and reach out. I welcome differing opinions on most issues, but I am confident of a few areas where opinion is not an acceptable criteria.

For our church we have determined that our efforts will be focused first on reaching out to people who have no church background or have been away from the church scene long enough that they really don't get what "church" is all about. This means that our worship time will have a certain feel that differs from traditional church. Churched people may struggle to find a comfortable spot in some of our worship experiences. I know because I am one of those churched people. But I have seen the impact that this church has had on our community. Every week people attend and they say things to me like, "I never knew church could be like this." "The people here are so friendly." "I will be back next week." "Thanks for making church easy to understand."

Many times we will feel like church at New Community is "not about me." When that happens I feel we are probably doing our job right. It should never feel like it is about "me." We should be able to say that everything we do is about them - people who are lost and hurting and suffering through the drudgery of everyday life without God. My personal feeling and desires cannot be the driving force behind New Community.

At NC3 we are reaching people and I don't ever want to hinder that outreach. I hope you can understand that this might not be the way you would do church, but this works and lives are being changed by the power of God. Thanks for letting me rant a bit.

I look forward to the next gathering of leadership folk from New Community in November.