echoes of redemption

I watched a video last night about William Kamkwamba, a young man who at age 14 figured out how to build a windmill in his famine-ravished African village.

He was nearly illiterate at the time and used the inspiration of a picture in a book, and what he could glean from electrical diagrams to wire, circuit break and construct a fully operational windmill.

Because bringing hope to his part of the world is less about money or training and more about intestinal fortitude.

Jon Stewart juxtaposed William’s interview with a rapper who was depressed the recession had forced him to cut down on “video hoes” (his term for women in rap videos) and upset because he could only afford a Bentley rather than the Rolls he had wanted.

The Daily Show producers also dropped in Brian Williams’ announcement that the US would be bombing the moon this morning.

So people are dying all over the world while we complain about our cars.

And you can build a well for $2000 to help the 1 in 6 people in this world that are drinking disease contaminated filth for water, but the US is spending $76,000,000 to shoot bombs at the moon to see if there was water on its surface millions of years ago.

And that makes me mad as hell.

Because we could made a difference.

We could change someone’s life.

But we have to do everything fundamentally different – collectively and personally. It can’t just be about us and our story. Checking for water on the moon isn’t categorically wrong. But ignoring a toddler who is drinking water filled with cow piss is.

It has to be about embracing this world, carrying the burdens of those who are distant, marginalized and oppressed.

It has to be about something bigger than ourselves.

And that’s the kind of people we want to be.

And when we talk about starting a church in New York City, that’s the kind of church we want to be.

Right now we’re preparing to hand out a book to people and churches interested in partnering with us in ministry. But this thing is not just about us. Which is why we’re looking for sponsors for each individual book. Because our story is about changing the story of people’s lives.

So for every book we hand out we’re donating a decade of clean water to someone who doesn’t have it. (You can find out more about that here.)

Because together we can make a difference.

Because our blessing should lead us to a lifestyle of generosity.

Because the church exists to pour itself out for the benefit of those lost, distant and hurting all over this planet.

Four years ago I would have given my left arm to speak on the stage at Fellowship Church in Grapevine. I was on staff, I knew I could do it (whatever that means) and I felt I was ready.

But the opportunity seemed to pass by endlessly.

As time passed, I loosened my grip on this as a driving goal in my life. Slowly it was replaced with a passion just to follow God and do what I felt he asked me to do.

A few month ago while I was praying, God reminded me that this had been a goal in my life – because just two weeks earlier I was teaching a group of children’s pastors at a conference held at Fellowship in Grapevine.

The moment had come and gone without me even realizing how big it was in my journey. Because I was simply following God, and that’s where he took me.

I have noticed God gives me things in my life when I no longer care about them more than him.

And I’m keeping that lesson in mind today. Right now we’re planning a church in New York City – but our passion for the city, our passion for measurable change globally – none of that can replace a simple passion for God.

And so we hold our dreams with open hands.

We believe God has called us to do something, but when, how and with whom that gets accomplished we are completely open to. It’s possible to dedicate yourself to your dreams above all other things and force them into existence.

But that’s the hard way to do anything.

The problem with taking what you’re passionate about and using it as your primary goal/motivator/reason to get out of bed in the morning, is that it’s idolatry.

We want to wait on God. To move forward passionately and aggressively when the opportunity is right, but be willing to sit and be shaped, molded and prepared when the opportunity is right for that. We want to stay sensitive to what he is doing in our souls.

We want to be a church that is more passionate about God than anything else – and that starts with guarding our hearts today.

It begins by realizing we have a soul and allowing God to shape it on this journey.

It means holding everything with open hands, allowing it to be shaped and molded as we travel.

And one day I fully expect to look back and be amazed by what God has done.

Jesus was born and lived perfectly under the law – yet his life was marked with revolutionary freedom. He fulfilled the law and opened a new period of freedom for us. Today we live under grace – yet so many people are trapped under legalism and stringent tradition.

In a way we’ve lost the plot. So much so that when I talk to people about our church their first question is, What kind of church will you be?

The answer they’re looking for isn’t affiliation or branding, it’s heart. Who will you be in relation to the world?

Because the Church is supposed to be Christ’s image. And Christ came to reconcile the world to God. So how the Church relates to the world is everything.

Our church starts with freedom.

Freedom to be yourself – because we see God’s image in all people, everywhere.

Freedom to explore, question and doubt – because the only people Jesus was consistently angry with were the ones who had it all figured out.

Freedom to learn, grow and change – because your past doesn’t have to define you.

The church is first and foremost a group of radically different people bound together by their experience with grace. And when you’re bound by the freedom that grace gives you, there is no time to judge. No time to fight. No time to needlessly burden people with superficial rules.

We want to be on mission. On point. To spend our time, energy and resources on making measurable difference among the oppressed. Not by trying to get everyone to look the same, act a certain way or live up to a standard we’ve created.

Scripture is clear, freedom is found in relationship with Jesus. Which means knowing Jesus should be the most liberating experience a person can have. It should open up new opportunities and expand their potential in every way.

That’s true freedom.