Latest Develoments

Happy Thursday!

I'm sending this message out to an undisclosed group of friends who have prayed, supported and partnered with us over the past few years. (Doesn't that sound intriguing??)

Many of you receive our periodic updates (if you don't and would like to, just hit "reply" and let me know) and have probably heard about my transition into a 2nd (or is it 5th?) career as a roofing contractor in order to support our mission work. Things are going pretty well, I've actually even seen a couple paychecks! I really believe that this is going to provide the flexibility and long-term financial support we need in order to continue focusing our efforts on connecting with broken, hurting, skeptical (and often poor) folks around south Fort Worth and beyond. Even some of my very jaded roofing co-workers are showing interest!

I hope, pray and fully expect that over the course of the next year I will be able to cultivate a large enough referral base and proficiency in this job to make a sustainable living without abandoning my calling to plant churches. But, I need help to get through the next 12 months. In addition to the support we're currently receiving, I am looking to raise, through one time and monthly commitments, the equivalent of $2000/month... $24000 for those whose math skills are no better than mine. ;) By next summer I hope to be self-supported (financially speaking) in ministry through my roofing work.

I would like to be able to use the money I'm already making from roofing to get us moved into a house near the Chappotins (which is a very modest and affordable neighborhood...and there is currently a house for sale two doors down from them) in order to enter more fully into the rhythms and lifestyle we're currently attempting from a distance. For those that don't know, we were offered a temporary living situation when we moved here in October of 2008. Some friends who live just outside of town have a small mobile home on their property. It would be a bit cramped for our family of five, but was just what we needed to get relocated, and would only be for a few months... We are very grateful for Mr. Ron and Mrs. Debbie, but we are ready to move into a neighborhood. (Besides, the boys miss their dog Chicory who has been living with my parents for the past 2 years.)

We've done a pretty good job over the past couple years (thanks in large part to the concern and generosity of our friends and family) of eliminating significant portions of debt. We're committed to continue making choices that allow us to live on less.

Many of you receiving this are currently monthly supporters of ours - thank you! Can you think of another person that might consider a short-term - just one year - or even a one time commitment? Perhaps you could organize a dinner with couples from your Sunday school class or even talk to leaders in your congregation.

If you, or someone you know, wants to hear more about any of our ministry efforts I would love the chance to meet with you. If anyone wants to see this stuff in action I would love to show you. If they want to know more about the theology behind what we’re doing I can share it. If someone wants to know how to partner with us financially, the address for Christ Journey is PO Box 3283 Burleson, TX 76097.

I have never aspired to be a fundraiser and it pains me that there are people who've received more requests for money from me than anything else. This continues to be a humbling experience but I have learned the truth that none of us makes it through life on our own. Our level of conscious dependence on God's provision has increased and so has our realization of how much we need other people. I pray that this will be my final fundraising push, but that I am merely beginning to understand my need for God and others.

Please also continue to pray for the development of this long-term bi-vocational approach.

Grace and Peace,
Bret

April Update

Hey everybody!

I pray all is well with you and your family. We've been through a lot of changes in these past few months, but we're mostly keeping our heads above water. I'm sorry its been a while since my last update...I've written several and the information was outdated before I could finish!

I put new roofs on three houses this past week (well...I managed the projects).

The life of domestic missionaries in Burleson, TX continues to baffle and astound us all. 2010 has gotten started with a whirlwind of seemingly random activity (unusual for our family, I know).

For starters, many of you are aware that the Christ Journey community and several friends in various locations decided to engage in a shared commitment to prayer and scripture reading. From January 1 to February 16 we spent six days a week reading through substantial passages of scripture and then processed our reading together on Sundays. During this time we read through Isaiah, Micah, Haggai, Hosea, Zechariah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts and Ephesians. We also spent time each day reading and praying over Luke 10:2, begging the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers into the field, asking that we may be those harvesters and that we would encounter those God was preparing to become harvesters as well.

Words cannot describe the impact that this has had. It was incredible to witness the ways in which the Holy Spirit opened scripture to our community and opened our eyes to miracles occurring all around. We came to expect our worship gathering each week to be opportunity to replay the miracles of the previous week and to anticipate even greater transformations in the coming week...what a novel thought for the people of God!

