Someone once told me that ministry was building bridges to help people get from where they are to where God wants them to be.   Being a hack carpenter- building decks for my house that may not be the most sturdy or level, I know how inadequate I would be at building a bridge of any scope.  Bridges come in all shapes and sizes and accomplish things as simple as providing a way for a person to walk over a shallow creek (like the cool little suspension bridge on the back side of the island at New Life Ranch).  They can also be massive in scope and require unbelievable vision, resources, and energy to produce.

The other thing that is interesting about bridges is that in order for them to fulfill their purpose, people need to take responsibility to move across them.  The bridge doesn’t take people, or cars, or whatever, and move them from one side to the other.  It provides a way for the person to engage, to move forward under their own power, to get to the other side.  The bridge makes it possible- and yet the “bridge crosser” is responsible.  This is a beautiful thing in that a given in this equation is the ability and strength of the bridge crosser to make it over.  It’s the bridge builder’s responsibility to create a way across.

Bridges require people to give input at various levels in order to be constructed, right?  I can be the project manager, builder, purchaser, quality control officer, and HR dude when I make a bridge across a ditch in my back yard.  And a fine bridge it will be!

However- the bigger the bridge that I am involved in building- the less I am involved in the entire operation.  I am best operating in a specific role and trusting others to fulfill their own specific role.  Some valleys, or rivers, or spans require big time vision- and big time operation.  Might this be your bridge?

Or maybe this is the one that looks more like you:

What I know now is this:  getting in on doing ministry is a beautiful thing.  It is worth being thankful for.  And, there can come times where your purpose is  to build new bridges.

CQ Missional, and our educational projects the CML and GPS Tulsa are bridges.  They are designed to help people who are in a specific stage of life, with specific needs- move from where they are, to where God wants them to be.  Students in Tulsa looking for life direction, for a vocation, for some purpose, for some people to share this search with- get the opportunity to walk across the bridge of GPS Tulsa together.  We get the privilege of creating the context for this discovery.  By the way- this will be a blast to get going!  People who are young adults but a little farther along, perhaps they have graduated college, or have been working a job for a few years, get the opportunity to walk across the bridge of the CML together- serving a community, creating new life in neighborhoods, and taking a chance on their own vocation shift.

Right now we are putting together what looks like a foot bridge, the kind you can wear sandals while walking across, or even go barefoot in the process!  However- the span between where 1000s of 20 somethings are, and where they could be is huge.  I pray for wisdom and community to join in building the right bridge to help you adults figure out their purpose in life.  This is a Golden Gate type of need.

Whats next in the bridge?  Raise more scholarship money, raise awareness of how we can serve young adults, make more friends and offer real support to help our clients make courageous decisions.  In other words, keep moving forward.

I am thankful today to be a bridge builder.  What does your bridge look like today?  Are you walking across one?  Are you in the middle of building one?  What does Ministry look like to you?

ck

I am making a short documentary for school about a subject that interested me and everyone else in my class.  It’s working title is “We Love Everyone” it’s about two generations of the same modern christian family and their personal feelings on homosexuality.  I kind of had a hypothesis in my head about what the outcome would be.  I thought that the older generation would be less accepting towards the idea and the younger would be more accepting.  I was wrong.  They both shared the same amount of acceptance as each other.  What I got out of this is, that is doesn’t really have to do some much with the generational gap and modern man being more used to the idea of homosexuality but it has to do with the family altogether and their influence and thought.  They all had the same idea, which was they don’t condone homosexuality but they will love and try to relate and understand people on a personal level even in their differences.  It was refreshing to me, because we are required by God and as Christians to love thy neighbor.  Not love thy neighbor if he is straight, or white, or rich, or ugly.  Love they neighbor altogether.  The documentary has been a very refreshing thing for me, to see that as Christians there are families that don’t judge outright, they are willing to love despite flaws or feelings, or sex, or orientation.  I think that is what we are supposed to do.  Do you think that this is what we are supposed to do as well?  Do you think that homosexuals have a place in heaven?  Do you think that you love the way that we are commanded to, despite differences?  I love people, and I hope they love me like I love them…

We have 2 unique opportunities that will help people and help CQM move forward.  We looking for:

A tenant to share small office space at the Quaker 4 plex where our Certificate students are living.  It is zoned for dual use, and one unit in particular will work well for small business space for someone who needs a quiet space in a very cool location.

