I am not sure why we are doing new things. The old way obviously works because it worked for me. Can’t people just learn about their need for Jesus the way I did? Can’t they just hear his message the way that I hear it? Can’t they carry on the mission that he gave to me?
The Christian heart must continually wrestle against the self-referenced gospel. While it is true that Christ came to save us, we are not the only sinners in need of his grace. In fact, once we have been saved, he invites us to join in his great work of redemption! Like him, we are called to die to self that others may live.
The Apostle Paul well understood this holy calling. Though he had great reason to boast and be confident in his flesh, he boasted only in knowing Christ. Paul was a unique individual. As both a Pharisee (a Jew among Jews) and a Roman citizen (status beyond compare), Paul could well have been convinced that others should bend to his understanding and interaction with the gospel. Instead, he wrote these words:
1 Corinthians 9.19-23: “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
What if as a church, we adopted this passage and owned it for ourselves? Perhaps it would read:
1 University 9.19-23: “Though we are a free church and belong to no earthly principality, we have opened our doors to people very unlike us, to win as many as possible to Christ. To the traditional Methodists, we offered traditional worship to win traditional Methodists. To those who speak Spanish, nosotros hablamos español, to win those who speak Spanish. To those who live on the internet, we spoke in html and trendy graphic U logos, to win those who live on the internet. To those who are starving, we became food to eat, to save those who are starving. We did all of this for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that together in ministry for him we might advance his Kingdom and share in its blessings.”
There is only one way to avoid self-referenced Christianity (which in the end destroys a living faith). We must all hold loosely to the trappings of religion – cherishing the tools we use to reach others for Christ, but resisting the temptation to create idols of those tools. In the end, the race has clearly been marked out for us and Christ is expecting us to run it with zeal and perseverance. As Paul writes, “Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
August 10, 2007
August 8, 2007
time to u|nite
That's right. Over 250 people have commited to attend the new Saturday Night Worship experience at the U. We will be having a consecration of the launch team (255 strong as of today) on August 18 in our first ever unite worship experience. Then, on August 25 the service will go live to the public. God have mercy on us sinners. Christ is on the march -- it is time for the troops to muster.
So, if you are in S.A. on Saturday night: turn off the lawnmower, finish watching Texas beat the Oklahoma out of whoever they are playing, and come on down at 6.27 pm. We'll be the loud group of people in the gym of University United Methodist Church.
So, if you are in S.A. on Saturday night: turn off the lawnmower, finish watching Texas beat the Oklahoma out of whoever they are playing, and come on down at 6.27 pm. We'll be the loud group of people in the gym of University United Methodist Church.
August 6, 2007
serious business 2 - quest camp
I asked Mark Swayze for permission to blog this for you and he agreed.
Ryan S. and I were walking up to the auditorium a little late. There was already a big group of people gathered out on the loading dock to pray – more than just the band and leaders. I motioned to Ryan and pointed at a dead bird that was lying on the sidewalk just outside the building. It appeared to have crashed into a window pane.
We went inside and set up the room for worship – the cross wasn’t yet in place and the altar needed to be moved. Evidentially, we weren’t the only ones running behind. The kids came screaming into the auditorium full of energy. The band came in and began to play and I stood behind all the kids straight out in front of Mark.
My spirit was not well. I was in an agitated state. I was watching the kids singing and moving around. Suddenly, I was taken with the idea that this was all a show. There wasn’t anything real here for anyone – just a charismatic trick fueled by the kids’ energy and desire. Finally, I screwed my eyes up tight and focused in on the living Christ. In my quieted mind, God spoke familiar words and I relaxed.
I turned to Ryan and told him we were going back stage. When he asked why, I told him that I was tired and I wanted him to be behind me praying when I went up to preach in a few minutes. We got up behind Mark and the band and knelt down. I began to pray the sinner’s prayer, “God have mercy on me a sinner. God have mercy on us sinners gathered here.” Then I began to earnestly pray a prayer that was new for me. Only later did I remember with surprise that I had even prayed it at all. “Jesus bring everything under your authority. Jesus put everything here under your thumb.” I felt Ryan lay across my back issuing prayers of his own.
Mark stopped singing and began to weep and speak. Just as he started to talk the sound system died with a loud pop. Mark shared that he felt as though there was someone who was struggling to believe that God was real. With genuine tenderness, Mark shared how God saved his life. He finished speaking, set his guitar down and began praying over the kids.
In the silence filled only by the quiet crying of the kids, I whispered to Ryan: “Mark has just experienced the gift of mercy. In those moments he actually felt the heartbreak of God for the brokenness of these kids’ lives. God’s compassion broke loose through Mark.”
