agri.church

Haeli was princess Dora and Maya was… “a bootsa da monkey”

I want to say a big and probably long overdue THANK YOU to the all of you who serve our kiddos at the Branch! And to Carla: Can we just say well done! Wonderful things are happening with children.

Can you identify the owner of these hands?

If you weren’t around on Sunday, we had a bunch of laptops available to sign the petition at one.org. If you didn’t get a chance to sign, consider heading on over there. It really could make a difference toward reducing extreme poverty…

Here’s another I like from tonight:

Loaded up the fam and went walking with the Branch Runners crew tonight (want in on the fun? email me). We all hung out at the gathering grounds coffee shop after, good fun. Here’s my favorite image from the night, it’s a bit fuzzy but priceless all the same:

Just wanted to say thanks. I enjoyed worship at the Branch yesterday. In so many ways, the morning became about more than just us, you know? I am so grateful for this community. This week will be light on text and heavy on images, then again… they say a picture is worth a thousand words:

Well, it’s hard to believe but we’ve reached the end of this five-week blogging adventure. Andy and I have never been this consistent in our blogging and we’ve got to say that we’ve really enjoyed it. But we’re wondering - have you? What did you think? Whether you were an occasional or everyday reader, it would be such a huge help to hear from you.

Were the posts helpful or unhelpful? In what way? Get specific if you can. Did you read 100% of the posts, 50%, 25%, etc. What would have helped you read more? Did you find yourself using some of the tools/ideas we suggested? What could we have done differently that would have helped you grow in your understanding and implementation of the spiritual disciplines?

I know….I know….you’re wondering right now, “If I am honest with these guys will they still like me?” Actually, we’ll love you. Seriously. We appreciate constructive feedback and so your thoughts - critical or commending - would be a gift. You can let us know what you think by clicking on the comment link just below this post or by e-mailing Andy or I. Thanks so much for reading!

The people of the early church faced terrifying persecution and pain. Their reputations, jobs, and even their very lives were often at risk because of who they followed. And yet, joy is an irrepressible theme throughout the New Testament. We read about individual people and entire communities who have a joy that can’t be snuffed out. But how can this be? With all of the hardship they had to face, shouldn’t joy have been driven out of them?

Maybe it should have. But it wasn’t. And I think that the early church’s indestructible joy had something to do with the fact that they never forgot that in the end, the groom gets the bride.

I was at a wedding not too long ago when, let’s just say, things didn’t go as planned. The attendants didn’t walk down in the order they had rehearsed. When the ushers tried to roll out the aisle runner it got stuck - took forever - and nearly tore in two. They stumbled through their vows. The unity candle didn’t light. And yet, as the ceremony ended there was an irresistable and indestructible joy present. How could this be? Well, at the end of the day, the groom got the bride and the bride got the groom.

The book of Revelation gives us a picture of how things will be at the end of time:

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

Heaven’s groom gets the bride.

Are you lacking joy in your life? Then begin to discipline your mind (read Romans 12:1-2) to view life from a biblical perspective. Yes, in this life there is pain and hardship. Yes, there is loss and suffering. But this is not how things will always be. The groom gets the bride. There is a day coming when we will “see the wedding of which the greatest weddings on this earth have only been a dim forshadowing. Then God will dance with his people. Then joy will reign undiminished and uniterrupted (Ortberg)”

You can have joy now because of the joy to come. But you must discipline your mind. Begin today.

This morning I want to suggest a practical way you can grow in joy. You may cringe at the idea. It may seem unorthodox. And I doubt our culture will approve, but hear me out: UNPLUG YOUR TV for a week.

I know that in our family turning on the TV after a long day of work and responsibility can seem like the wisest thing to do. But when was the last time you walked away from a night of vegging in front of the TV to say, “Wow, I feel amazingly refreshed.” “I have new joy and energy.” “My relationships have deepened in a whole new way.”

Now, don’t misundertand. I’m not suggesting that television is evil. I mean, common’ - how else would I be able to watch the World Series this weekend? But what might happen if you were to unplug for a week (or at the very least - seriously limit your TV watching)? My guess is that you would have no choice but to find new ways to spend your time - ways that would bring joy (aka life) to your life.

So what hobby have you considered starting but haven’t. Consider no more. Wondering when you’re going to have the chance to hang out with the people who bring you joy? Here it is.

All of the spiritual disciplines require that we make intentional choices - the discipline of celebration is no different. You must choose to change. So unplug for a week. Take the risk. You might be surprised at how little you miss it.

Dallas Williard, who I highly respect when it comes to the conversation of life transformation, writes this:

“Failure to attain a deeply satisfying life always has the effect of making sinful actions seem good. Here lies the strength of temptation…Normally, our success in overcoming temptation will be easier if we are basically happy in our lives. To cut off the joys and pleasures associated with our bodily lives and social existence as ‘unspritual’, then, can actually have the efect of weakening us in our efforts to do what is right.”

In other words, joy makes us strong.

When God’s joy fills us something happens to the way we view life. No longer does yelling at traffic or coveting your neighbor’s Porsche seem like things worth doing. Nor does cutting corners at work or pursuing your own agenda at the expense of others. When God’s joy is in us we see that there is a better way to live. The joy of the Lord brings strength.

How strong would you say you are today? Are there times when temptation overwhelms you? Are you able to see the life that Jesus offers?

Take some time today to have an honest conversation with God about these questions. And as you do, ask God for what you need to become more joyful.