Christ Community Church

by Deb Borrello on February 25, 2010

A Matter of the Heart

(The following article came from an email sent to me by Brandi Wagar. The guy who wrote this is young, married, serves in Ministry, and has his whole life in front of him… however long that will be without a new heart. I hope you are as changed by his words as I have been. Blessings - Deb)

One of the hardest things for me to adjust to has been the realization that there are so many things I had nestled in the back of my mind that I was taking for granted - a million unexpressed and unarticulated desires that I assumed were bound up in the package deal of life. Growing old. Having kids. Watching those kids grow up. Moving back closer to home, deepening everyday-type ties to family. Helping my parents through old age and being with them when they pass away (Campus Crusade calls this "going home" - when someone dies, we call it a "homecoming" -isn't that neat?). Anyway, there are just a million things that I thought life would hold, or could hold. And it still might - but the odds are that it wont. I've just realized how much I've taken for granted, and while its been one of the bitterest pills to swallow, its made everything more precious. Being outside and having snow hit my face and breathing sharp night air made me cry. Take the time to look straight into the wind sometime when its snowing - we're all like those snowflakes, zooming along at a million miles and hour, and life dips and zigs and zags us as we could never predict, and then we're gone. I don't say that in a bitter tone - my life is sweet, and where I'm going is far sweeter. Looking at all those flakes, I think I realized for the first time that there's just so many people in the world. I don't really even know what I'm trying to say, but its important.

Here's a thought I wanted to share with you: God made us all differently, and I think he did it for a reason. I actually think this about everything on earth - that everything was created differently to show a different facet of His glory. Not just you, and me, and mountains, and sunrises - stuff like grass, and pebbles. And not just grass and pebbles, but each blade of grass, and each pebble. Psalm 8 talks about many of the aspects of creation that show God's glory - I think the voice of scripture teaches that literally all of creation does. Anyways, the reason I bring it up is that when I look at the church, at all of God's sons and daughters, I see that different people reflect different facets of God's glory and personality (its good to remember that if our personalities are complex and multifaceted, God's must certainly be even more so). So for example, part of God's glory is that He is victorious - He redeems creation, raises men from the dead, conquers the grave - He is always bursting through and over anything and everything in His way to reigning victoriously. And I think that some people reflect that - don't we all seem to know a couple of God's children who everything they touch turns to gold? They're healthy, happy, well provided for, have deep and inspiring faith, are married and faithful, have children who grew up to be Christians, etc. There's not many of them, probably even fewer than we think, but they are there - and when I see them, and watch them live, I am reminded that God is victorious, and in my heart I sing to Him of how great He is. There are other people who embody God's mercy, those people who simply glow with grace - they're gentle and kind, speak warmly, keep confidences well, dispense forgiveness liberally - I look at them and see that God's mercy trumpets through their lives. Just pick a trait, and I'm sure you can think of at least one person in God's family who seems to shine with it. Its as if God is trying to teach us about Himself through each other.

Now here's why I've been thinking along these lines: It says in Isaiah 53:3 that Jesus is "a man acquainted with sorrow". I've heard a bazillion sermons on this verse, or quoting this verse, and it seems that most of the time its only placed within the context of the last 24 hours of Jesus' life. As if to say that the sum total of Isaiah 53, the sum total of the sorrow in Christ's life (or at least the only sorrow that mattered), were the events of good Friday.

I don't think that's correct. Or rather, I don't think that's the whole picture. Of course the highlight and vast majority of Christ's ocean of suffering and sorrow had to be his betrayal, torture, death, and abandonment by the Father. But when the Bible says that someone is "acquainted with sorrow", I don't think its referring to just one day of a 33ish-year life. I think its much bigger than that.