As Mark prayed over the kids he felt as though he could see each one standing there wearing a mask that just prevented them from seeing God. He prayed that each one would be pulled back and that God would be revealed. I didn’t see it happen, but just as I got up to preach Ryan watched as Mark collapsed to the floor. He said he had never felt so empty before – as though his life had poured out of him.
I stood before the kids and preached the Gospel from John’s Revelation. I shared with them a picture of a new heaven and a new earth. I spoke about Christ’s call to live passionately in the kingdom – admonishing them with the words to the church of Laodicea. I am not sure that I have ever spoken with such clarity or simple authority.
With the utterance of my first word, Mark was filled with an overwhelming desire to stand up and shout me down. He wanted to scream for me to shut up and stop talking. Uncharacteristically, his mind filled with obscenities that he wanted to shout at me to make me stop preaching. He was told that everything that was happening was a lie and just a trick. YOU ARE JUST TRICKING KIDS NONE OF IT IS REAL. .He began to shake and moved over to where Rusty was sitting and asked for help. Rusty began to pray. The Sinner’s Prayer.
As Rusty prayed the multitude of voices that crowded around the back of Mark’s head filling him with anger began to subside. In their wake he began to see his baby lying in the street repeatedly getting run over by a car. He was convinced that because of what he was doing everything would be taken away from him. His family, his wife, his child, everything he loved was in jeopardy.
Rusty and some of the other brothers and sisters continued to pray for Mark and soon the enemy withdrew from around him. I finished preaching and sat down while one of our high school students rose to sign “Voice of Truth” while it played off an ipod. (The sound system had been rebooted sometime during my sermon – though it was out the entire time I spoke.)
The music started to play, then it started to crack and hiss, then it started to drop in and out. Every time it failed, the kids filled in with their singing and our signer just carried on. That ipod worked before and after the service perfectly – we checked.
As that was drawing to a close I ran over to Mark. Not knowing what had happened, I grabbed his arm and said “come on, let’s worship.” No sooner was he up on stage that his wife came in holding the baby asking for the nurse. Mark’s daughter had fallen off the bed. Praise to God that the angels surrounded her and she checked out just fine.
That night we organized the servant staff team to anoint all the doors of the campers’ cabins and pray Christ’s protection. Just as we were getting started on one end of the building, a fist fight broke out in a room on the opposite end. One of the boys fled down Methodist Encampment Road where a deer stepped out in front of him. He moved left, it moved left. He moved right, it moved right. He advanced, it advanced. Rusty and I found the boy standing on the side of the road slowly turning in circles unsure of what to do now that God had sent this deer to block his path.
The next day we called for prayer and fasting from our staff. We blanketed the auditorium in prayer, anointed it with oil, and spoke scripture into every square foot. The enemy was thoroughly rebuked. That night’s worship began with shoes flying off of feet on the front porch because holy ground was being trod. Each person entered receiving communion and an anointing of oil. That night a call went out asking who would go for God – who would preach to the nations, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Student after student stood with arms stretched to heaven and declared “hinani” or “here am I.”
I have left very little out of this account though I am sure that there was more going on than I know. Rusty said afterwards, the angels and demons were warring in the rafters tonight. For sure, I believe that legion laid on a vicious attack and nothing but the name and blood of Jesus Christ and the prayers of the community of saints protected us.
Ryan S. and I were walking up to the auditorium a little late. There was already a big group of people gathered out on the loading dock to pray – more than just the band and leaders. I motioned to Ryan and pointed at a dead bird that was lying on the sidewalk just outside the building. It appeared to have crashed into a window pane.
We went inside and set up the room for worship – the cross wasn’t yet in place and the altar needed to be moved. Evidentially, we weren’t the only ones running behind. The kids came screaming into the auditorium full of energy. The band came in and began to play and I stood behind all the kids straight out in front of Mark.
My spirit was not well. I was in an agitated state. I was watching the kids singing and moving around. Suddenly, I was taken with the idea that this was all a show. There wasn’t anything real here for anyone – just a charismatic trick fueled by the kids’ energy and desire. Finally, I screwed my eyes up tight and focused in on the living Christ. In my quieted mind, God spoke familiar words and I relaxed.
