“It’s My Story, Too”

Okay, what I *meant* to say on the occasion of Annica’s membership vows yesterday was that there was this movie I saw, about a little girl in a hospital recovering from a broken arm, who is told a story by another patient, a movie stunt man, who was paralyzed in a fall. He entertains her by telling her an epic adventure, and in the movie we see how she imagines it. Characters in the adventure are imagined to be like people she knows: so her favorite hospital nurse is the beautiful heroine in the story, for example. The hero of the story initially looks like her father, who is dead, but as her understanding changes, the hero becomes the stunt man who is telling the story.

The stunt man is depressed and angry about his injury and decides to end the story. One by one the characters in the hero’s band are killed by the terrible enemy. In the little girl’s imagination, she herself has become a character, and she can’t bear to watch her friends and heroes die. “Why are you killing them?” she asks the stunt man. “Don’t make them die,” she pleads.

“It’s my story, I can do what I want,” he answers.

“Mine, too,” she corrects him.

The stunt man continues the story in its tragic direction. The little girl stands by in the story watching the hero as he loses his climactic fight with the cruel enemy. She is weeping for her friend and for the fallen hero. “Don’t let him die.”

“But he’s no good. He’s a coward. He deserves to die,” explains the stunt man, talking about himself more than the charcter in his story.

“But she loves him,” says the girl.

And at that point all I can think of is Mary in the garden, grieving for her crucified Lord.

There came a point for the little girl when she entered the story and took an active part. It was no longer just something she was listening to, it was something she was involved in. She was so strongly taken up, she even began to call the hero “father.”

This is the normal course of development for the children of the church, and we mark and celebrate their progress in making the story of the gospel their own. We rejoice to see them take ownership of their part and articulate the truth, “It’s my story, too.”

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P.S. The movie is now available on DVD and is entitled The Fall. Not everyone loves it like I do, so if you decide to watch it, temper your expectations.

Fall Fest 2008

More fall fest photos here …

Do What You Can, With What You Have …

The Book Nook at Zion is nominally a “children’s library”, but don’t let that keep you from visiting.  This week I checked out a 2-DVD set “Teddy Roosevelt: An American Lion”, which was produced by The History Channel.  “TR”, as he was known, was an astonishing man of enormous energy and purpose.  God was gracious to our country in raising up such a man.  He fought corruption, opposed the monopolistic abuses of big business, established National Forests and Parks to preserve disappearing resources, and started the Panama Canal.  All before he was 50.  He had a large family and was famously undignified playing with his children.  There are few of his measure today.

When I read (or watch) the biography of such a man, I can’t help but take a personal measure, and I always notice lots of ways that I compare unfavorably. I have had similar feelings recently as I read through a pile of old letters from 1941 and 1942 from my parents attic as they prepare to move out of their house of 50 years. My father excelled in many ways. His family was proud of him. In one letter, his older brother complimented him on one of his recent achievements and closed his letter with the remark, “you did better than I did.” It was a simple, honest compliment without rivalry or resentment. And as I compare the accomplishments of my father with my own record, I share the feeling: he did better than I have.

Someplace in here this kind of reflection and comparison can become sinful. Paul says “”… when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” (2 Cor. 10:12) As Pastor Stu reminded us a few weeks ago, Jesus rebuked Peter for asking about the role and ministry of John: “What is that to thee? Follow thou me.”

Examples can inspire. Comparisons can cripple. TR would say, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” May God help us to encourage one another to love and good deeds. And may God keep us from comparing ourselves to one another.

Isabella

Good work, Julia. Pat and the boys are proud. Our Youth Director has another young one.

Life Chain

Most people look. Some just drive by. Others wave or give a thumbs up. I saw only one who was trying to be rude. Life Chain gave me an hour to watch people drive by on “O” street. My sign said, “Abortion Kills Children.”

Most people in America are aware of the debate, and I suspect most would like for it to just go away: Yes, the nation is divided. No, those of fervent conviction on both sides will not be moved. So why go through with this useless exercise?

First, it is not pointless. Many people just haven’t thought about it. When I was in college in the early 1970’s and first heard the issue of abortion raised, my first thought was a completely uninformed “well, why not?” Our greatest impact can be with those who just haven’t thought about it.

Second, there are others who are watching. I saw a car drive by with some passengers that, for some reason, I had a strong sense that they were foreign nationals. Wherever you go in the world, the United States makes news. How does the spectacle of Life Chain strike a Chinese national, or a man from India, or a woman from Angola? If I were visiting another country and drove through one of their cities and saw a demonstration or a protest, it would make an impression. When I came home and people asked about my trip, that event would be part of my story.