It says in Hebrews 1:3 that Jesus is the exact representation of the Father's being - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, three-in-one, created this universe and everything in it. And He created it perfectly - without blemish, sickness, death, or tears. But here's the thing: if you really believe that God is sovereign, then you also believe that He created His world to break. To someday be redeemed in full, but in the meantime to be utterly broken - they sky fell in Genesis 3, and its been crushing us ever since. The Bible teaches that God created this world to necessitate his Son's being ripped to shreds - that He created, planning for His heart to be broken before final restoration could be complete. If Christ is a man acquainted with sorrow, it means the Father is acquainted with sorrow. Part of God's personality is not just the light that shines unhindered, but the light that breaks through the blackest of clouds. And if the Father is acquainted with sorrow, then the Son is acquainted with sorrow. Which means that for 30-some years, Jesus walked through the world He had created that was now rotting and dying and going to hell. He was surrounded by people who would die in damnation - he traversed a reality where death is so thoroughly ingrained that we call it "a part of life". I think that every dead bumble bee Christ saw along the path broke his heart. I think that every donkey that laid down to die in a field was gut-wrenching. I think that every moaning mother, newborn's cry, and funeral procession was an agony to him. Because this world was never meant to be like this. This corrupted, sick, dying place was originally made flawless, and we carry the promise that someday it will be so again. That someday the dwelling of God will be with men, and he will live with them. "They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21: 3-4)." But for now, as we wait for Jesus to come again, this place is broken - and I'm all but sure that it daily broke His heart.

God looks on us with compassion and breathes life into our hearts, opening our eyes to Him and calling us to Him. That's the Gospel, and its worth living for and dying for. We carry the Gospel around inside us, a radiant treasure of infinite worth, while we are like chipped, sun-dried, fragile, temporal clay pots. We endure the affliction of being alive in a fallen world because its nothing when compared with the weight of glory that the Gospel contains. And one of the main ways that the Gospel shines through us is in our weakness - we carry the death of Christ around in us, so that the life of Christ shines more brightly. We may long to flee our earthly bodies, to get free of this place and go home - but being persuaded of the surpassing value of the Gospel, and knowing Who exactly it is who has saved us, we seek to spend our lives telling others about the grace we've found.

Absolutely nowhere in the Bible does God promise us a long life or a good life - Hebrews 11 makes that perfectly clear. Some of the greatest saints of all time reflected God in victory - they conquered in battle, stopped the mouths of lions, saw their children raised from the dead. But others reflected God's glory in a life of agony - run through with swords, sawn in two, wandering the caves and deserts of the earth as destitute and hated men. The Bible doesn't teach that becoming a Christian makes life easier or fixes your problems - quite the contrary, it teaches that some of us will glorify God by hurting, and dying. For every Isaiah, there's a Jeremiah. The point is that while life may be neither long nor good, it will be with Him, and that is enough.

"Jesus, I give up being who I want to be, doing what I want to do, going where I want to go, becoming who I want to become. I'm moving down a rung on the ladder, and I'm letting you be first. I'm letting you determine who and what I am and will become, instead of trying to do that myself."

Mistaken Identity!

by Deb Borrello on February 12, 2010

All those who facebook were most likely some way involved in doppleganger week. If you have no idea what I'm talking about than you are either residing on another planet or have made much better use of your time than updating your status. Doppleganger week was a push for people to find and post a celebrity look-a-like pic as their profile pic. It's pretty amazing the physical similarities between many celebrities and my friends. I have to admit, some were a little closer than others, but whose judging. I especially enjoyed the confusion of one friend. She didn't realize she was looking at a celebrity pic and actually thought she was looking at her friend. She couldn't figure out why he would be posting a pic without a shirt on! Her confusion was short lived but for that brief time her friend was a dead ringer for someone famous. Flattering, right? Maybe not.

Were any of you disappointed with your doppleganger? Seriously, were you embarrassed by the person you most resemble? Why? Not as popular as you would have liked? Not as attractive you would have preferred? Dejected to learn that you only resemble a so-so celebrity as opposed to a big screen actor or Emmy award winning performer? Does the athlete you resemble spend more time on the bench than in the game? Or does the celebrity you are mistaken for spend more time in and out of jail or rehab than they do on t.v.? Was your own personal value affected by your look-a-like? Amazing to think that the more famous or infamous the celebrity the higher or lower OUR status as THEIR "look-a-like".

