Lesson 2 – The Vibe

Taken at the CrossFit games, this picture demonstrates camaraderie in the 21k Row. This person is about to finish last and yet peers encourage her as if she is about to finish first. Did you notice the uniforms? I may be wrong, but nobody other than the rower is wearing black and yellow. Which leads me to believe, everyone cheering is her competition. They are the teams that finished, 1st, 2nd, etc. But they continue to cheer. Why, because CrossFit values challenging and encouraging one another even if the person is on a different team.

After years of weight loss failures, I took time to assess. Why was one program more successful than others? Why did Weight Watchers work? Why did I find health clubs so boring? Why is laundry hanging from the exercise bike in the basement? Why is CrossFit working so well? Why? Because CrossFit …

Values Both Challenging and Encouraging One Another

I am neither motivated nor challenged walking on a treadmill in a health club. Nobody tracks my progress. And nobody cares if I walk 10 miles or run 1 mile. But CrossFit challenges me. Casey, our instructor, challenges me to increase the weight I lift and decrease the time I take to complete a WOD (aka Work Out Of The Day). And when I have 10 burpees left to do, I can hear my peers chanting “You’ve got this!” I do my best when the community encourages and supports me!

Values Variety

A few weeks ago we bowled … using a rowing machine. The goal was to row 100 meters. Not more and not less. Every point above or below 100 was your score. If you row 104, your score for that “frame” is 4. The lowest score in ten frames wins. Seventeen weeks of workouts and we only bowled once. One day we workout in teams, and the next work towards our personal best. The lack of predictability from one day to the next keeps my interest.

Values Connections

Entering “the box” I sensed community; people enjoying one another’s company … or faking it well! People are connected to one another and on a first name basis. They ask, “How are your [fill in the blank] doing?” And over time, I became included and connected. I do my best when connected to community.

Learning for the church: For a church to help people “succeed” in developing a strong faith, maybe we need to embrace the CrossFit values.

Value Both Challenging and Encouraging One Another

Central to the teachings of Jesus is “God loves you!” And this can never be overstated. But to grow in our faith and witness, with God’s help, we must be challenged and encouraged. Challenged to be generous. Encouraged to die to our selfish desires. Challenged and encouraged to love others.  I love how Andy Stanley, Pastor of North Point Community Church in Atlanta, challenges and encouarges his church.

“The Jesus model (loving others) is centered on the you beside you. If you are a Democrat, it means it is centered on the you to the right of you. And if you are a Republican, you are to be centered on the you to the left of you. And if you are a racist, it is centered on the you you want nothing to do with.”

Growth happens when we are challenged and encouraged that have our best interest in mind.

Values Variety

I believe traditions are important in the church. Traditions keep us connected to the past. Traditions keep us grounded in the present. And my traditions are the most important (until I change my mind). Our Sunday morning religious traditions can disconnect us from the culture we hope to engage. Our attention deficit, social networked, information overloaded culture struggles to stay engaged with Sunday morning worship that has not changed formats since 1960. Even churches with a tradition of contemporary worship must ask the tough question, “How are our traditions holding us back from engaging the people Jesus calls us to love.” Our God is creative and our worship service should show that! Varying Sunday morning worship in both contemporary and traditional services helps keep people engaged.

Values Connections

Since the early church, being connected to other Christ-followers has been a foundational value.

Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

It’s people, far more than programs, that matter to God. For a church to be the church God has in mind, the members need to have a genuine concern for one another that extends beyond Sunday morning services. God’s plan to grow people up into the people God has in mind places a high value on connections.

With God’s help, may the church continue becoming the church God has in mind.

#Hangry – When you are so hungry that your lack of food causes you to become angry, frustrated or both.

Very seldom do I EVER miss a meal! But, when I do, don’t mess with me. I tend to be short-tempered and crabby. Research shows that our brains, specifically the parts of our brain the control emotions and anger, function better on a full belly.

This may explain Jesus’ bad mood while he was out walking with his disciples.

Mark 11:11-14 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

Why is this in the bible? Is it to show that Jesus was really human and dealt with the same emotions and physical limitations of our own bodies? Is this passage merely meant to remind us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? All good messages, but maybe not the primary message to take away from this passage.

Here’s what happens next. Jesus, already hangry, continues to the temple with an empty belly but full of attitude. He walks into the temple AND …

Mark 11:15-18 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” 18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

Just a bagel and a cup of coffee and maybe Jesus would have had more patience with what he witnessed in the temple. But maybe not. I have no doubt Jesus was hungry for fruit that morning. But I believe the fruit he was hungry for was more than just a few figs!

