"Believing all the lies to keep the dream alive"

I spend so much time
Believing all the lies
To keep the dream alive

Those are lyrics from a song from the 80's by Billy Idol, Eyes Without A Face. I'm intentionally ripping those lyrics out of the context of the song because they speak to me in another context that others will probably relate to in one way or another.

In this case the lies I'm thinking about are those of legalism and religion and the 'dream' I'm referring to, whether consciously realized or not, is the delusional and fruitless fantasy of self-preservation. I'm thinking of the lies that are preached and taught - and believed - to keep the dream alive of having people remain allegiant to any given church or ministry. Those who preach these lies end up believing them themselves, and it's all rooted in the protection and preservation of "their" ministry, "their" church, "their" institution, "their" cause. Manipulative lies are taught about "tithing, "hierarchy," "covering," "church membership," "behavior modification" (performance-based acceptance), etc, in order to keep the masses loyal to a certain leader or ministry.

Two thousand years ago, the Pharisees were a prime example of this, being hard nosed about keeping people strictly under God's law, and even adding myriads of additional rules, laws, interpretations and traditions on top of it all. And of course during the past 20 centuries, this has moved into the church setting. I fully understand that sometimes these legalistic lies are taught because the teachers and preachers honestly don't know any better, and are simply teaching what they themselves have been taught. But I'm talking about those who are caught in the very tangled web of self-interest and self-preservation, who purposely teach manipulative lies in order to "keep the dream alive," with the dream being the success and growth of whatever system or institution they've created and built.

This is also true in many other areas of life, such as in household situations and other family matters and relationships, finances, jobs and vocations, social activities and so on. Whatever the case, the pursuit of self-preservation is very often the root of the legalistic and religious lies that keep people in bondage and keep them from experiencing the freedom for which Christ has set them free.

Not one to remain stuck only on criticism of the system, I offer up a solution or two to all of this, and I look for input from others as well! My main focus would be to keep on remembering that we were bought with a price, and that we are not "our own." Our "ministries" are not our ministries. They are the work that God Himself is doing in and through us for the good of everyone, not for our own individual self-preservation and self-centered success and prosperity. God didn't "purchase" us so that He could keep us in chains but so that we'd be free! This is also our "ministry" to one another. It's not about building "a ministry." It's not about coming up with ways (lies and manipulation) to keep people faithful to US so that OUR dreams stay alive. It's about building one another up (edifying) and ministering to (serving) one another!

Any thoughts? (including additional criticisms, solutions)?





:)

GIG 190 - Our Message to the World: God is Not Counting People's Sins Against Them

This week we take a peek into the deeply rich passage of 2 Corinthians 5. Not only does it talk about us being New Creations in Christ (not simply "changed" or "improved," but made completely new), but it talks about the ministry that we have to the world as believers. Is our ministry to point out people's sins? Is our ministry to protest all the sinful behavior of the world?

What about the message in 2 Cor. 5 that "God was in Christ reconciling (exchanging sin for righteousness) the world to Himself, not counting people's sins against them?" The very same passage goes on to say that God has committed to us that ministry - the message of reconciliation. The message of reconciliation is our ministry to the world - that God was in Christ exchanging our sin for His righteousness!

gigcast.graceroots.org

Works - Part 4 of 4

I really think that our life in Christ is a life that doesn't look like what many Christians today see it as. For many, it's a life that revolves around "church." Many of the works that Christians are exhorted to do seem to be centered around church programs, ministries, outreaches, etc. Not that any of them are necessarily bad in and of themselves, but how often do Christians get wrapped up in those things and don't really live out the life of the person God has truly made them to be.

I personally had the guilt laid on me (perhaps mostly self-inflicted) because I quit working all the works I was expected to work in "the church," including but not limited to joining in on all the church activities and outreaches. None of them seemed to be appealing to my heart, and I felt guilty because I felt as if I was neglecting the "doing" of some very good things, including things that many people felt "needed" to be done. But I had come to the conclusion that all I was really doing was going through the motions with a lot of the stuff. The good news was that, since I'd come to have a strong foundation of who I am in Christ, I had an understanding within myself that I actually was a "doer" in so many other ways that simply didn't have the appearance of "church activity," but were really a result of walking in who I am in Christ. I've all too often found that what I'm called to do isn't what everyone else expects of me! It's been a struggle to truly discover that, but I think I'm finally free in that respect.