During this season we witnessed no fewer than a dozen NEW connections with broken people in search of something. Friendships were begun with exhausted single moms, angry dads and frustrated grandparents. We “randomly” reconnected with a few high school friends and had “chance” encounters with strangers.

Coming into this season, Chris and I both had some friendships that had developed over the past couple years but which seemed stuck. We had no idea how to help these friends take the next step in their journey...until we began praying more regularly and more specifically. Some of those friends have now shared dinner and spiritual conversation at the Chappotins’ house. I spent a morning at Denny’s with another of those friends, describing what it would look like to begin a house church in his living room.

Chris and I have both had friends who are either avowed atheists or who have said they have no use for church (regardless of whether or not there is a God) say to us in the past several weeks, “That is a Jesus I could get behind. Why haven’t I heard of this before?”

Over the last couple months, I’ve gotten to know a young man who is trying to leave behind a life of selling drugs and stolen merchandise. He’s already spent considerable time in jail. This past week we had a conversation about the radical new kingdom that Jesus came to announce. A kingdom that functions with a different understanding of power, success and wealth. The reign of God announced by Jesus is a direct attack against the systems of power fed by greed and manipulation. His response, “I like this. Is this way ever going to be possible?”

Our first season of reading was so transformational that we and the Chappotins have now completed our second round...and we’re making plans for what we’ll cover in round three.

I wish I could say that this amazing experience has solved all our frustrations and struggles. It hasn’t. Not even close. But it has certainly strengthened our framework of faith in order to accept those struggles.

The reality is that to reach many of the broken and hurting people in our community, many of whom have been burned by “Christians” or the church, we must go to them. Creating the newest high impact worship gathering or glossy invitation mailer will not get their attention because they aren’t interested in attending any religious gathering. A rocking worship band is cool...for people who are looking for Christian worship music. A fantastic children’s and youth ministry is attractive to those who are looking for a Christian place to take their kids. But what about those who aren’t so sure they want Christians teaching their kids anything?

To reach these broken people, we need to have a presence of hospitality in our neighborhood. We must be actively praying for God to open our eyes to those he’s allowing to cross our paths. We need to be inviting our kids’ friends and their parents to the park, and if Sunday morning is when they are available...

There’s a question that Chris and I have been asking people lately, “How long do you need to sit and listen to stories of Jesus before you are ready to share those stories with others?” I’ve known of good, kind, loving people who sit in Sunday school classes every week for decades on end without ever feeling that they are ready to invite someone else to follow Jesus. Why is that?

We realize that our goal must go beyond merely planting churches. Our goal is to call people to become fully devoted disciples of Jesus. Fully devoted disciples of Jesus are those who hear the words of Jesus and put them into practice; they make disciples who in turn make disciples. These disciples certainly worship together (we are still planting churches!) but they refuse to simply form a club that meets weekly. They are on mission together to be like the one they worship.

This is much more difficult than just planting churches...which isn’t an easy thing to begin with! Please continue to join us in prayer for the harvest and harvesters in the south Fort Worth area.

Now back to that comment about roofs...

This school year I’ve been substitute teaching to cover the balance of our financial needs. We have been so blessed to have such a large group of friends and family supporting us financially - some of you have now been partners with us for two years! We know that many of you have been giving, not out of your abundance, but sacrificially. We cannot thank you enough. Truly there are times that I am kept from despair by the realization that so many people believe in us and are praying for us. It is an honor to be entrusted to this ministry by God and supported in it by you.

In addition to subbing I began the process for obtaining certification as a junior high/ high school teacher. However, it became apparent that we weren’t going to be able to make it to September before that more substantial paycheck would possibly come along. So we continued moving forward in faith, praying that God would provide an answer.

We believe that answer was provided through a phone call from a friend I haven’t seen since 10th grade. David works for Quick Roofing here in the metroplex and invited me to join his team as a sales rep / roofing contractor.