I turned to Ryan and told him we were going back stage. When he asked why, I told him that I was tired and I wanted him to be behind me praying when I went up to preach in a few minutes. We got up behind Mark and the band and knelt down. I began to pray the sinner’s prayer, “God have mercy on me a sinner. God have mercy on us sinners gathered here.” Then I began to earnestly pray a prayer that was new for me. Only later did I remember with surprise that I had even prayed it at all. “Jesus bring everything under your authority. Jesus put everything here under your thumb.” I felt Ryan lay across my back issuing prayers of his own.
Mark stopped singing and began to weep and speak. Just as he started to talk the sound system died with a loud pop. Mark shared that he felt as though there was someone who was struggling to believe that God was real. With genuine tenderness, Mark shared how God saved his life. He finished speaking, set his guitar down and began praying over the kids.
In the silence filled only by the quiet crying of the kids, I whispered to Ryan: “Mark has just experienced the gift of mercy. In those moments he actually felt the heartbreak of God for the brokenness of these kids’ lives. God’s compassion broke loose through Mark.”
As Mark prayed over the kids he felt as though he could see each one standing there wearing a mask that just prevented them from seeing God. He prayed that each one would be pulled back and that God would be revealed. I didn’t see it happen, but just as I got up to preach Ryan watched as Mark collapsed to the floor. He said he had never felt so empty before – as though his life had poured out of him.
I stood before the kids and preached the Gospel from John’s Revelation. I shared with them a picture of a new heaven and a new earth. I spoke about Christ’s call to live passionately in the kingdom – admonishing them with the words to the church of Laodicea. I am not sure that I have ever spoken with such clarity or simple authority.
With the utterance of my first word, Mark was filled with an overwhelming desire to stand up and shout me down. He wanted to scream for me to shut up and stop talking. Uncharacteristically, his mind filled with obscenities that he wanted to shout at me to make me stop preaching. He was told that everything that was happening was a lie and just a trick. YOU ARE JUST TRICKING KIDS NONE OF IT IS REAL. .He began to shake and moved over to where Rusty was sitting and asked for help. Rusty began to pray. The Sinner’s Prayer.
As Rusty prayed the multitude of voices that crowded around the back of Mark’s head filling him with anger began to subside. In their wake he began to see his baby lying in the street repeatedly getting run over by a car. He was convinced that because of what he was doing everything would be taken away from him. His family, his wife, his child, everything he loved was in jeopardy.
Rusty and some of the other brothers and sisters continued to pray for Mark and soon the enemy withdrew from around him. I finished preaching and sat down while one of our high school students rose to sign “Voice of Truth” while it played off an ipod. (The sound system had been rebooted sometime during my sermon – though it was out the entire time I spoke.)
The music started to play, then it started to crack and hiss, then it started to drop in and out. Every time it failed, the kids filled in with their singing and our signer just carried on. That ipod worked before and after the service perfectly – we checked.
As that was drawing to a close I ran over to Mark. Not knowing what had happened, I grabbed his arm and said “come on, let’s worship.” No sooner was he up on stage that his wife came in holding the baby asking for the nurse. Mark’s daughter had fallen off the bed. Praise to God that the angels surrounded her and she checked out just fine.
That night we organized the servant staff team to anoint all the doors of the campers’ cabins and pray Christ’s protection. Just as we were getting started on one end of the building, a fist fight broke out in a room on the opposite end. One of the boys fled down Methodist Encampment Road where a deer stepped out in front of him. He moved left, it moved left. He moved right, it moved right. He advanced, it advanced. Rusty and I found the boy standing on the side of the road slowly turning in circles unsure of what to do now that God had sent this deer to block his path.
The next day we called for prayer and fasting from our staff. We blanketed the auditorium in prayer, anointed it with oil, and spoke scripture into every square foot. The enemy was thoroughly rebuked. That night’s worship began with shoes flying off of feet on the front porch because holy ground was being trod. Each person entered receiving communion and an anointing of oil. That night a call went out asking who would go for God – who would preach to the nations, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Student after student stood with arms stretched to heaven and declared “hinani” or “here am I.”
I have left very little out of this account though I am sure that there was more going on than I know. Rusty said afterwards, the angels and demons were warring in the rafters tonight. For sure, I believe that legion laid on a vicious attack and nothing but the name and blood of Jesus Christ and the prayers of the community of saints protected us.
August 3, 2007
who is the u?
We stand on the edge of a new day of ministry at University. Years of planning, hoping, dreaming, and sacrificing are about to come to fruition. Soon we will be opening a facility consecrated to God and dedicated to reaching generations who are perishing. As we look forward to that great new day, I want to encourage you to pause and simply remember from where we have come.
