Called to a Unified Witness

Last night I had a great time getting to know some ministry leaders in the Springfield community. Stephanie, Miriam and I headed down town near the Missouri State University campus to a coffee shop ministry called "The Potter's House" Some Nazarene pastors have converted a former family dwelling into a safe hang out where friends can connect, work on homework, hear live music and be accepted and loved in Jesus' name. And that's just on the main floor. Upstairs and in the basement small groups are conducted to teach and disciple young people three nights a week. I met with the Executive Director to see how I might be able to support them in their ministry and how our church can partner with them in reaching out to young people at the university. I think much fruit will be born from this collaboration. What I came away from the night impressed by the most though is the perspective that the directors have in running this ministry. They're not interested in reaching people in order to make them Nazarenes (which might be a fair goal given where the majority of their financial support comes from). Their goal is to reach young people with the gospel. Period. They're more than happy to help students connect with a church that matches what that student needs to grow best. This coffee shop is an example of ecumenical ministry being done effectively in a way that God is glorified and the Kingdom is advanced. Great job Potter's House, I'm happy to support you!

The Good and Just One

"Praise to the Just One who rules with His grace; He is the Good One who never draws in the limits of His goodness; Even to the wicked He stretches forth his compassion. His divine cloud hovers over all that is His; it drips dew even on that fire of punishment so that, of His mercy, it enables even the embittered to taste the drops of its refreshment" ~ St. Ephrem the Syrian (pictured) This quotation comes from Hymn #10 of St. Ephrem's Hymns on Paradise and I was reminded of the following passage from St. Matthew's Gospel: "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." ~Matthew 5:44-45 I am challenged by these words of Jesus and hope that all Christians are. Too often we operate from the perspective of those who do not know Jesus. It goes something like this: "You be nice to me and I'll be nice to you"; "You give some, I'll give some"; "If you anger me or hurt me or wrong me then I am freed from any obligation to show kindness to you or to desire your good will." But that is simply not the truth. Not according to Jesus. No, instead we are to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us and remember that God loves them and desires to show mercy to them, just as he has shown his great love and mercy to us. We were all once enemies of God. St. Ephrem reminds us that God is both Just and Good. On the cross, as Jesus was crucified we see his justice and goodness married in the most gruesome and beautiful way. When we find ourselves feeling bitterness and resentment and wishing ill towards those who get under our skin, let us remember the words of Jesus and the work that he has accomplished on the cross on our behalf. Glory to you Lord Christ, Glory to you!

Gospel Urgency

"The message we have been commanded to deliver, to repeat with all the freshness that the creative Spirit imbues us with, is of immense and contemporary urgency...but it is a hard message, a hard saying, and it can barely be heard let alone accepted unless we ourselves are the living witnesses of its authenticity." ~John Main, Community of Love As Christians we are called to bear testimony to what Jesus Christ has done, historically and personally - we are to be able to tell others the personal impact that being united to Christ has made in our lives. The world has all sorts of insufficient answers to who Jesus is, but we, who know him, must have a better answer, an answer that brings truth and hope and light into an ever darkening world. This is indeed a hard task. But it is the one we have been given. I don't typically comment on politics very often but today I will make one general observation. The issue I hear discussed most frequently among conservative Christians in particular is that we are losing our religious freedom in the United States. I won't argue that point, I believe that we are. However, to those same people I will offer this for thought: it doesn't change our message or our mandate. And I will also offer this challenge: what have your churches done with the religious freedom they previously enjoyed? Why is it that in this era after those churches enjoyed such freedom to speak of God and Jesus that we now live in a country where tens and tens of millions of people don't know Christ? What did you do with the opportunity you had? Is is possible that had there been a greater urgency in sharing the gospel and discipling people, rather than taking that freedom for granted, that perhaps we might not find ourselves in quite the position we are in? I say again, whether we have religious freedom or not, our message and our mandate is the same. Perhaps our greatest efforts and energies should be directed there. Grace & Peace, Micah

Sermon at All Saints Anglican Church - September 16, 2012 Sermon preached at the 11:00 am Service of Holy Eucharist at All Saints Anglican Church in Springfield, MO by the Rev. Deacon Micah J. Chisholm http://www.allsaintsspringfield.org/Sermons/sermons.html

On Being a Deacon "Over a deacon, then, let the bishop speak thus: ‘O God, who have created all things and have set them in order through your Word; Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom you sent to minister to your will and to make clear to us your desires, grant the Holy Spirit of grace and care and diligence to this your servant, whom you have chosen to serve the Church and to offer in your holy places the gifts which are offered to you by your chosen high priests, so that he may serve with a pure heart and without blame, and that, ever giving praise to you, he may be accounted by your good will as worthy of this high office: through your Son Jesus Christ, through whom be glory and honor to you, to the Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and through the ages of ages. Amen’" ~Hippolytus(The Apostolic Tradition 9 [A.D. 215]). "It belongs to the Office of Deacon, to assist the Priest in public worship, especially in the administration of Holy Communion; to lead in public prayer; to read the Gospel, and to instruct both young and old in the Catechism; and at the direction of the Priest, to baptize and preach. Furthermore, it is the Deacon's office to work with the laity in searching for the sick, the poor, and the helpless, that they may be relieved. Will you do this gladly and willingly?" ~The Ordinal of the Anglican Church in North America I will do so, the Lord being my helper. That will be my response tomorrow evening as Bishop Francis Lyons, Assistant Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh prepares to ordain me as a deacon in Christ's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I am already aware of the Spirit's moving in this place as we are preparing for the arrival of the bishop and the ordination service. I wait expectantly, with both excitement and fear and trembling, as the hour draws near. The years of study, discernment and preparation have been leading to this moment. I believe that since before I was conceived this is what God has had in store for me. I pray that I will be found worthy of this calling.