After some time of prayer and deliberation we decided to go for it. I’m still subbing some, but mostly I’m devoting a large amount of my time learning and developing a customer base as a roofing contractor. It has been so promising that my little brother has decided to join me as well.

After this summer I will only have 1 class remaining in my DMin work (with just my doctoral project remaining), I do not anticipate subbing next year, and as my customer base and referrals grow in roofing, time spent “pounding the pavement” will decrease. I am hopeful that a more healthy and stable lifestyle is within reach.

We feel called to devote our lives and our time to proclaiming resurrection in the midst of darkness and pouring ourselves out for those who are skeptical and wary of the Christians; for those who desperately need to hear the good news of hope and new life. It appears that, at least for the time being, to do so faithfully I need to develop a “tent making” approach as Paul did at different points in his missionary journeys.

Such a transition is difficult and slow. I’m working very hard to keep all the plates spinning, but I continue to need your help. We are in a particularly vulnerable position right now and over the next year. In order to get this new job off the ground without abandoning my church planting and evangelistic calling, I will need continued support during this period.

If you are currently a financial partner with us, we hope that you will continue with us over this next year. If you are not currently, would you please consider doing so? Perhaps you have friends or a congregation that would be willing to contribute to this specific goal.

There are people right here in our own backyard who have never heard the gospel. Our Lord Jesus has called me to announce the arrival of the Kingdom to these very people, to proclaim good news to the poor and oppressed. I readily acknowledge that I will not be able to fulfill my calling without the support of God’s people in this land - this is a call that must be lived out in and supported by the community. And I am convinced that God wouldn’t have it any other way.

-Bret

40 Days...Again

Yesterday we completed our 40 Days of Scripture and Prayer. I didn’t write as much about it as I had originally intended – but not because it wasn’t powerful. Quite the opposite, actually.

During the past 40 days (excluding Sundays), we read through Isaiah, Hosea, Micah, Haggai, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, and Ephesians. I am always amazed how God’s word speaks right to your heart, no matter where you are reading, no matter what season of life you are in. But this one, this one was different. It was the first time I had really taken on something like this in the midst of community. The added element of talking with others nearly daily about what we were reading was powerful.

I was amazed at how the same Scriptures really stood out to, in particular, both Bret and me as well as Chris and Heidi. And when the same things didn’t stand out, the combination of the different things we had seen really said something, too. This process really brought us as a leadership team – and friends – to a different level.

I didn’t write much about it here though. And I feel a little bad about not sharing more of it. But honestly, a lot of what I was hearing just did not have a place here in the very public blog-o-sphere. It’s changed me, it’s changed Christ Journey, and I pray that the fruit of that transformation will be evident as we move forward.

Christ Journey has been going through some pretty major transitions since last fall. Several different things came to a head at the same time, and not everyone was ready for, understood, and/or agreed with the way things were handled, decisions that were made, or the directions to which we have returned. God’s Word has spoken directly to us and confirmed many of the things that we have been thinking and feeling in all of this, and it has been so wonderfully refreshing.

Also as a part of this, we’ve been praying Luke 10:2 everyday. “2He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” As harvesters, we’re praying to be in contact with the harvest, and for them in turn to become harvesters, too.

During this time, we’ve all (Bret, Chris, Heidi, and me) had some unmistakable answers to this prayer. Old relationships have “randomly” been renewed, opportunities have fallen into our laps, and hearts that were once thought to be hopelessly calloused have begun to soften. We have had conversations and experiences that we had begun to let ourselves think only happened to others in books. Any one of these might could be explained as “coincidence,” but when the literally over a dozen specific individuals who have risen up as a part of this harvest are combined, the role of the Spirit is undeniable.

So we’re doing it again! This time we’re reading a little of Psalms, a Proverb, and few chapters from one of the gospels each day. I can’t wait to see what’s in store this time around…

Acts

An Overview of Acts

1:1-6:7 – A description of the primitive church in Jerusalem, its early preaching, its common life, its spread, and its initial opposition. Notice how Jewish everything is, including the sermons, the opposition, and the fact that the early believers continue associations with the temple and the synagogues. The panel concludes with a narrative indicating that a division had begun between Greek speaking and Aramaic-speaking Jews.