Ultimately, even if none of the people in the cars on “O” street pay any attention, and nobody changes their mind, and no one sees, and nobody cares, Life Chain has another witness: God himself. He knows the thoughts I think, and that standing in line holding a sign prompts me to review my convictions. He knows that I tire of the issue, and that sometimes I wish it would just go away. He knows the clarity and simplicity I need: Abortion Kills Children. And I must not make peace with those things that God condemns.

God in the Gallery: Books Available

Saturday morning October 18, Zion will welcome Dan Siedell to the Zion Coffee House for a book talk: God in the Gallery: A Christian Embrace of Modern Art from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Dan is the son of Barry and Linda Siedell (and brother of Angie), a professor at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and past curator of Sheldon Art Gallery. 

We now have some copies of the book in the church office.  You may wish to purchase a copy ($20) to read before the event.

Encouragement

June 2008 was a month of questions. How would the Redeemer Plant go? How would things be at Zion with the Redeemer folks gone? What would happen to the budget? And more personally, how hard would it be to move ahead with those empty places in our hearts?

Those questions will not be answered quickly. But there are some initial signs of encouragement. The Redeemer Plant is finding its stride; worship, attendance, giving, community life—there are many encouraging signs. At Zion, we can feel the reduced numbers, but the June attendance was actually not much lower than what we might see in a normal summer. There were some special gifts that actually made June the best month of the year so far. These early signs are encouraging, though it is too early to draw any conclusions about overall attendance and giving patterns.

Personal adjustments will continue to be hard. There is no way around that. Though we can be happy if there must be a separation, then that this kind of separation is just about the best kind possible.

Zion has a 3-year committment to Redeemer in the budget. Even with what looks like one of the best starts you could hope to see, Redeemer will continue to need outside support.

The Staff, Elders, and Deacons at Zion will continue to work towards strengthening our position as a resource church for planting more new congregations in Lincoln. What can we learn from our experience with Grace Chapel in 2000 and Redeemer in 2008? When will we be ready for another? What will it look like? What if we keep the church plant line item in the budget after Redeemer is on its own? We could be in a position to build a church planting fund ahead of the next need.

And, may we never forget, no matter how we plan, God may break in and do something beyond all our expectations. Jesus will build his church. Lets keep our eyes open and give ourselves to the work, whatever shape it has.

RUF, Redeemer, and Reaching Ahead

Bart told me that tonight is his last large group meeting on campus. In June, our Reformed University Fellowship will officially be under the leadership of Steve Allen as Bart and his family move to Minneapolis to plant a church and launch an RUF chapter at the University of Minnesota.

First, let’s consider the fact that when Bart came to UNL seven years ago to start RUF in Nebraska, his first “large group” meetings could just about fit in the back seat of a Toyota. Today RUF at UNL regularly has 50-60 students at the weekly large group meetings, building relationships and hearing solid Bible teaching. That kind of ministry building does not happen easily. We have seen something remarkable.

Even as we see Redeemer Church launch in Lincoln with Tobey and Adam, we will watch as Bart works to start a new church in Minneapolis. I am so thankful to be part of a church that keeps the kingdom task in plain view. And I can’t help but think about the next plant after Redeemer. What will it be like? When will we be ready to launch it? What will my role be?

There are certain comfortable qualities about being in a church that is, well, “stable.” In such a church you can have many long-term relationships and things continue as they have always been. But even though change is hard and growth is difficult, I want to be in a church like Zion. Only let us always be faithful in the ministry God has called us to for the glory of his son Jesus Christ.

The Cost of Church Planting

We can think about the costs of planting a new church in several ways. One is the dollar cost. Church planting costs money. Zion is commited to planting multiple churches in Lincoln, and this will always be a challenge for our budget.

But every family faces the same kind of thing. Raising kids costs money. Sometimes there seems to be no end to the financial demands. But would you rather do without children? A thousand times no.

Raising kids is also difficult when they come of age, because there comes a day when you say goodbye. They move away. The house seems empty. But that is the natural way of things. A boy who still lives with his parents at age 35 is not what you hope for. At Zion we are preparing to go through the same kind of thing with the Redeemer plant. The day is not far off when we will say goodbye to a hundred of our dear friends and family. They will move on. To those of us who remain, our building will seem empty. But this is the natural way of things in the church. We will feel the loss, but we can be glad to pay the cost.

And I believe that committing ourselves to such costs pleases our Lord Jesus. The kingdom of heaven is like a woman who took a pound of very costly ointment and poured it out at the feet of her savior. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance.

Renovations

The work progresses. The new nursery space is almost finished. It should be available before the end of April. The infants will have their own room (separate from the toddlers), with a rocker room, a quiet crib room plus a separate nursing mothers room. Thanks for your patience as we work on these projects. Thanks especially to Megan Wesche, our Nursery Coordinator. If you would like to serve on the Nursery Committee, contact Megan.