Walking In Wisdom

Sorry for the "bloggling gap' we have experienced in the last week. Kris and i left Skopje MK last Sunday and headed for Vienna Austria.  We had one flight in eight days to leave MK and then we had to stay in Austria for two-days until going to the USA. We did get to see some lovely sights in Vienna.  There is a rich history and some wonderful stories woven into the city.  Mozart, Brahms, and Sigmund Freud are the city's favorite sons!!!  Enough of my history channel moment. ( I do want to say that my visit there inspired me to purchase "The Idiot's complete guide to Europen History.")

We headed out on Tuesday morning to make our way back to the good old USA! With bags checked and boarding pass in hand we waited to fly from Vienna to Frankfurt and then on to Philadelphia.  Kris noticed that our flight to Germany would be late -- that was not good in that we had an hour between flights and it was obvious we would not make the connection. Austrian Air changed us to a Toronto then to Philly flight.  If anyone asks you to go to Tornoto --- passionately say NO!  The airport is a mess and the process of going through Candanian customs and then USA customs is a real pain!

Worst of all our luggage was lost.  We were told it would be put through to Philly -- it was via Frankfurt and would not get to Philly till Thursday.  Whereby USAirways sent them to Harrisburg and they sat there for three days under "Deputy Dog" search them out on Saturday. What a mess!!

We landed in Tornoto - got through customs - dealt with missing bags - and endured 6 hours of delays -- finally landed at 10PM in Philly and was in our bed by 12 midnight.  Obviously these are the highlights (or better the low-lights) and we have more to tell.  Trust me the rest of the story will be showing itself in this blogg and in countless sermon illustrations for months to come.

Tomorrow (Sunday) after 13 days in Macedonia, Kris and i will start our journey home. Our trip has been cut short because the conflict in the church is not resolved and the powers at be, do not see it getting resolved real soon. This also means that our church's team of 12 is cancelled as well.  There is great disappointment here and at home that this could not have worked out. Never the less, what seems to be a huge failure may turn into a great victory and maybe future revival for the church and the country.  I had breakfast with a Macedonian Pastor and he was excited that this situation may have unearthed what ultimately God wanted to do, more then any team or any preaching series that I had planned.  So what has been learned through this experience....

1. A personal offence in one culture and country may or may not be as serious in another or it could be the worst violation of love and good will -- there is no rhyme or reason. Humility, grace, repentance and willingness to try to resolve it is your only hope -- and even that is up in the air.  we like things "fixed fast" in the USA -- doesn't always happen in other fields.

2. Resolving conflict is not done in the same way or timetable as per the country and culture. We are use to a very quick, instaneous society and relationships in the USA -- not so elsewhere.

3. The culture is NEVER to be used as an excuse for obeying the Bible!  I appreciate the sensitivity to cultural issues -- but obedience is obedience is obedience.  I believe in a post modern world this will become a more divisive issue and very prevelant in our world! Tne truth is truth -- and we can know truth and we can and should be dogmatic about the truth!

4. Buy travel insurance (we have lost a large amount of money on non-refurndable tickets).

5. Missionaries - trying to embrace and assimilate into a certain culture have a difficult time separating cultural mores and the need to push for Biblical obedience unto the people they are ministering to. This is a tough one - i saw over and over. Missionaries are in a catch-22 - if they demand a disciple's response to new Christians it could shut the door of ministry.  But they are not helping them understand if they don't demand the proper response to the Lordship of Christ.  When in doubt -- the Bible and Lordship should win out!

6. Your presence in a place has as much of impact as does what you do or the ministry you might dispense. The fact is I was not able to preach or teach or minister -- however my willingness to come hear spoke loudly to those involved with the situation.

7. This is a very common thing that missionries face -- it is absolutely horrifying and disappointing to us. Fact is this stuff happens ALL THE TIME!!!  Probably more so then we would like to hear!

8. There are some incredible ministry happening in MK that we did not know.  the other pastors involved opened up contacts and relationships with other wonderful believers.  There are a number of thriving churches in Skopje and effective ministry happening.

9. There is always TOMORROW!  The bridge is still there and now we wait to see what God will do. We will pray that a year from now our team will get to come to MK and minister as we had hoped.  There will be another day -- we will pray for that day to be redeemed!

I remember when i was a child and heard a curse word from the neighbor kid. In my naivite, i came home and said the word in my mother's presence. She was horrified. Her reaction was enough to know that I had violated a major rule and possibly might be leaving the earth and going to heaven. She said, "where did you learn that four-lettered word?"  I was not very old but still thought to myself -- "four-lettered words are bad? I should not use four-lettered word?"  That means no CAKE - cake is a four lettered word? BATH -- hey this may work out in my favor?  Seeing I was confused she tried to explain why the word was bad. Her attempt to explained got lost in my six-year old mind.