6:8-9:31 – A description of the first geographical expansion, carried out by the Hellenists” (Greek-speaking Jewish Christians), to Greek-speaking Jews in the Diaspora or “nearly-Jews” (Samaritans and a proselyte). Luke also includes the conversion of Paul, who was 1) a Hellenist, 2) a Jewish opponent of the gospel, and 3) the one who was to lead the specifically Gentile expansion. Stephen’s martyrdom is the key to this initial expansion.

9:32-12:24 – A description of the 1st expansion to the Gentiles. Key moment is the conversion of Cornelius, whose story is told twice. (remember the OT narrative use of repetition to highlight something of importance). The significance of Cornelius is that his conversion was a direct act from God, who carried it out through Peter, the acknowledged leader of the Jewish-Christian mission (had God used the Hellenists – like Paul – the event would have been even more suspect in Jerusalem). Also included is the story of the church in Antioch, where Gentile conversion is now carried out by the Hellenists in a purposeful way.

12:25-16:5 – a description of the first geographical expansion into the Gentile world, with Paul in the leadership. Jews now regularly reject the gospel because it includes Gentiles. The church meets in council and does not reject its Gentile brothers and sisters, nor does it lay Jewish religious requirements on them. The latter serves as the key to full expansion into the Gentile world.

16:6-19:20 – Description of the further, ever westward, expansion into the Gentile world, now into Europe. Repeatedly the Jews reject and the Gentiles welcome the gospel.

19:21-28:30 – Description of the events that move Paul and the gospel on to Rome, with a great deal of interest in Paul’s trials, in which three times he is declared innocent of any wrongdoing.

Luke’s Purpose

Key to understanding Acts seems to be in Luke’s interest in the movement of the gospel from its Jerusalem-based, Judaism oriented beginnings to a worldwide, Gentile-predominated phenomenon. On the basis of structure and content alone, any statement of purpose that does not include the Gentile mission and the Holy Spirit’s role in that mission will surely have missed the point.

This interest in “movement” is further substantiated by what Luke does NOT tell us.

First, he has no interest in the “lives,” that is, the biographies, of the apostles. James (the son of Zebedee) is the only one whose end we know (12:2). Once the movement to the Gentiles gets underway, Peter drops from sight except in chapter 15, where he certifies the Gentile mission. Apart from John, the other apostles are not even mentioned, and Luke’s interest in Paul is almost completely in terms of Gentile mission.

Second, he has little or no interest in church organization or polity. The Seven in chapter 6 are not called deacons, and in any case they soon leave Jerusalem. Luke never tells us why or how it happened that the church in Jerusalem passed from the leadership of Peter and the apostles to James the brother of Jesus (12:17; 15:13; 21:18); nor does he ever explain how any local church was organized in terms of polity or leadership, except to say that elders were appointed (14:23).

Third, there is no word about other geographical expansion except in the one direct line from Jerusalem to Rome. There is no mention of Crete (Titus 1:5), Illyricum (Rom 5:19 – modern Croatia and Yugoslavia), or Pontus, Cappadocia (1 Peter 1:1), not to mention the church’s expansion eastward toward Mesopotamia or southward toward to Egypt.

All of this together says that church history per se was simply not Luke’s reason for writing.

Luke’s interest also does not seem to be in standardizing things, bringing everything into uniformity. When he records individual conversions there are usually two elements included: gift of the Spirit and water baptism. But these can be in reverse order, with or without the laying on of hands, with or without mention of tongues, and scarcely ever with a specific mention of repentance – even after 2:38. Such diversity could likely mean that no specific example is being set forth as THE model Christian experience.

Does that mean that Luke is not trying to tell us something by these various specific narratives?
Not necessarily. The real question is, What was he trying to tell his first readers?

With all this said, it does seem that much of Acts is intended by Luke to serve as a model. But the model is not so much in the specifics as in the overall picture. By the very way God has moved him to structure and narrate this history it seems probably that we are to view this triumphant, joyful, forward-moving expansion of the gospel into the Gentile world, empowered by the Holy Spirit and resulting in changed lives and local communities, as God’s intent for the
continuing Church.