The "instructions" I had received implied that the work I needed to be involved in centered around Church Activity A, B and C, and then I was to sacrifice myself some more and also be involved in Activities D, E and F as well! But I discovered that God has many different "members" in Christ's body. We are all unique, and we walk in the works that God created for us to walk in, individually and as a body. Sometimes those works may indeed be "church activities," but so much of life is lived apart from the assembling of the saints - far away from whatever building we may have met in - and we walk as who we are wherever we are!

Look at the good works (the works of faith) that the saints mentioned in Hebrews 11 walked in. How much of it was forced or contrived? How much of it was "church work?" How much of it was based upon biblical instructions??? Heck, look at the work Paul and the apostles did! Look at what the people of the early church did. They didn't have "New Testament instructions" to follow. Wasn't it as simple as walking in the new life they'd been given, and encouraging one another and spurring one another on toward love and good deeds? There's plenty of room for instructing and correcting one another, but is that really the basis of the Christian life?

My dad's first 50 years of ministry

Today we're back home after four days in Missouri, visiting my parents. My family is spread out across the U.S. so we simply aren't able to see each other, at least not all together, very often. In this case my brother and his wife from San Diego were there, as well as my sister and her husband and daughter from South Carolina.

The main reason for our trip: Yesterday my dad, the Rev. Richard S. Brueseke, celebrated his 50th anniversary as an ordained pastor. The celebration took place at Ebenezer "Stone" Church (U.C.C.), out in the country near Gerald, MO, exactly 50 years to the day of his ordination, June 8, 1958 (in Indiana). As many of you know, I personally, in my heart, have been journeying away from the whole idea of being involved in the way(s) that "church" is traditionally done. But one of many things that keeps me from all-out rejecting the notion that God can't, won't or doesn't work in traditional churches, and through the people in them, is the lifetime ministry of my dad, along with my mom, who also became an ordained pastor over a decade ago.

I've seen that my dad's life as a pastor has not been at all limited to the four walls of each individual church he has served. In every place he has pastored during those 50 years, from Troy, Moscow Mills and St. Louis, Missouri, to Stockport England, to Waverly, Iowa, and back to Bem and Owensville, Missouri, my dad has become actively involved in the lives of those in his congregations and he has reached out to serve the greater communities as well. Not only has he wholeheartedly participated in various activities that other people have created, organized and led in those communities, but he himself has also led the way in organizing and leading many other events, organizations and activities that have served to help others and to show them God's love in all kinds of ways.

A constant theme that has been inseparably woven into my dad's lifetime of ministry - a constant refrain of his - is "love God best by loving your fellow human beings." He has not only talked the talk in this, but he has walked the walk. And he continues to do so. As he himself said yesterday, "God's not done with me yet," referring to his ongoing call to serve people.

During the anniversary service yesterday afternoon, many people stood up to give "testimonies" of my dad's ministry in their lives. Friends, colleagues, church members and family members spoke of dad's commitment to helping and serving others. Even a woman who is a travel agent, who doesn't know dad in the ways that many people know him, attended the service and stood up to testify of how he not only comes into the agency to make travel plans, but how he sits and chats with her about all kinds of other things as well. Another person seemed to speak for many when she said that my dad and mom, in many big ways, have taught people to think outside the box. They have not only taught it, they have led the way.

I had a couple of emotional moments during the service. I felt like a blubbering idiot, because everyone else who took the mic was so very well contained - but yet it's just who I am! See, my dad had asked me to read Isaiah 6:1-8 (see below), and my brother, Barry, to read 1 Cor 15:1-11 ("I am the least of the apostles... but by the grace of God I am what I am"). The officiating pastor read Luke 5:1-11 ("And Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men'"). These passages lined up together with the theme of the service - the message of God calling people to follow Him, and their responses to Him.

Well, as the service had begun, two or three letters/emails had been read from various people who weren't able to make it to the service, but who had very kind words to say about their relationships with my dad, and his impact on their lives. It was very touching. Also, I had previously been thinking about how much the passage from Isaiah means to me personally, and how it fits the call my dad has followed all these years. When it came time for me to read my passage, I was doing just fine but then I began to choke up slightly at verse 7, where the angel says to Isaiah, "behold this [the live coal] has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away; and your sin purged." As you may have realized from my blogs, the message of our sins having been taken away is a huge message that is deep in my heart and that I always long to share with whoever will listen. And here I was, really for the first time, declaring this message live and in person to a crowd of people. It meant a lot to me.

