Kyle Mitchell

Thoughts on Sacrilege

Just finished my latest read: Sacrilege by Hugh Halter.  If I had been told that this was a book about the Beatitudes, I'm not sure that I would have picked it up.  Let me just say that I would have missed out on a personally challenging book that also completely resonates with the vision for Mosaic. 

I am still trying to figure out how to both be a part of a new community as well as lead a new community of Christ-followers that seeks to be genuinely make Christ known in and through our relationships.  Sacrilege inspires both sides of this desire.  There are challenges to individuals living a life of light in the world as well as insight on how to lead others to pursue the passion of revealing Christ to their world of friendships and be a part of the Church and her mission. 

He walks through Jesus own words and unpacks them with applications for this generation.  So many want to criticize the church or even abandon the church because of what they see or believe that the church has become.  Sacrilege seems to be a call back to the mission of Jesus by seeking to inspire those who follow Him to live the way that He lived. 

It's an "easy read", but I'm not so sure it's going to be easy application.  I'm looking forward now to going back through and unpacking some of the nuggets from each chapter.  I would encourage you to join me.

I want this level of devotion!

Most who know me know that I love the writing of John Piper.  This morning I was reading in "A Godward Life, Book Two" about devotion to Christ and loving HIM above all things.  And the devotion conculded with the following story about the Haim family of Cambodia.  Having children, I so related to this father's place in his child's life and how he valued his faith over life itself.  I want to be the same, but wonder if I would be. 

In the village of Siem Riep, Cambodia, Haim, a Christian teacher "knew that the youthful black-clad Khmer Rouge soldirs now heading across the field were coming this time for him....  Haim was determined that when his turn came, he would die with dignity and without complaint.  Since "Liberation" on April 17, 1975 what Camodian had not considered this day?...  Haim's entire family was rounded up that afternoon.  They were "the old dandruff!", "enemies of the glorious revolution!".  They were Christians.

    The family spent a sleepless night comforting one another and praying for each other as they lay bound together in the dewy grass beneath a stand of friendly trees.  Next morning the teenage soldiers returned and led them from their Gethsemane to their place of execution, to the nearby viel somlap, "the killing fields"....

    The family were ordered to dig a large grave for themselves.  Then consenting to Haim's request for a moment to prepare themselves for death, father, mother, and children, hands linked, knelt together around the gaping pit.  With loud cries to God, Haim began exhorting both the Khmer Rouge and all those looking on from afar to repent and believe the gospel.

    Then in panic, one of Haim's youngest sons leapt to his feet, bolted into the surrounding bush and disappeared.  Haim jumped up and with amazing coolness and authority prevailed upon the Khmer Rouge not to pursue the lad, but allow him to call the boy back.  The knots of onlookers, peering around trees, the Khmer Rouge, and the stunned family still kneeling at the graveside, looked on in awe as Haim began calling his son, pleading with him to return and die together with his family.  "What comparison, my son,' he called out, "stealing a few more days of life in the wilderness, a fugitive, wretched and alone, to joining your family here momentarily around this grave but soon around the throne of God, free forever in Paradise?'  After a few tense minutes the bushes parted, and the lad, weeping, walked slowly back to his place with the kneeling family.  "Now we are ready to go, Haim told the Khmer Rouge.

    Few of those watching doubted that as each of these Christians' bodies toppled silently into the earthen pit which the victims themselves had prepared, their souls soared heavenward to a place prepared by their Lord. (Don Cormack, Killing Fields, Living Fields:  An Unfinished Portrait of the Cambodian Church--the Church That Would Not Die [Crowborough, England: Monarch Publications, 1997], 233-4).

My thoughts raced to my own family and I want to lead them with this devotion and knowing that Death is not to be feared, but to be embraced and celebrated as the victory that it is and be willing to live each day for the One worth dying for!  We don't face that level of intimidation and direct confrontation in America.  Our threats are subtle: materialism, greed, comfort, self-preservation.  They attack everyday and round us up and we face the guns to give in to their pursuits, or die to self and live for Him.  This post is a call to courage to stand and fight, and die for all that we believe.