Luke

Happy Monday!

Weʼve entered a new phase of our reading together. This week we begin the second half of our schedule and from here on the readings will come from the New Testament. Personally, Iʼm really glad to have read so much from the prophets recently. Sure, it was a little “doom and gloom” in places, but at least for me, it seemed that everyday the prophets were speaking directly into my own life.

Those last sections of Isaiah though...those chapters contain some of my absolute favorite pieces of writing anywhere. To begin the week last week with the words, “Comfort, comfort my people...” - I suspect that I wasnʼt the only one who needed to hear those words. As I reminded our friends gathered together yesterday morning, the role of the prophets is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. The Israelites in captivity (chps 40-55) and returning to a destroyed Jerusalem (chps 56-66) were no longer comfortable.

It struck me, as it often does, that it is very difficult to treat issues of social justice, freedom for the oppressed, care for the poor and concern for the forgotten as a “special interest” ministry. When we actually read the Scriptures those issues seem to play a very prominent role in descriptions of what it means to follow God faithfully.

And then our reading this morning begins not only with two substantial quotes from Isaiah (chp 40 quoted in Luke 3 and chp 61 quoted in Luke 4), but also ties the nature of Jesusʼ ministry so directly to this call for justice for the poor and oppressed.

I pray that you will find your story in the Story of Jesus this week. Next week weʼll read 2nd Luke (also known as Acts) and then finish Matthew, read Ephesians and John and our 40 days of reading will be fulfilled.

If youʼve gotten behind in your reading I encourage you to do two things. First, donʼt become overloaded with guilt or stress about not keeping with the schedule. The main goal is to spend significant time each day reading from Godʼs Word, not to accomplish a certain amount of reading.

Second, donʼt let yourself off the hook just because thereʼs no guilt being laid on you. This is a chance to challenge yourself, to be immersed in Godʼs word - this is not something that anyone else can do for you.

I am anticipating miracles this week. I donʼt know where God will bring transformation, but I believe that its coming. Do you?

Intro to Isaiah 40-66 and Haggai

Hey folks,

Sorry I'm getting this to you late in the evening...haven't really had the computer on much today (which was nice!)

Hope this is helpful as we enter the next week of reading. This week will be days 16-22 - when we finish with Isaiah we are half-way through this commitment. Rachel and I have already seen some amazing things happen that we believe are directly related to this period of reading and prayer. My continued prayer is that we will see miracles...that we will see transformation occur.

May God continue to bless you through the reading of his Word.

Bret

2nd Isaiah (chapters 40-55)

Most likely, this section of Isaiah was written by a latter day disciple of Isaiah, who is anonymous except we refer to him as “Deutero- Isaiah” to distinguish him from the 8th century Isaiah of Jerusalem.

The prophets had warned Judah to have faith in God or else destruction would come. Micah seemed convinced that exile was unavoidable. He was right. King Jehoiakim revolted against Nebuchadrezzer some time around 602, and it took the Babylonians some time to respond to this rebellion. But by 598, apparently Nebuchadrezzer surrounded the city of Jerusalem. During this time Jehoiakim died and his son Jehoiachin took the throne, reigning for only 3 months (597).

He gave in to Nebuchadrezzer and was taken to Babylon along with the cream of Judean society, including Ezekiel, Daniel, and the friends mentioned in Daniel 1–5. Nebuchadrezzer set another son of Josiah on the throne, Zedekiah. Zedekiah reigned for 11 years and witnessed the end of the nation of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem.

The question is finally settled with the capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Nebuchadrezzer fulfills the harsh prophecies that Judah had been warned of and the exile begins.

However Nebuchadrezzar died in 562 and his empire began to crumble. In 555, Nabonidus ascended to the throne and shortly thereafter, he went into the Arabian desert to contemplate the moon god, Sin. In his absence he leaves his son, Belshazzar as regent in his place.