Also- we have a space for new residents in a unit that can help offset the cost of officing there for CQM.  Its a chance for folks in their 20s who want to live in community, not expensive, and have access to great places to serve.

Folks in the Quaker House don’t have to be in our program- they just live as renters in this very cool place. This will allow us to house students, and access some good meeting space for 20s to gather, hang out, talk life direction.

No strings- just wanting good folks to be renters.

Its in an awesome spot- about 200 yards from Jason’s Deli right by 15th and Peoria (Cherry St). The owners want to support CQ Missional by being generous in offering their place up to us to fill it up with young people who love God, love people, and want to make the world a better place.   Its got a little pool and great deck in the back, close to Cherry St, Downtown, and River Activities- as well as beautiful opportunities to serve (the church 2 doors down serves free meals to the tulsa urban population every Friday).
Units are 2 bedroom (small) and there are washer/dryer hookups.

CQM people there as well as the owner of the property have a hospitable heart and will welcome new renters or residents.   This should be a great place to be this year. the address is 1430 S Quaker, Tulsa.

If you’re needing office space- it will be a good quite space to share with our leaders, making phone calls, working online, and having the occasional meeting.  If you need living space, this is a place where CQ Missional will gather in their 20s, and it will be a safe and warm place to live.

Let me know if you’re interested, and please shoot this to any friends who may benefit.   We hope to rent (and help the owners) space as soon as possible, and start basing operations here.

Questions?  Call Chris at 918-557-6128.

I witnessed such an amazing event that I have to share it with you.  Two sisters (one and a half and two and a half years old) were recently adopted by my friends.  To celebrate the occasion a “shower” was held.  When I arrived the adults were stocking the cookie and drinks, organizing the gift table, and greeting each other.  My daughter and I filtered back to a game room where the two teenage sons were watching over their new sisters.  Each of the sisters had a helium balloon that they repeatedly released.  The girls would say “Uh-oh” and one of the boys would reach the string and return the balloon.  My daughter got in on the game by lifting first one girl then the other so they could grasp their balloon’s string.  The game went on for what I thought was an impossibly long ten minutes or so.  None of the youth seemed too eager or at all resentful of the constant dance.

As the little girls gained confidence they took the game to a new level.  First the older, then the younger little girl ventured into the big room.  Each would seem to indiscrimently choose an adult, walk up to them, release their balloon, and say “Uh-oh”.

I watched in fascination as one adult after another took turns retrieving the balloons.  This dance continued, with short interruptions, for at least another forty minutes before until the shower came to a close.

I remembered the dynamic experienced so often by those who foster or adopt children a little older than these little sisters.  Without conscious intent, a newly fostered or adopted youngster will almost always test their new invironment to see how they will be accepted and/or cared for.  The older (extroverted) children will either act out in some very dramatic fashion ,whereas the older (introverted) children will become seriously ill.  In this manner they will quickly discover how accepted and/or cared for they will be.

As these two little sisters released their balloons again, and again, and again, and again, I realized that very unintentionally they were testing their new environment.  What a wonderful and amazing event to witness as again, and again, and again the little sisters were given calm reassurances that they were safe and cared for by this community.  It was as if the brothers had set an example that the whole community followed.  We became a “counseling community”; providing a context for healing and growth in two brave little girls.  What a beautiful moment!

Dear Jesus, as I call on you today I realise that I often come asking for favours.
Today I’d like just to be in your presence.
Let my heart respond to Your Love.

This was part of my morning devo from Sacred Space today.  It informed my morning of finishing up a new double zipline for Camp Luther in Northern Wisconsin, and in my afternoon buying of souvenirs for the fam  in nearby Eagle River.