The night before He wanders into the temple and starts to ponder what will happen here the next morning. This is God’s house. This is a place of worship. And tomorrow there will be people selling doves and lambs so people can sacrifice them in order to receive forgiveness for their sins. The money changers and the merchants are actually making money off someone’s sense of guilt and desire for God’s forgiveness! And this is all happening under the watchful eye of the religious leaders; God’s chosen people.

I imagine Jesus going to bed that night getting more and more angry just painting that mental picture in his mind. God’s people are suppose to bear fruit! Fruit is fresh. It nourishes. It gives life! God’s people are not suppose to take advantage of people. God’s people are not meant to capitalize on someone’s guilt and shame but instead offer grace and mercy.

And then our sanitized view of Jesus is challenged when we picture Jesus flipping tables and throwing merchants out of the temple. This is not the picture of Jesus calling children to him to be blessed. This is not the Jesus that fed 1000’s with a few fish and a few loaves of bread. This is madder than hell Jesus! But Jesus was hungry! Hungry for God’s people to bear fruit.

Big Idea Part 1 – Jesus expects his follower to bear fruit! All the time and in every situation and especially in God’s house.

I don’t know about you but for me this is a difficult concept practice. Because sometimes the fruit I bear is rotten. Fruit tainted with anger, impatience, judgement, and prejudice. I judge people by they way they look. I choose to degrade someone so I feel better about myself. I would rather get angry than be patient. Please tell me I am not the only one!

But there is good news! He could have put to death all those who tarnished God’s name, but instead … he took out his anger on a plant.

Mark 11:20-25 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Big Idea Part 1 & 2 – Jesus expects his follower to bear fruit! All the time and in every situation and especially in God’s house. And this is only possible with God’s help!

Yes, Jesus expects people who follow him to bear fruit knowing all to well that without God’s help this is impossible. So have faith! Pray to God and ask for what you need.

• More patience for my family
• More acceptance for those who are different than me
• More love for my neighbor

May we never experience a hangry Jesus! With God’s help, may his followers provide Jesus with the fruit He loves!

Amen? Amen!

When I was young and I tore my jeans, mom would sew a patch on them. It did not matter where the tear or worn out section of denim appeared (e.g. the crotch, the knees, or the pocket), you patched what was torn or worn. At some point the patch would usually give way to the tear. That was in the 70s.

Fast forward to the 80s. Torn jeans became a fashion trend. You no longer patched torn jeans … you strategically tore them to increase their value. And when you did not have the time or the skills to do this, you purchased torn jeans at an inflated price sometimes 4-5 times what you would pay for untorn jeans.

Patches were no longer valued. Torn became highly valued.

It happened with jeans in the 80’s and it’s happened on social media today. Torn has become valuable. Across the religious and political landscape, people are tearing one another apart with social media posts. Racism, homosexuality, and even Caitlyn Jenner have become fabric we attempt to tear.

Liberal and conservative parties and religious denominations are tearing at one another with a sense of unprecedented arrogance and authority. The rule of thumb is, “If you have an opinion, share it.” I would argue that just because you have an opinion does not mean you should share it especially if it is MEAN!

Jesus has an opinion on tears and patches.

Mark 2:21-22 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

What will it take for Jesus to pour new wine into us? Maybe it’s time we discard the idea that just because I have something to say it’s ok if I say it even if I tear someone down by saying it.

I am not suggesting that we merely accept one another’s opinions. I think the term acceptance has become so watered down it simply means I have to agree with you. Acceptance is willing to be kind and hear someone even when our beliefs and opinions do not align. When differing opinions come together they shape and sharpen our own thoughts. What I am suggesting is that we see the person we disagree with how God sees them. As a sinner redeemed by God’s grace, as someone Jesus was willing to die for.

I am wondering if it is time for something new on social media. Time for a return to kindness. A patch that never has or never will go out of style. Maybe it’s time we all repent (including myself) for our arrogance defending our position and tearing someone down. And instead risk engaging that person with kindness. Is it possible that the very person we tear down is the very person God has placed in our path to patch us up. And maybe if we adopt this new social media communication patch, Jesus will pour new ideas, new mercies, new hope, and new peace into our lives.

Amen?

After 24 years of calling Naperville home, the Borgetti family is preparing for our move to Lake County. Our home goes on the market shortly. Our realtor asked us to come up with the top reasons why 555 Stanhope Court is such a wonderful house. This became a very emotional exercise. I sobbed my way through every reason. I have a ways to go, but here’s my first swing.