Meanwhile the Persian Empire is on its own conquering warpath (remember the movie 300?) and the Babylonians actually welcome Cyrus and the Persian army as liberators. Persia takes Babylon without a fight. Cyrus was benevolent and actually allowed most conquered peoples to return to their own homelands. But, for whatever reason most Jews did not come home from Babylon, beginning the diaspora (dispersion).

As you read, look for these themes:
- Yahweh is the Holy One of Israel and has no rivals
- There will be new acts of redemption
- All the nations will benefit from Judah’s restoration: Judah will be a light to the nations.
- The Suffering Servant: 42, 49, 50, 52:13–53.
- Impact of II Isaiah on the New Testament.

Haggai

Haggai is written around the same time as 3rd Isaiah, during the return of the Israelites from captivity to Jerusalem.

Haggai has only two messages: 1) you are languishing in Judah with poor harvests because you have rebuilt your own houses but not the house of God. 2) The people responded with vigor and rebuilt the temple. Haggai then proclaimed that Zerubbabel, the governor, was the Davidic messiah.

3rd Isaiah (chapters 56-66)

Many scholars suggest that the book of Isaiah should be divided into 3 parts, as we have seen. The third part many feel is neither Isaianic nor part of Deutero-Isaiah, but an addition by a post-exile writer or writers not long after the return from Babylon. This writer carries on Isaiah’s motif of the Holy One of Israel, but seems not to have the messianic emphasis of Isaiah of Jerusalem and Deutero-Isaiah (or Haggai).

One of the main points of 3rd Isaiah is to show how Israel is to be a light to the nations in the period of restoration, but that the nations will be subservient to Israel and be, like the Gibeonites, drawers of water and hewers of wood.

Timeline of Important Old Testament Dates

1200-1000: the period of the Judges and beginnings of the monarchy.
1000 ±: David’s reign.
950 ±: the temple is built.
922 ±: the division of the kingdom (Israel in North, Judah in South).
735: the Syro-Ephraimite war (Isaiah).
732: the first exile of North Israel under Tiglath-Pileser III (Isaiah, Hosea).
722: the exile of North Israel to Assyria under Shalmaneser V.
701: the invasion of Judah by Sennacherib of Assyria (Micah, Isaiah).
622: the reform of Josiah (Jeremiah).
612: the destruction of Nineveh by the coalition of Medes, Babylonians, and Scythians (Nahum).
609: Josiah dies in battle against Necho of Egypt.
605: the battle of Carchemish (Egypt and Assyria against Babylon and the Medes) (Habakkuk).
597: the first exile of Judah under Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah, Ezekiel).
586: the second exile of Judah to Babylon (Jeremiah, Ezekiel).
539: the edict of Cyrus and the first return under Sheshbazzar.
520: the temple is rebuilt in earnest (Haggai, Zechariah, Chronicles, Zerubbabel).
515: the temple is completed.
ca. 450: Ezra’s mission to Palestine.
ca. 445ff: Nehemiah’s mission to Palestine.
ca. 400: Malachi’s prophecies and the “end” of Old Testament writings.

Prayer Requests

Good Evening everyone,

I have a couple special items for prayer that I would like to urge you to lift up to our God.

First, those of you who are local may have heard that there have been a string of suspected attempted abductions of children here in Burleson. On three separate occasions over the last few days a young person has been approached by a person they did not know and felt threatened - at least one of the children was actually grabbed by the man, but escaped. It seems likely that at least 2 of the 3 encounters may have been the same person.

This is certainly unnerving to those of us in the area, especially parents of young children. To make matters worse, 2 of the 3 events occurred in the Shenandoah community - where some of our friends live. This of course hits very close to home and we would like to ask you to pray for the safety of children everywhere, but particularly for our friends in Shenandoah who are certainly dealing with heightened anxiety tonight.

On another - happier - note, we'd also like you to be in prayer for a meeting I will have with a church this Thursday. Rachel and I have grown extremely cautious about getting our hopes up - we have certainly had to learn to deal with rejection over the last few years. However, the very promising conversations and events leading up to this meeting, and the timing... we are excited, nervous and, for the first time in a while, hopeful that a church may be willing to partner with us financially.

Please join us in prayer for this meeting and potential partnership.

Grace and Peace,
Bret