Change of heart

Generally I'm not a fan of what I call "Church-in-a-box". You know the pre-packaged, scripted, everything you need done for you, no need to pray or anything, just re-use it stuff. I think it's because I've seen it used and abused where it becomes a substitute for prayer and Bible study, and walking by the Spirit. What often starts off as a tool to accomplish what God wants to accomplish slips into a crutch where a leader just opens a package and follows the instructions. I equate it to boxed meals. Sure it's food but is nutrition missing from all the processing? What is the extra cost for packaging? How long has it been on the shelf? Things are always better when made from scratch by someone who knows how to cook.

It's one thing for a leader to use resources to become better equipped for a task and another where the leader uses resources to be spiritually lazy and irresponsible with their time. I do believe that people who create resources do so with a passion to equip. And it's up to me to use the resouce responsibly, prayerfully, and genuinely.

I say all that to say that I had previously written off Orange Material as church in a box stuff. Probably due to the context of my first exposure to it. I first encountered Orange as a parent in a church where it was a program presented to me and my family without any relational connection. It appeared as though relationships weren't necessary, just buy the stuff, open it, use it and bam, we have church. I admit I never went to a conference and heard the heart of Orange. As a parent, I only got what the church leadership showed me. And for me, all spiritual growth and life comes from relationship and connection to God and other people.

Now I see orange in a different light as the relationship part has been revealed to me. I began my search looking for tools as a parent that I could use with my own kids. I'm now leading a church where the goal is to equip parents to equip kids.  I wanted tools to help me connect with my own kids. I started taking a second look at Orange because another friend kept telling me about it (relational influence).

I can still see it as church in a box, but I've also seen the heart of the designers of the tools and their emphasis on relational influence. It is all about equipping parents to connect and invest in the hearts of their children. It's not something to just take my kid to, but something I do with them. That fits Mosaic and that fits me.

Mosaic isn't a church to attend, it's a place to become, along with others, a people pursuing Christ who is pursuing them. Orange provides parents tools to connect with their kids to learn about God and discover Christ together. That I like! It's not about starting a children's ministry. It's about equipping parents and being in relationship with them creating intentional community. First as a nuclear family in a home then as a spiritual family as Church.

So, Orange is currently what we use in Mosaic to equip our parents to equip their kids to know and serve Christ. I thought I'd never type that.

Caed's Compassion

This last Tuesday night Caed, Ian, and I went to a meeting to learn about "Help Build Hope - Haiti". This is an organization that is mobilizing a massive relief effort for the people of Haiti. They showed this video in the presentation and during the middle Caedmon turns to me and asks, "Dad, what's an orphan?". He had just learned that Haiti's orphan population doubled in one day to total 600,000! He was shocked to learn what an Orphan is and he becam very sad and said "Dad, We MUST build homes for them!" He is right! I told him I would. He wanted to help and was saddened to learn that this project required that you be 13 or older. I told him that He could help spread the word and so don't be surprised if he passionately asks you to help build a house on April 30th with his dad! When we got home as we were praying our bedtime prayers he said he was going to pray for the people in Haiti. I told him Thai was a great idea. He said, "I'm going to ask Jesus to come back from Heaven tonight and take us all there, so the children in Haiti won't be alone another night!". Tears streamed down my face as a little child prayed for the children of Haiti and he begged God to give them a home on earth or in heaven. I prayed that He would do both! I went to bed that night praying that I would have Caed's compassion and that Jesus would return and put an end to the struggle of our world, but that if He waited that I would use tomorrow to help someone in His name! Christ did not return yesterday, but He is here in those of us who believe in Him! May He be seen in me! May I serve others with compassion and love!

Longings

Lately I've been doing a lot of praying, reading, and thinking. I have a clear desire to reach people who don't find the current expression of Church of much value or meaning. This is difficult for me for several reasons. One is that the Church is one of my passions in life and it pains me that others don't share that love, yet I too can see her flaws and understand their criticisms. I just long to be in the body of Christ and could never walk away from her.