#5 From an Address to an Assurance  – Our address is located on a cul-des-sac. There is just something about living on a cul-de-sac that cannot be beat. It’s just safe. Whether it was the summer block parties or teaching my children how to ride their bikes, there was always an assurance you were safe on a cul-des-sac.

#4 From a Windows to Wonder – For 24 years, every morning when I get up I have this ritual. I go to the window next to our bed and look out over my backyard. This yard has blessed me and reminded me that all God has created is good. Whether it’s the branches covered in snow, the scent of spring Lilies of the Valley, the green summer lawn, or the fall colors, this backyard has always been a wonder to behold.

#3 From Experiments to Experiences – When my children were little we purchased a “butterfly kit” online. This was a “grow your own butterfly” experiment. After a few weeks, we released 4-5 Painted Lady Butterflies from our deck. Even though we release them over 15 years ago, every summer since then, whenever we eat dinner on the deck, a few Painted Lady Butterflies show up on the flagstone patio. And, if you are patient enough, you can stand on the patio with your arms outstretched and your palms turned upward and experience what it’s like having a butterfly land on you.

#2 From Neighbors to Friends – For 24 years we have lived next door to the Meyer’s. The best way to describe our friendship is “refrigerator rights.” Which simply means, if you need it, and your neighbor has it, come and get it. Whether it’s some recipe ingredient or a leaf blower or the need for an extra oven, the Meyer’s are the #1 reason for living at 555 Stanhope Court.  We have shared many joys and sorrows. And we promise to return every Thanksgiving weekend to cut down Christmas trees, eat their food, drink their beer, and fall asleep on their floor watching movies.We love them and will miss them and we will return. They started off as neighbors and have become lifelong friends.

#1 From House to Homes – I remember the day we looked at 555 Stanhope Court. It had all the buzzwords I needed to hear. Two and a half baths, fenced in yard, four bedrooms, a block from a grade school. I was tired of looking at houses so I relented and agreed to put in a bid. After 24 years of living at 555 Stanhope Court, the house we purchased has turned into a home we live in. And it will be hard to leave this home. And yet within scripture I find hope and courage to move forward to our next potential home.

Proverbs 24:3-4  By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Our home has been filled with the precious and pleasant riches of memories. And as hard as it may be at times, I find great hope in knowing that God will use 555 Stanhope Court to bless the next family, that moves into this house but discovers a home.

For some reason, Holy Week’s Thursday Service (aka Maundy Thursday) is always treated like the canned cranberries on the Thanksgiving menu. Churches always offer it, but few want it. Last night I participated in my own church’s Maundy Thursday rehearsal and again was reminded that EACH day of Holy Week is an entree best experienced with all the Holy Week entrees.  So to any and all who are reading these words. Come! Come and experience this feast of grace we call Holy Week. And start with one of the first courses … Maundy Thursday.

If you live near Gurnee, come and visit us at 749 S Hunt Club Road, Gurnee, IL (less than a mile north of Route 120/Belvedere Rd.

• Maundy Thursday 7pm
• Good Friday 7pm
• Easter Sunday 7:30, 9, and 10:30am

Grace and Peace

Mark

It’s been a little over a week since we said goodbye to our beloved dog Buddy. A 10 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Who would have ever thought that a dog weighing less than 20 pounds could fill our lives with so much love and joy?

After he was gone the first thing we noticed was the overwhelming silence. No scratching on the bedroom door in the morning. No sound of his padded paws on the hardwood floors. No snoring during episodes of Modern Family and Walking Dead. Even more than sound, he filled the house with unconditional love. The past nine days have been a rollercoaster of emotion. Great joy intermixed with unimaginable sadness.

This experience taught me there is a very fine line between joy and sorrow. In honor of Buddy, my daughter Cayla made the following FB post,

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

There is a very fine line between joy and sorrow.

We mourn the loss of our friend and yet through the tears we find ourselves smiling as we remember his adorable face and silly antics.

There is a very fine line between joy and sorrow.

It happens with pets and it happens with our children. Caryn and I will mourn when our last child heads off to college and yet though the tears we will smile with pride knowing our children are on a path to becoming the people God has in mind.

There is a very fine line between joy and sorrow.

It happens with pets and it happens with neighbors. I will mourn leaving Todd and Ruth; our neighbors for 25 years. Yet through the tears I will smile remembering every day talking with Todd over the fence. Like the time I said some unkind words at a family gathering WHILE THE BABY MONITOR WAS ON! Todd was the first person I confessed to and laughed with. I will miss the Meyers and the “refrigerator rights” we gave to one another.

There is a very fine line between joy and sorrow.