What did it mean to “be in your presence” today?  Well for me, it had to do with understanding my context regardless of my location.  A discussion we’re having about Honeyrock, a camp where CQ is doing training next week, is the idea of Honeyrock being a place, or an experience that can happen in many places.  Well, the answer not withstanding, to be in God’s presence is an experience that happens” all the time, everywhere.” (from Most Amazing Grace in the World, off the Whitebread Album)

This morning, in a beautiful northwoods pine forest on a sunny 60 degree day, I knew I was not alone.  I am never alone.  In fact, I am always a part of a conversation going on between myself and my creator.  Sometimes I listen, sometimes I speak, sometimes (usually) I am unaware of what is actually going on and I ignore the voice of the one who loves me most.

Since I’ve been traveling lately, my conversations with home have been interesting, and sometimes mundane- but last night Kristin and I hit on an idea that has big implications for me and for you, and if we don’t tend to it- we’ll miss it.

I said- “I just miss being around for the normal stuff.”  We agreed that its the everyday with the people who mean most to you that defines our relationships.  Just going to ballgames, and watching band concerts and the Biggest Loser together.  Eating food we made a home, and tending to the new (somewhat) garden, and shooting hoops in the driveway- this is what I miss when I’m gone.  And…this is what I forget about when I’m home.

May we remember what it means to live in one’s presence, and to connect that idea on a supernatural level to understanding our place in the context of God’s presence.

Lord, let me live in your presence today.  Friends, let me be present when I am with you- may I be a listener- and be thankful for the existence of the best relationships.  God, may we see you and hear you today- in the northwoods, in Broken Arrow, at New Life Ranch, and in East Tulsa or in Uganda.

We are in His presence- do you listen to His words?  What does He say?  Is it in the Bible, the creation around you that you hear Him best?  Is it through People,  or a challenging circumstance?  What is the conversation like when you choose to be “in the house?”  What do you imagine it is when you are “out of it”?

Feedback!!!??  Cmon friends- shoot me some thoughts!!

Keep reading and look for our new certificate programs coming this next fall…

ck

At New Life Ranch our overall theme verse is II Corinthians 5:17 which says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” My issue with this passage is that in my life the old (flesh) seems to continue to come to the forefront and the new takes a back seat. Whether it be the way I act towards my family or my co-workers, how I react to the poor and needy, or pride and selfishness the old still is present in my life. Therefore, when others come with their needs I often feel unworthy to help. “I’m just not there!” If I feel like if I am letting the flesh win, then how can I in return help others?  Then I don’t engage! In fact, I walk away more defeated and can eventually end up riding the pine and not engaging the game. Anybody else been there? Are you there now?

I think this is exactly where satan would have us reside. In fact he wants this feeling to penetrate the whole Church. You aren’t good enough! You are not there! You really can’t help! In fact, I believe this is where most people of the Church are at and this is why we see the lack of engagement in culture and in mess. We would rather manage our Christianity and stick to what gets us by so we continue to go to church, sing in the choir, and perhaps make an appearance in a small group but I personally have discontentment in this. This is what we have done for years. I believe others are there as well. There is not only discontentment with the church, but there is a discontentment in our very own lives. Have you taken time lately to sit down and say what kind of difference am I truly making? Have you asked your self the hard question of what is God calling me to? I have a hard time believing it is too sing in more choirs or set in the church pew a few more times a week. I truly believe he is calling us all to the mess of the world no matter what mess we are finding ourselves in.

Get over the lie that you are not there or that you are to messed up to help. Reality is we are only good enough through the grace of Christ Jesus. It is through him that I am to live. In fact, if you go up from II Corinthians 5:17 to II Corinthians 5:15 it says, he died for all, that those who might live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” May I continue to learn that I am not my own no matter how big my mess is… I am there and I must engage….

Share with us your story of discontentment or your story of not feeling worthy enough and why….

I love this sermon.  It gives me goosebumps to think of Mary coming to the empty tomb, with her grief and emptiness, and hearing her name spoken by Jesus.

I would love to hear your stories of moments or days or weeks or years when you’ve come to an empty place with your grief, or disappointment, or despair … and somehow heard or felt your name spoken.

Click HERE to read the entire sermon.

Happy Easter!