But even more than that, during the past few days I had been picturing my dad 50+ years ago as a man in his early to mid 20's responding to God's call on his life. My dad tells me he originally rebelled against the idea of going into the ministry. He even says he rebelled passionately. Part of the rebellion had to do with the pressure placed on him as he himself was the son of a preacher. There were other contributing factors to his rebellion as well, but yet God used various people and events, including the wisdom of a college professor who saw things in him that he hadn't seen, and a trip to a refugee camp in Austria, to begin to speak to his heart and lead him into this lifelong ministry.

So there I stood after having tried to not choke up too much over verse 7, now looking down at the words of verse 8, and I found that I simply could not go on! I tried to speak, but all I could do was weep. After 20 seconds or so I tried to speak again, but it was the same. I must've stood there for at least 60 to 90 seconds, which seemed like eternity, wishing I could just get the words out! Fortunately I looked out and saw many understanding faces, with tissues and handkerchiefs drying many eyes, and finally I was able to compose myself just enough to quickly read verse 8:

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?"
Then I said, “Here am I! Send me."

I believe those words also describe my dad's response when he finally realized the Lord was calling him to preach the gospel. I quickly came down, and gave my dad a hug as I walked by, and my mom as well, and I sat down and it was on with the rest of the service. :) Later during the testimony time I also choked up as I spoke of the love of my parents, but it wasn't nearly as bad as earlier. Afterwards, several people came up to me and of course patted me on the back and said I "done good." It was partially embarrassing, but mostly I was simply happy to have been able to be myself in such an emotional way in front of so many "liturgical" people (there were many "robes" present) in a traditional church setting that doesn't necessarily see such emotion often or at all. One woman joked with me that it's hard to get such emotion in a church. :) And then she said, "And you know what's even harder? To get people laughing hysterically in church!" She cracked me up. Then my sister Amie came up to me and pointed her finger at me and said, "YOU'RE NAUGHTY!" Her husband had been nudging her to stand up and speak but after I made her cry she knew she couldn't do it. ;)

Anway, it was a great day. The service really is one to be remembered, and the reception was great as well. One surprise that happened early on in the service is that one of the members of my mom's former church who happens to be a representative in the Missouri House, presented my dad with a framed inscription of a Resolution passed in the Missouri House of Representatives (see pic here) that recognizes his contributions to the welfare of the state. This is quite an honor for my dad.

As you can tell, I'm proud of my dad. There perhaps are some differences here and there in theology and doctrine, but that really means nothing because when it comes to living the life of love, I have absolutely nothing but respect and thankfulness toward my dad for showing me the way in deed.

Introducing my alter ego - The Rev. J. Slick Breeze

I'm taking a big chance with this. I'm afraid it might be the end of my good reputation if I share this video. (I know, you're saying when did my good reputation start?) Anyway, the man in this video really embarrasses me. I recently came into contact with him through a rift that opened in the wall that normally separates us from a parallel universe. He looks like a desperate man who really needs attention, so at the risk of losing all credibility I thought I'd be nice to him and share his video with you. After all... he's family. Sort of.

Introducing my holier-than-thou twin-brother-from-another-mother-in-a-parallel-universe, The Rev. J. Slick Breeze. Seems as if he got the looks, I got the brains. Anyway, apparently he has a big ministry on the other side called "Grease Roots" (although he usually refers to it as "Greasy Roots"). He appears to be in big trouble. Maybe we could all chip in and help a brother out.

Success?

Here's a quote of a quote of a quote, and then another quote. :)

I found this today over at James' blog, Idle musings of a bookseller.

James first quotes a quote of Mark DeYmaz that he found quoted on a blog called Out of Ur:
"The hardest thing about this ministry is that we know how to grow a church big and fast, but we refuse to do it. We don't use church-growth strategies; we don't market ourselves. We could grow the ministry fast. But we'd rather grow it biblically."

Then James' own 'idle musing' in relation to the above quote:
"Success does not always equal big numbers. I think the bible makes that quite clear. It always seems to be the underdog who, with the presence of the Holy Spirit, wins. Look at Gideon as an example: too many men, send some home. Still too many, send some more home. Why? Because otherwise the people will think it is their power and steal the glory from God. Still true. Watchman Nee used to say that you should never put a person in a position where they had natural ability; it would prevent them from relying on God."

Great stuff!