"The whores all seem to love Him, and the drunks propose a toast..."

The title of this blog comes from a Rich Mullins song called "Surely God is with Us."  The song talks about Jesus relationships with the worst of society, and His ability to show them love like no one else.  The song came to mind when I saw this video. 

(If you are unable to view the video, it is available at XXXChurch.com.)

I have been loosely connected with XXXChurch for a while.  Their pastor, Craig Gross spoke at Frequency a few years ago.  Also, I have encouraged men I disciple to use their X3watch accountability program for nearly a decade.  However, they have been the subject of controversy many times since they started going to porn conventions to share the gospel and help men and women get freedom from sexual addiction.  Recently, they have made the news again by doing mission trips to brothels where they improve the living conditions of the prostitutes and share Christ's love.

As a Christ-follower, I have often erred on the side of caution when it came to living and speaking the gospel. I avoided bars, tattoo shops and even "secular" concerts in an effort to keep my reputation unspotted.  Sanctification was the goal, caution was my method.  I was good at it too.  I had a great reputation.  I had never spoken a word of profanity, never drank and avoided people who did things like that.

You would think that since I was such a shining light of human purity, people would flock to me for advice on how I had remained unspotted.  Nobody did.  I did not know ANY pre-Christians.  Seriously, I went through a significant time in my life without having a genuine relationship with any person who did not know Christ.

I started to question why weren't people attracted to my "Christlikeness"?  People were attracted to Jesus all the time.  Crowds followed him.  Why wasn't I getting the same results?  I had to take a hard look at my life, and I realized something: Jesus wasn't known for abstaining from alcohol (in fact He drank wine).  He wasn't respected for avoiding unsavory people (He fellowshipped with prostitutes, tax collectors, and the dregs of society).  Jesus was respected for His unconditional love, His care for the needy and for His brutal honesty when it came to sin.

I had to realize that I wasn't being Christ-like by avoiding people.  In fact, I was just the opposite.  The lines I had drawn to define a "good Christian" had nothing to do with who Christ really is.  The result was that I was not effective at fulfilling the great commission.

I erred on the side of caution for a long time.  In some cases, for good reason.  There are some places I still won't go.  I avoid places where I'm prone to stumble, but not places that I think will hurt my "Christian" reputation.  I don't think I could ever go to a strip club to share the gospel, but I'm happy to sit down at Tried and True Tattoo and have a talk about the love of Christ.

So, what do you think about XXXChurch methods?  Would you go on a mission trip to a brothel?

Universal Language

The love of Christ is universally understood. Today we visited one of the neighborhoods near Church of the Great Commission. Being a group of gingos (americans) we turned a lot of heads. People were eager to hear anything we had to say, so we told thelm why we were there (the love of Christ) and intived them to a fiesta at the church. We were able to pray with a woman who´s family was shovelling silt out of her house. When we drove in last night, we were met with torrential rain. The homes near the church that had just been flooded earlier this year were flooded again. Love is translating very well here.

At the fiesta, I was able to hit a ballon around with a small child here. Balloons and gringos were everywhere. Apearantly, that´s all you need around here for a serious party. This place was rockin.

Today is my first Fathers Day, and I´m away from my son. I had a little bit of a hard time today, but was able to wake up to a card with my son´s voice recorded on it. On this Father´s Day away from my family, I am comforted by the fact that the people of El Salvador and I share the same heavenly Father. Language remains a barrier, but some things are understood very well. Praise God for greatness that goes beyond our human borders.

Pray for me. I´m giving my first sermon through a translator in about an hour and 45 minutes. I can´t tell jokes or talk fast becasue of the translation, which means all the things that if this sermon is going to be good, it will have to be totally becasue of the Holy Spirit. Pray He shows up as I preach about preparing for Him to show up in Acts 1.

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

It is 11:13pm, and I just finished packing for my first international mission trip. I am torn between two very distinct emotions. I am excited about this trip, the experiences I will have and the ministry I will get to be a part of. However, I hate being away from my family, not just dislike...hate. I miss my wife and son during regular work days. I can't imagine what it is going to be like when I am half a continent away. Right now, the missing my family emotion is stronger than my excitement about going.

Tomorrow, my wife will drop me off and I will get on a plane with a team of people from Open Door to fly to El Salvador. She doesn't know this, but I'm planning on hugging her and singing "Leavin' on a Jet Plane." The truth is we will probably both cry.

I know I'm only going to be gone for a week, and I'm not headed into persecution or any great danger. Leaving my family for a few days is, compared to the first century apostles, a small price to pay in order to help further the gospel. However, it still hurts. God is made strong in our weakness, and we depend on Him in our trials. I'm going to need Him this week.

By the way I appreciate your prayers in these areas:

• Gospel preached, heard and lived.
• Safety for the team and our families.
• Dependence on God.
• Details we don't even know about that He has under control.
• Preaching--I'm giving my first international Sermon Sunday night.

Note: Pray wildly, expecting God to do more than we imagine.

What are you believing God to do while we are in El Salvador?