History, they say, has a way of repeating itself. As we consider the great and glorious future that God has for us, we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge that who we are is who we have always been. In the midst of new logos, new buildings, and new paradigms for communicating and sharing ourselves with our community, we must remember that all this newness is nothing new for the U!
Consider these words that I shamelessly pulled and redacted from our spiffy new website (www.uchurch.tv): University began with twelve faithful laypersons and the Reverend A. E. Rector. The year was 1890 and the place was the west side of Woodlawn Lake. This dedicated group assembled to worship on July 25th in the West End Methodist Church, so named because it was then the west end of San Antonio! With a strong sense of mission, our small congregation reached out to others and grew.
By 1915, we realized that we had made a mistake in locating the church. Our buggies got stuck in the mud whenever it rained! After 1920 it was clearly time to move. So, move we did to a small wooden structure built on Woodlawn Avenue, which became known in 1923 as Woodlawn Methodist Church.
We grew in every way. By 1925 we provided a variety of ministries to reach others and to support our 327 members. In 1927 we erected a new building to accommodate a membership which eventually grew to over 1,500.
As the area around the church changed, the congregation tried to reach its neighbors in meaningful ways, while also purchasing a site on De Zavala Road on which to establish a new mission church. We consecrated the new site as Woodlawn North on December 29, 1974. We held Sunday School in a farm house on the site and, to serve our new community, soon began a Mother's Day Out program.
The Woodlawn church building was sold in 1976 to the Rio Grande Conference of the United Methodist Church. It was sold for $250,000 less than the top bid so that it could remain a Methodist Church. Neighbors in that area now worship God and offer a vital ministry through the El Divino Salvador United Methodist Church.
The Woodlawn and Woodlawn North congregations began worshipping together on the northwest location on August 27, 1978, with approximately 250 members. Signifying our desire to be relevant in to our neighbors and people had put before us to reach for Christ, we changed the name of our church to University.
In 1980 we finished a stone multi-purpose building to house our expanding ministry. On Christmas Eve, 1988, we began worship in our new Sanctuary, in 1996 we opened our new Education Facility, and in 2000 we opened our Children's & Music Facility. In 6 months we will open our Student and Multipurpose Building.
This is our story. It has not ended. As long as there are people who are in need and who do not know the love and joy of Jesus Christ, our story will go on. Because we are the Church, Christ is our story.
Amazing, isn’t it? Our spiritual ancestors have left us a legacy that compels us to do everything in our power to continue the mission of Jesus Christ. It is through the teaching and example of our oldest generations that we continue to be relevant to new upcoming generations. It is because of the faithfulness of our dearest saints that we know we are bound to our history in such a way that compels us toward a new and changed future!
Over the years, our church has been known by many names: West End Methodist Episcopal Church; Woodlawn Methodist Episcopal Church; Woodlawn United Methodist Church; Woodlawn North; University United Methodist Church. Whether people know us as “Woodlawn”, “University”, “University UMC”, “University United Methodist Church”, “UUMC”, “The U,” or very likely, “that big stone church,” we will continue to be the same Body of Jesus Christ – committed to sharing his grace always and everywhere. Let us honor our spiritual mothers and fathers by continuing in the legacy they have bequeathed to us. Let us be unafraid of change that we may speak to our neighbors and those in need in such a way that transforms their lives into new creations of Jesus Christ.
History, they say, has a way of repeating itself. As we consider the great and glorious future that God has for us, we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge that who we are is who we have always been. In the midst of new logos, new buildings, and new paradigms for communicating and sharing ourselves with our community, we must remember that all this newness is nothing new for the U!
Consider these words that I shamelessly pulled and redacted from our spiffy new website (www.uchurch.tv): University began with twelve faithful laypersons and the Reverend A. E. Rector. The year was 1890 and the place was the west side of Woodlawn Lake. This dedicated group assembled to worship on July 25th in the West End Methodist Church, so named because it was then the west end of San Antonio! With a strong sense of mission, our small congregation reached out to others and grew.
By 1915, we realized that we had made a mistake in locating the church. Our buggies got stuck in the mud whenever it rained! After 1920 it was clearly time to move. So, move we did to a small wooden structure built on Woodlawn Avenue, which became known in 1923 as Woodlawn Methodist Church.
We grew in every way. By 1925 we provided a variety of ministries to reach others and to support our 327 members. In 1927 we erected a new building to accommodate a membership which eventually grew to over 1,500.
As the area around the church changed, the congregation tried to reach its neighbors in meaningful ways, while also purchasing a site on De Zavala Road on which to establish a new mission church. We consecrated the new site as Woodlawn North on December 29, 1974. We held Sunday School in a farm house on the site and, to serve our new community, soon began a Mother's Day Out program.