I am going to be 48 in a few weeks and i have discovered another four-letter word I believe is a curse -- WAIT!  I am not very good at waiting. Sitting still in my mind leads to lack of blood flow which ultimately may kill you!!  Wait -- is like saying NO! To me its not even a "maybe" -- it is hard to wait. If we were completely honest, waiting is hard for all of us. Being idle. Hearing nothing but silence. Being alone with not agenda, goal, timeline or anticipated deadline is difficult.

YET in the past few days I am learning the truth "they that WAIT upon the Lord will renew their strength."  Or how about this one - "BE STILL (that's another way to say WAIT) and know i am God."  For a week we have been sitting and waiting. Waiting for meetings. Waiting for conversations. Waiting for decisions. JUST WAITING!

And through it all God's presence comforts us. Sustains us. Encourages us. We wait -- HE WAITS WITH US.  As a pastor I am reminded how important it is to sit in a hospital waiting room with a church member when their loved one is going through surgery.  I may not say a word, but sitting and waiting is a fantastic ministry. When people are faced with sitting until they hear from someone or just to get a word from the Lord, there needs to be others of us who wait with them and FOR THEM!

I don't like waiting!!!  But through it God does His work of shaping, conforming and encouraging -- much better then we would press ahead and try to fix it on our own.  A matter of fact, if I wasn't still and waiting -- I would have missed what God was trying to do. Instead of "Nike's" famous "JUST DO IT!" slogan....I am starting a new ad campaign.... "JUST WAIT!"

You ever hear the story about the well intentioned missionary who went to a foreign country and during his first sermon in his newly aquired language got a few words mixed up and instead of telling people that Jesus loved them, he instead told them they were ugly fat ogre and their mother's a cow!  Obviously when crossing a cultural divide in any locationis difficult.  But when conflict is involved it intensifies and cloud any well intention.  The last few days we have been dealing with a major conflict in the church in Skopje. It involves parent's protection of a child, even when the child has done wrong; the high value given to education and how it is tied to diginnity and self worth; the feeling that Americans get everything so you don't deserved to be heard and most difficult that our cultural distinctives trump any Bible principles. It has been heart wretching to say the least.

The fact is Christianity is "counter cultural." Everything about being a Christian is and should be seen as directly opposite of everything we should be use to in this world.  That is why Paul say that we should turn from our "former way of liviing" and the "darkness and futility of our minds" as when we did not know Christ. Christianity is NOT American -- ther are many things in the American cultural that is repugnate to the Lord. Mature christians from all corners of the globe need to step back from there cultural and ask the question -- "what does the Bible say we are to do?" One of our elder at NewSong constantly reminds us - "we are not to be concerned about the little "c" - culture -- but always be concerned about the big "C" - Christ!  Good words.

We are continuing the work through the difficulties and especially trying to find a way to minister in the middle of a difficult situation. But it is a great reminder to not alot the world and lifestyle and the heritage that you might be use to ever hinder you from following the word of God and doing the things that Christ and HIS CUTURE demands of us who are citizen's of heavn. Your fellow alien and pilgrim in Macedonia - JM

While I was out visiting churches, my church family was involved with In and Out Sunday.  This began last year with an idea -- "what would happen if a church cancelled its services on a Sunday and hit the streets serving the community and doing good works?"  Literally we wanted to take what the church has IN the church and make it available OUT in the community!  Today was the second year and the sequel was as good as the original from all the reports. I got to NewSong just as testimony time began and to have a hot dog with the flock! It was thrilling to hear what God did with our people and through our people.  By the sounds of the testimonies, there were a lot more projects focused at individual needs and people who desperately needed help. What a thrill to listen how our church family was used. So a major shout out to Young Le the director of the project.  A major shout out to all our small group leaders who organized their teams and "delivered the goods." And of course the staff who was behind the scenes and making sure the volunteers got all the support they needed.  This was a huge week for serving. Through the week over 200 people participated at our church for work nights. So a final and giant shout out to the NewSong family -- YOU ARE BEYOND AMAZING!!!

Well its that time of year - wedding season!  I have already performed two weddings this summer and I am on sabbatical. This past winter/spring I was counseling 12 different couples planning to get married. This has been one of the most benefical aspects of pastoral ministry. In a real sense you are molding and shaping two lives and making a significant impact on the future of a family. This past year i realized that one of the underlining reasons that Newsong has grown and has the depth that we have is because of the major investment that has been made towards all our young couples desiring to get married. In addition, i recognized that my standard for marrying a couple might be preceived as "over the top" -- but in the end has remarkable results. here are the marks of our premarriage process.