Another reason is that I'm not entirely sure how to reach them. I'm entirely convinced that Jesus wants to reach them and loves them more than I'm capable of understanding. How to communicate Jesus with relevant passion remains my task. It seems that peoples lives are full, if not overstuffed. There appears to be little room for community and connection with others.

Often those I talk with love Jesus, but see no need for the culture of the Church. I can't say that I disagree, however, I'm not convinced that the culture of the Church in America is what biblical community is all about, but what many have grown comfortable with and so just accept. But there is more, so much more, when all of life is viewed through a relational lens.

We are created for relationship with God and one another. Our relationships create the soil for vibrant living. It is something that every human shares an understanding of and longing for in life. It pervades every culture, race, and country. Being in relationship makes us human.

Therefore, if the Church is ever to be what she is intended to be, relationships must matter. Jesus will be seen clearly in the way we love and invest in people.

Jesus Manifesto

I finished reading the latest book by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola this morning, Jesus Manifesto.  Even while I was reading it, my leadership and thoughts became shaped by the content.  At some level I think we'd all like to agree that Christ is the center of our lives, yet as we examine our daily behaviors and choices we are typically the center of our existence. 

It is so easy to become distracted by the events in our lives, both the pain and the joy, and become preoccupied with our own agenda.  At least it is for me, anyway.  While I was in the process of being inspired by the call to "restore the supremacy and sovereignty of Jesus Christ", distractions abounded.  So a reminder that Jesus is my EVERYTHING, couldn't have come at a better time. 

I will admit that at times the book seemed a little disconnected, in that the chapters seemed to be stand alone chapters, but they are all still inspiring and thought provoking.  However, the content speaks for itself.  I resonated with the call to have a church that isn't an organized institution, but a vibrant community of passionate pursuers of Jesus Christ, who is the head.  I think that many new believers fall in love with Jesus, and then are taught to serve the Church, instead of being the Church.

Here are some of my "take aways":

1.  Am I so captivated by Christ's love that He is why I live? work? serve? love?  Unfortunately, I still live way too much for me.  There is a lot of me that needs to die and a lot of Christ in my that needs to live.

2.  Is Mosaic a gathering of believers that are in hot pursuit of Christ?  Am I leading by example?

3.  At Mosaic is Christ celebrated, embraced, and allowed to speak?

4.  Giving Christ my life is a daily, if not in each moment, decision.  It's made easy when I'm captivated by the beauty and trustworthiness of Christ himself. 

If you are looking for a resource to inspire you to fall in love with Jesus, you know where to look. It challenges your intellectual understanding of Christ and stirs the emotional love for Christ.  Which, I believe is a good combination!

Newest Arrivals

As we continue to shape Mosaic, one of the things that I have prayed for from the beginning are some of the folks from Michigan to feel a call of God and come and join in what He's doing here.  Obviously, no one would move across the country just to be with me.  I mean, I think I'm a cool guy, but I gotta admit, not worth following around the country.  So, when someone does move down here, we know it's because God has inspired them to follow Him on an amazing journey and they join in.

John and Mary Ann Dennis and their 4 boys had been seeking God's direction for life and ministry for several years.  They came and visited over the Christmas break and felt that this was it.  So they went back to MI and got life in order and started prepping for a cross-country move.  While they were preparing to come, Jenna Miller felt like God was asking her to come with them and start on a new phase of life.  So they all packed up and arrived on Saturday.

Now they begin the process of laying down roots and settling in to Texas.  We welcome them!!  It's great to have some "instant" growth for Mosaic.  It looks like we need to start planning for site #2 now and we have the leadership to put it in place!  God is good!  

Forgotten God

I recently wandered through Barnes and Noble over in Cedar Hill when I saw the latest book by Frances Chan, Forgotten God.  Frances has inspired me on many occasions when I've heard him speak, so I picked up the book for a quick glance.  I knew immediately that it must move to the top of my reading stack. 

For the past month at Mosaic we had been hearing Paul and Amy Pettit's journey as they listened for, discerned, and followed God's voice telling them to move to Texas and join in with Mosaic.  That had sparked many discussions about the Holy Spirit and who He is and what His role in our lives is.  It was an obvious fit with what Frances was writing about. 

