Do you ever feel lost in the shuffle?

I googled myself today just to see if I existed... so I typed in "craig story" and found 16,500,000 results. In the first 100 results, there were about 90 web pages with the "Larry Craig story", 9 with "my Jenny Craig story", and one about a boy named Craig that used to live in Africa titled "Craig's story." I didn't hit the other 16,499,900 results, but I bet they would be about the same. In other words, most people in the world don't even know I exist.



Fortunately, in my life there have been several key people that did know I existed, and even cared about the fact that I existed. It was through the influence of these key individuals that I began to consider spiritual things... and it was through their influence that I chose to become a follower of Christ. Even though most of the world didn't even know I was alive, a few people loved me enough to help me consider a relationship with God in a new way. It was their compassion that persuaded me to follow Christ. In twenty years, I wonder how many people will say the same thing about me and my influence in their lives... I hope there will be a lot.

What a morning!

If you missed this morning at Church At The Grove, you missed an incredible thing. We worshipped "in the round," Russ did an incredible job communicating that "Life is too difficult of a journey to do it alone," and we took communion together. "Linked" Sunday was a great way to spend the day.

When Amy and I sat down after we took communion, we really started watching the individuals and couples that approached the tables. It brought tears to our eyes to see the people that were there... people that have recently begun their spiritual journeys... people that, if not for Church At The Grove, would not be exploring faith anywhere. As we sat there, we were overwhelmed with love for all that God is doing in the lives and hearts of people. I hope you are experiencing that same overwhelment as you think about the people that are part of the CATG Community.

Bullies . . .Week 1

If you missed yesterday, you missed a great one. Thanks to all who helped us transition back to two services (Chad and the set-up team, David and the band, Rosemary and the children's team, along with all the first-impression and hospitality people). It was great!

If you weren't there, let me catch you up... God has given all of us a certain amount of talent, time, strengths, resources, and character qualities. He wants us to use those things to develop people to follow Jesus and make disciples. When we do that, awesome things happen. However, when we use what we have carelessly - and specifically, when we use those things for our own benefit instead of the benefit of others - we create chaos. Samson did that. He had incredible strength and an incredible calling on his life, but he used that strength carelessly. His main concern was himself and he wound up missing out on the opportunity he had to rescue the Israelites from the Philistines. In short, he abused his strengths... and became a bully.

In contrast, Jesus had greater strength, greater power, greater status, and a greater calling. But, instead of carelessly looking to benefit himself, he "emptied" himself of everything that made him great... and he went and suffered on a cross for our sake. As a result, God accomplished everything he needed to through his Son... we can now have a relationship with God because of the forgiveness Jesus offers. (Read more of the story in Philippians 2)

Two very different individuals (Samson / Jesus) with very different passions (himself / others) finished their lives with very different outcomes (dead with a reputation as a "bully"/ alive with the character of a "savior"). Jesus loved us to the point that he gave up everything so we could have a relationship with God. That is the clearest example of Persuasive Compassion that the world has ever seen. We want Church At The Grove to consistently display that kind of compassion toward those we run across every day. And, we want you to be part of that journey.


P.S. Check the church website later this week to listen to Russ' message about Samson.

Persuasive Compassion

My friend, Russ Butcher, taught one time that "compassion" in a biblical sense means that you are moved by empathy for some one so much that you have no choice but to act. In other words, a situation or a person impacts you so deeply that you can't remain distant from the situation... you have to do something. You can listen to his whole message on Church At The Grove's website. Choose "Listen Online" in the upper left corner, and listen to "009 Plunge - Love God. Love People."

My family and I have been moved by a situation so much that we no longer have the choice of staying out of it. We have to do something. Pray for us as we act. Pray that it will go smoothly. Pray that the "best" thing for everyone will happen without too much opposition.

Now, stop reading this and ask God if there's a situation in your own life that God wants to use you in... maybe he wants you to demonstrate compassion in such a way that it persuades people to seek God in a new way. I'll pray for you as you go.

P.S. Find me Sunday and tell me what happens... or email me and share your own story... I want to celebrate with you as follow Christ in practical ways.

Chocolate Meringue or Lemon Meringue?

I went to lunch with a few friends at a barbeque restaurant nearby. The food was good, the service was friendly, and the conversation was fun and lively. As the meal progressed, one of the peopel eating with me realized they had a "random connection" with our waitress through a brother that taught at the high school she attended, so we used that for a series of jokes and jabs. After we finished our meal, the waitress came up and asked us if we wanted any desserts... we politely replied "no thanks." She replied by describing the chocolate meringue and lemon meringue pies with details that almost had us convinced... but we resisted anyway. Then, with sincerity (and a little salesmanship) the waitress asked a unique question: "What is that hasn't convinced you yet?" The question was simple, unassuming, and appropriately phrased given the relationship we had developed with her during the previous hour. And, with that question, one member of our party said that he simply didn't have room for a piece today, but he would get one the next time he came. And, with that, she wished us a good day and we left.



Contrast that situation with the rants that Christians sometimes get on about certain issues or the fights we get in with certain people, and it becomes easy to see why the "Good News" about Jesus is often misunderstood or simply rejected. Persuasion is pretty easy... convincing someone to believe or act a certain way can be accomplished in many ways... withold basic necessities of life... threaten greater harm... use force... take advantage of "positional authority"... lie... embellish... or any other of a thousand different methods. But persuasion that isn't pushy is a rare thing. Persuasion based on a relationship that leads to a perfectly-phrased and perfectly-timed question is the key to a lot of situations.



We want people to choose to become Christ followers. Sometimes that journey takes a long time for a person. But, that's okay. We will continue to see people as people (instead of the next notch in our belt). We will continue to provide a place for them to explore faith at their own speed. We will continue to build friendships with them because we understand how important it can be to know the people you journey with. And, along the way, we will ask them questions (like "what is it that hasn't convinced you yet?"), listen to their answers, listen to their questions, and answer them as best we can. Then, if they are still not convinced, we will wish them a good day, and be available when they continue their spiritual pursuit in the future. It seems like "persuasion," but it's actually something else... it's persuasive compassion.