1. We call it "Pre-commitment Counseling" primarily because we expect a couple to come to us before they are engaged. Once a couple has a ring and starts picking a date, you can not properly give them the counsel or start to address issues in their relationship. Once the date is set, the pastor/counselor has a gun to his head. I have seen couples get after their problem areas because they want to get engaged and there is no external pressure on them -- like a mother wanting to order the invitations or schedule the photographer. This simple standard of starting the counseling before engagement has been brilliant!

2. We have anywhere from 13-16 sessions with each couple. If I am meeting with a couple every 2-3 weeks, this means our process will take 8-10 months. Time is a good thing. You can mircowave marriage preparation; it is a crockpot approach!! Sessions involve taking a compatability survey, watching teaching videos, standard sessions that I have given each couple and wedding planning. The most benefical aspect of the process is the discipline of a couple meeting with me and having someone ask - "what's happening; how are you doing; how can i sort out the latest discovery in your relationship that has you all upset!"

3. Each couple must make a commitment and begin to build into their relationship a serious involvement in church life. Both must be baptized and members of a local church. If its NewSong great -- but some church! And not just that, involved in Sunday school, a small group, serving in ministry and have made a significant contact with someone in leadership. Over the years, I have discovered that most Christians who get divorced have not been connected significantly to a church. They have little relational connectiveness, know one in leadershi knows them and the church is not willing to step in and rescue them. This is a fatal mistake.

4 They must be willing to declare the words in their vows - "forever removing the option of separation or divorce..." Trust me I get some wide eyes looking at me from the congregation when the bride and groom repeat those words. But Christian couples can make that promise and if they can't say it -- I won't marry them. A matter of fact, my first major session with a couple is doing a personal Bible study on the issue of divorce and remarriage and I ask them to come up with their personal belief statement on the issue. Then we go to the Bible and look and understand what God really said! They are shocked to find out that for two Christians -- there are NO options. It is marriage, fixing a marriage problem or death do us part!!  If divorce occurs -- discipline follows -- that is why a good church connection is so important!

5. Finally, I teach, believe and expect that the couple is committed to a Biblical view to the marriage roles. The Bible is clear, the husband is the spiritual head and leader and the wife is the submissive servant. She is NOT a doormat, but she is expected to allow him to lead. And in his leading, he is expected to love and encourage her extravagantly!  This means they must master the "Love and Respect" principle. Emerson Eggerich has written the best book on marriage communication and the difference with men and women and how they work out these Biblical roles - they are to love and respect each other (Ephesians 5:33). In a day that young women have been taught "that they are woman hear them roar..." and not to let the man get the upper hand and the most important thing to can gain in a relationship is respect -- most women struggle with "showing their husband the respect that he NEEDS and deserves."  And most men are so self-center and still caveman like, in is hard for them to learn the art of loving here especially in her "language" (there is the second most important marriage book - Gary Chapman's Love Languages). Once couples learn the love and respect secret it will transform them.

That is our distinctives when it comes to getting couples ready for marriage. I know it sounds old-fashion and even nazi-like! But it works!!!  Just look around our church and see the fruit of this crucial work. It has been another level of discipleship in our church. The other proof is most of the counseling I do with married couples are people who I did not marry!  Love is in the air -- I want it to smell like the beauty of spring and not like fresh laid manure!

Ever since my sabbatical started, i feel like everyother day i am going to the doctor; call the doctor's office, calling one of the nurses and docs in our church to determine if what the doctor told was true and/or going to the drug store. My bathroom sink area looks like a counter at the local pharmacy.  I have seven or eight bottles of pills. My first thought was -- "does these pills work against each other and cause the potency of the pills to be negated?" but then again the doctors and pharmacist should know what they are doing! Right?

I would have thought so but yesterday gave me doubt!  In preparation for an upcoming mission trip I was getting all my medicine ready. i had to get a refill of one of the pills so I was heading over to my local pill distributor (which will remain nameless). As i looked at the pill bottles I couldn't remember what one of the pills were perscribed for.... it was around the time i hurt my knee from too much work at the beginning of the sabbatical. but i had my celebrex for that. Being confused I took the bottle along to the drug store. While filling the order prescription, i asked the lady if she could tell me what these were for? She took the bottle to the pharmacist and returned using a quiet voice and leaning towards me -- "they are for yor depression -- it is the antidepression medicine."