The Woodlawn church building was sold in 1976 to the Rio Grande Conference of the United Methodist Church. It was sold for $250,000 less than the top bid so that it could remain a Methodist Church. Neighbors in that area now worship God and offer a vital ministry through the El Divino Salvador United Methodist Church.
The Woodlawn and Woodlawn North congregations began worshipping together on the northwest location on August 27, 1978, with approximately 250 members. Signifying our desire to be relevant in to our neighbors and people had put before us to reach for Christ, we changed the name of our church to University.
In 1980 we finished a stone multi-purpose building to house our expanding ministry. On Christmas Eve, 1988, we began worship in our new Sanctuary, in 1996 we opened our new Education Facility, and in 2000 we opened our Children's & Music Facility. In 6 months we will open our Student and Multipurpose Building.
This is our story. It has not ended. As long as there are people who are in need and who do not know the love and joy of Jesus Christ, our story will go on. Because we are the Church, Christ is our story.
Amazing, isn’t it? Our spiritual ancestors have left us a legacy that compels us to do everything in our power to continue the mission of Jesus Christ. It is through the teaching and example of our oldest generations that we continue to be relevant to new upcoming generations. It is because of the faithfulness of our dearest saints that we know we are bound to our history in such a way that compels us toward a new and changed future!
Over the years, our church has been known by many names: West End Methodist Episcopal Church; Woodlawn Methodist Episcopal Church; Woodlawn United Methodist Church; Woodlawn North; University United Methodist Church. Whether people know us as “Woodlawn”, “University”, “University UMC”, “University United Methodist Church”, “UUMC”, “The U,” or very likely, “that big stone church,” we will continue to be the same Body of Jesus Christ – committed to sharing his grace always and everywhere. Let us honor our spiritual mothers and fathers by continuing in the legacy they have bequeathed to us. Let us be unafraid of change that we may speak to our neighbors and those in need in such a way that transforms their lives into new creations of Jesus Christ.
August 2, 2007
good stuff
So, I don’t normally just peruse through the Book of Discipline (catchy title, I know), but since I am working on my ordination papers, I was reading and came across this gem:
“Our theological task is constructive in that every generation must appropriate creatively the wisdom of the past and seek God in their midst in order to think afresh about God, revelation, sin, redemption, worship, the church, freedom, justice, moral responsibility, and other significant theological concerns. Our summons is to understand and receive the gospel promises in our troubled and uncertain times.”
Anyway, just figured since I had to read this stuff, we might not enjoy it together!
“Our theological task is constructive in that every generation must appropriate creatively the wisdom of the past and seek God in their midst in order to think afresh about God, revelation, sin, redemption, worship, the church, freedom, justice, moral responsibility, and other significant theological concerns. Our summons is to understand and receive the gospel promises in our troubled and uncertain times.”
Anyway, just figured since I had to read this stuff, we might not enjoy it together!
August 1, 2007
coming soon
I have much to share with you – incredible experiences for an action-packed July. I am really excited to share with you some moment from this year’s Quest camp in particular. Stories of Biblical proportion – literally.
However, it will have to wait just a little longer. This week I am working at home on two major projects for my ordination process. Step one is completing a theological and doctrinal dissertation for the Board of Ordained ministry. They will use my writing to conduct their 25 to 1 oral examination of me scheduled sometime in February. (Not that it is in the least bit intimidating. I’ve only invested my entire life in this process . . .)
Second, I have to complete a theological project for my covenant connection process (also part of the ordination process). I am doing it on biblical leadership and definitions of success.
I may try to post some of this work for those of you who would be totally uninterested. (The notable exception being my mom who I am pretty sure is the only one who reads this thing. Love you mom.)
However, it will have to wait just a little longer. This week I am working at home on two major projects for my ordination process. Step one is completing a theological and doctrinal dissertation for the Board of Ordained ministry. They will use my writing to conduct their 25 to 1 oral examination of me scheduled sometime in February. (Not that it is in the least bit intimidating. I’ve only invested my entire life in this process . . .)
Second, I have to complete a theological project for my covenant connection process (also part of the ordination process). I am doing it on biblical leadership and definitions of success.
I may try to post some of this work for those of you who would be totally uninterested. (The notable exception being my mom who I am pretty sure is the only one who reads this thing. Love you mom.)
u|nite a reality?
Well, after week 1 we have had 199 people sign up to attend our new Saturday Night service "unite" I am hopefull that the other 51 we need will sign up this Sunday.
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