It happens with pets and it happens with disciples. Jesus shared these words preparing them for his departure.

John 15 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

There is a very fine line between joy and sorrow.

I can only imagine the sorrow Jesus felt knowing he was leaving the people he loved, suffering an unimaginable death, and watching the one he loved desert him. And yet he knew that his sacrifice would secure their place in eternity. He knew his sacrifice would demonstrate God’s unimaginable and unforgettable love for them. And in suffering for the sake of others, Jesus’ joy would be complete.

And he suggested if we love others like he loved us our joy would be complete. Maybe that’s why there is a fine line between joy and sorrow.

• Whenever we do something for the sake of others, the sorrow of losing them turns to joy remembering the opportunity we had to LOVE THEM.
  
• Whenever someone does something for our sake, the sorrow of losing them turns to joy remembering how they LOVED US.

There is a very fine line between joy and sorrow. And that fine line is the love; the love we share and the love we receive. 

May the line between your joys and sorrows remain thin. May your joys and sorrows be stitched together with love.

For those who weep and mourn, may you be constantly aware of God’s fine line … love!

Amen?

I grew up being taught by nuns at St. Adalbert’s Catholic Church and Grade School. Nuns were dressed in black and white and wielded rulers like light sabers. I am confident that I owe them an apology for more than one boyhood misstep. Like the time Russell and I called sister So-and-So Lizard Lips. Ok, I did not actually call her Lizard Lips. Russell did. But I got blamed for it because I couldn’t stop laughing. So an apology to all nuns everywhere for unruly Catholic boys.

But I also feel called to offer the “nones” an apology. What’s a “none”?  “The number of Americans who do not identify with any religion … “ Basically, “nones” have given up on the church. I have read their blog posts, heard their rants, and feel a pastoral apology is due.

First, I apologize the 21^st century church looks more like a rock concert. The rock and roll light scene does nothing for you. I understand. We are not what you want. I get that. Please realize this is not the first time this has happened. In the not too distant past, churches were subject to ridicule for being irrelevant. The smells and bells, robes and stoles meant less and less to people. So we changed and became more contemporary. We changed our language. Some went so far as to remove all religious symbols. The word disciple was replaced with Christ-followers. Worship Services and Mass became Gatherings or Celebrations. The pastors began wearing business casual and jeans. People got what they wanted and they came in droves! Many people are still here. But I am not sure this is what you want. I get it.

I apologize that the 21^st century church is not fighting social justice issues. I know the church struggles moving away from just feeding the poor to changing the structures that make the poor poor. I understand. You’d like to see us marching in parades and carrying banners fighting for social reform. I get that. Please remember that the church has a long-standing tradition to start with a person’s life being changed before going out and trying to change the world. Before we repent corporately, Jesus called us to repent individually. And quite frankly, we live in a sin adverse world where personal repentance is not in vogue. Today’s mindset suggests that as long as what I do does not hurt anyone, then it’s not a sin. But Jesus and the church never taught that. As a church, we continue to call people to personal repentance and experience change before they go and change the world. But I am not sure this is what you want. I get it.

I apologize the 21^st century church does not speak your language. But we try! I try. We try to use relevant life circumstance illustrations and language that connects in our sermons. We study and hone our communication skills. But let’s be honest, unless you enter into a conversation with us … unless you show up and engage with us … how can we ever learn your language. Yes, we’re on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We’re connecting with you through social media. But we’d like to connect with you in person. But I am not sure this is what you want. I get it.

I apologize that the 21^st century church talks about money. Every time you show up to church we talk about or ask for money. I bet that you are buried in student loans and financial debt and the thought of giving money to a religious institution is foreign and almost offensive. Please realize, generosity and giving is one of the spiritual disciplines we practice. Generosity grows our trust in others and God. And let’s be honest, you know this! You’ve experienced this. There have been times your generosity to others did more for the giver than the receiver. It just felt good. So we must continue to talk about generosity and giving in church. But I am not sure this is what you want. I get it.

If I can be so bold, I would like to share what I want for you, the Church, and my church. I want the church to be filled with people who want Jesus. Ok, there I go using insider language again. I apologize.

Let’s try this. With God’s help, I want the church filled with people who are discovering the

• Unexplainable FREEDOM that occurs when past wrongs locked behind doors of guilt encounter Jesus’ grace and forgiveness.
• Unbelievable ABILITY to be like Jesus; forgiving the unforgivable loving the unlovable, and giving the unimaginable.
• Unimaginable PEACE that comes not when we get what we want, but when Jesus reveals to us we have all that we need.

But I am not sure this is what you want.

But maybe it is …

Amen?