So, I'm half-way through the book and like his first book, Crazy Love, he's not telling me anything profoundly new, but challenging me (and anyone else who reads it) to LIVE it.  It's not about knowing more.  Life is about living more of what we know.  Being authentic in our actions by letting our knowledge TRANSFORM us. 

I highly recommend this book.  And, if you're not plugged into a local body of believers, come join us this Sunday at Mosaic.  We meet at my house at 10:30 AM!!

Booster Shot

Paul Pettit and I had spoken over a year ago about Mosaic and what God was doing and how it was a similar path to the one that he was passionate about up in Michigan.  I had basically called him to see if he would prayerfully consider coming down and getting involved in Mosaic.  I shared the vision and we had two or three lengthy conversations during the next year.   At the end of the summer, he and his family came for a visit to explore what God was doing and see if God might be asking them to come and join in.  They felt God inviting them partner with Him and once they said "yes" the timing of it all came into focus.

About a week and a half ago, Paul arrived from Michigan.  His wife and girls (Amy, Elesa, and Daxanna) are still up in MI packing up and preparing for their cross-country relocation in Mid-November.  He has moved in with us while he searches for where to land his family and gets adjusted to the job that God provided for him here.  It's exciting to see another step in God's design for Mosaic happen.

This past Sunday, Paul started sharing about his "process" of discovery and discernment about God's plan for him and his family.  We had a great group that listened as he unfolded his journey of listening, and obeying, for the past 5 years.  We didn't get to finish the story, which is GREAT, because we'll get part 2 this Sunday.   I must say that it is inspiring to watch and listen to what God is doing in another friends life.

For Mosaic as a whole, it was a booster shot for the vision and direction that we have.  A year ago we began our journey together and we have learned a LOT in the past 13 months.  Having another passionate leader that has a heart for organic church life and reaching people that don't connect with the modern expression of Church adds a renewed vibrancy and stability to our foundation.  As a leader, to have another person resonate with you produces a deeper passion.  I can't wait to see what the next 12 months holds for all of us!

Giving Up

When I was a full-time pastor (meaning that the church paid my salary) there were many weeks where I would contemplate the concept of quitting and getting a job where I just went in did my thing and then left.  I would think that Home Depot or Lowe's would be great options.  I would remember the great career options at Wal-mart and think about living a life where things were more clear cut.  But my passion for God and people would keep me pressing on.  The first time I faced the longing to "give up" was in college when I was on staff at FBC-Moody.  The stress of going to Baylor full-time, working part-time, serving in a church part-time, and having a new marriage would press down and create a great weight.  I soon discovered Gal. 6:9.  "Do not grow weary in doing good, for at a proper time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up."  The verse seared into my brain and became a "calling" to press on and not succumb to the weariness of life.

Now, over 20 years has passed, and I find myself planting a church and working full-time in social work.  Then one of those weeks will rise up where I seriously face the struggle to press on.  The weight of working full-time, getting things cranked out each week for Mosaic, raising 4 kids, and investing in a great marriage starts to pull in.  Obviously, the thought of dropping the pastor role echos through the hollow shell of my mind.  And I already have employment that I love, so I know I don't have to stay at the church.  The temptation to bail and invest in people through the passion of social work swells.  Then...the verse in my head rings out.  "Do not grow weary in doing good, for at a proper time you will reap a harvest, if you do not give up".  

Though my life is deeply blessed and I would be so content, I am driven on by the greater joy of the hope of the harvest.  Though many people have been reached, there are countless more unnamed faces, known by God, yet unmet by me, who desperately and often silently long for a connection with their Creator.  They sit in their private pain, swimming in questions and uncertainties, wondering about purpose, meaning, and this elusive "joy" we speak of so confidently.  And I sit and KNOW that i KNOW that He is their hope, their answer, their meaning, and their joy. 

So tonight I pray.   Pray for those searching.  Pray for those struggling.  Pray for those who contemplate giving up.  And tomorrow I will rise to head back out to the fields where fellow travelers plow, work, and sweat.  Giving up...not an option.