Anti-depression? You are kidding? I was stunned -- and asked her to see if they would give me these pills for inflammation of the knee? Seconds later the pharmacist came out and said that she needed to check the original order. Minutes later she returned white faced and with a sick look as if she lost a close friend. "Mr. Mitchell, there has been a terrible mistake - how many of these pills did you take?"  I remembered it was one or two. There was relief coming on her face -- as panic came over me. "this prescription was faxed over and the fax cut off the full name -- we guessed and gave you a medicine for those with bi-polar condition." She was falling over herself apologizing. I asked if it did any damage -- she assured me that taking two would not do anything.  She refunded my money and fulfilled every request in a timely manner!

The morale of the story -- check every prescription you get and read the papers they send home. In a later investigation, i learned that if i had kept taking them, there would had been some major psychological affects of me and my moods! I laugh at the situation now and thank God they didn't give me birth control or female hormonal replacement medicine.  

Living Waters Church

On the church’s web site it says this… “Living Waters Church was started in July 2000 with 15 adults led by Pastor Jody Sambrick…. it was always his passion to see lives changed through a relationship with Jesus Christ. He dreamed of a church that would be culturally relevant in its music and message so that people who did not grow up in church could feel comfortable coming and meeting God and a loving church family. “  I witnessed some of the vision for the church this past Sunday when I visited Living Waters at their temporary home of Lancaster Christian School gym at 9AM.  There is a couple of words that best describes this visit.  First is “casual” – everything about the experience speaks of informal. How people are dressed; how the service begins; the aura of the morning and even components of the service.  The second word – “coffee” – in all their literature they make the point that they serve Starbucks and you can drink some “java’ while the service is happening. I was surprised to see attenders get up during worship and just before the message began and get a refill. Third word – “contemporary” – obviously in regards to music. They have a four piece rhythm section and a couple of singers. Mostly new choruses, even though one of the songs was completely new to me and so fast that I could never “catch up” with the lead singer/guitarist. “Congratulation” is the fourth word – they honored their graduates in the service. The director of ministries handled the honoring. She donned a cap and gown and presented each grad with a gift. One nice touch was honoring older grads and grads who received their master’s and doctorate. I ran out of “c” words for the last observation – which has to do with the message. The message was the fifth in a series on the ten commandments and was entitled “Honoring My Parents.” LWC is a “Purpose-Driven-Saddleback” clone in every way – even with the message series. Maybe a final word is “Copy.” I am 95% sure that the sermon was one of Warren’s messages - if not a close copy. The sermon was read by the director of ministries, Jane Dutton. She was a good communicator but not a Biblical preacher. She referred to the proof texts in Warrenian usage of the Bible in a sermon (he uses many various translations to justify his points – not exegesis of a text). The talk was good for listeners who know nothing about the Bible and to encourage them to love their parents without being authoritative and convicting calling them to obedience.  But growing Christians will find it hard to sustain their faith on that kind of preaching. In addition, she never really connected the message to where the idea came from – the Law! I am sorry that I missed the Pastor. It would probably be different if the main guy was there!

Lancaster Alliance Church

LAC has been a strong church presence in the county for a couple of decades. A few years ago their long time pastor moved to the Midwest and a missionary took over the pulpit. His health forced him to leave after two years and the church has had an interim pastor for the past three years. This lack of stability must have a strain on a church family. I visited on “Children’s Sunday” where they honored their kids and those who minister to them. I have to give LAC the “friendliest church award” (at this point in my church visit tour). A number of people extended themselves and said hello. The service began with having all the kids come to the front of the stage and they used CD music to lead in worship. The songs were geared for the kids, probably songs they sing in Children’s Church and I thought was a nice touch. If you are showcasing the kids – do kid’s music! Pastor Doug, the Children’s Pastor, then came and honored all the workers. It was excellent – he had all their names on the video screen and exampled all the different aspects of the children’s ministry. This is a high value and highly programmed aspect of the church. The interim pastor then came and preached a message entitled “Bless Our Children’s Workers.” He looked at three passages in the gospel of John to discover what terms Jesus might use to describe a children’s worker – specifically – “teacher, shepherd, and model.” It was a nice, simple, and encouraging message. Again, like many of these visits, I have only experienced one true expositional message. However, this was a special day and it is very difficult to prepare a message for these occasions, but still a single passage and real expositing could take place! The service concluded with communion, which seemed out of place with the special focus of the morning, but it was the first Sunday of the month which is traditionally when the Lord’s Supper is experienced. Talking about traditional, that is one thing I observed which I appreciated. There were a number of older believers in attendance and many dressed with what we might call “Sunday-go-to-church-attire.” I really thought it demonstrated a mature look to the visit. This is where my bias comes out.  All that said, the communion was personally encouraging. There was not much instruction or direction given. I opened my Bible; read a Psalm and spent time personally worshipping the Lord. I am starting to feel the affects of not receiving regular times of worship, fellowship, and Bible teaching!