What would your profile picture look like if instead of external appearance it reflected your internal appearance - the heart of who you are? Would you still be embarrassed? Would you be excited or ashamed to post it? What if pics were not allowed to express who we want to be but rather who we are? What if there was no more hiding, no more faking it, no more creating a persona to fit the image you think others are looking for? What if all pics were fully honest images of who you are at this very moment - "the me nobody sees"? Would you hold back? Would you be able to post it?

I could. Not because of who I am or what I've done but because of who Jesus is and what He's done. You see, my internal appearance has been forever changed by Jesus. His death on the cross redeemed me. He took all my worthlessness and gave me value. He replaced my stinking, rotting, hardened heart and gave be a living, loving, life filled heart. Not only has He purchased my life on the cross but He took all my sins and failures and took them onto Himself. Because of what He did my profile pic would show a heart that is beautiful and far better than anything I could have achieved on my own. I have nothing to be ashamed of because Jesus is my doppleganger… is He yours?

Mistaken identity is really only valuable if the one we are mistaken for is greater than ourselves. Jesus is far greater than any of us will ever be. Post your pics this week on how Jesus is reflected in you. Share with everyone who you are in Christ. There are so many people out there who have yet to know Jesus as their savior. Wouldn't you rather them see Jesus in you? Christian - Christ-like - there is no greater Person worth resembling. What are you waiting for… show us your doppleganger Jesus style!

You Need A Small Group!

by Deb Borrello on February 01, 2010

Men’s Mentoring at Christ Community Church

by Neil Klusky on January 15, 2010

Happily Ever After

by Deb Borrello on January 14, 2010

Have you ever stopped to think that worldwide the one thing that permeates every culture and every peoples group throughout all time and all generations is storytelling? Stop for a moment and consider that. Think of the magnitude of that concept. Why the story? What is it about a story that transcends all borders?

Our God, the Master Storyteller, created STORYtelling. In the beginning was the WORD (John 1:1) because in the beginning is where the STORY began. Our God, in all His genius, created a universal form of communication - heavenly and earthly - that would have no boundaries. In addition, he created communication that requires relationship. All storytelling is built on two fundamental parts - a “teller” and a “hearer”. We are created to be relational, to be mutually dependent on our God and one another in order to have both rolls fulfilled within the story telling process. There is no story if there is no one to hear and there is no story if there is no one to speak.

From the foundations of the earth God has been telling the ultimate STORY through people, nations, and His creation. From Genesis to Revelation we have in writing a STORY that supersedes every other story on the planet. Jesus Himself in Matthew 11:15 says “he who has ears let him hear”. Why would He say that? Unless someone’s been born with a birth defect doesn’t that pretty much address the entire population of the world? Should everyone hear? Seems like a weird statement… you know, an “ok, Jesus” moment for the disciples. What is He calling us to? What if He is calling us to hear and understand? What if Jesus, the WORD, knowing there is no STORY if there is no one to listen, is calling us to stay alert and keep listening? What if He knows there are those of us who will forget the STORY or allow everyday life to push His STORY to the background? What if Jesus knows there will be many who will tune out the STORY on purpose. What if Jesus knows one of you reading this article right now wants to do anything but HEAR! Jesus gave us ears to be hearers of the STORY not hearers of the world. What value is there to listen to the irrelevant and inconsequential worldly-stories if we miss the STORY of STORIES and lose our souls?

Jesus has plans for you. You have been given ears to hear so start listening! Stop wasting your time listening to those who speak unintelligible babble. Every story the world has to tell you is merely a knock-off, a pitiful imitation of the true STORY! Why buy a rodex when you can have a rolex and why settle for worldly when you can have heavenly? I challenge you to find ONE story in all of history that comes close to God’s story. Find one that resonates with love and compassion as His STORY does. Find one where a love so great is poured out on the human race that God’s Son is put to death to save them. Find an earthly story immersed in Mercy, Infused with Grace, and driven by Love. Let me tell you now… it doesn’t exist. There is only ONE STORY so this is my advice to you: just be quiet for a minute… don’t make Him waste His breath… seriously, just shut up and LISTEN!

Don’t stop there!! You have only made it halfway! There is more!! All listeners must become tellers!! Take what you’ve heard and YOU tell the STORY. You don’t need a degree, you don’t need to be signed off, you don’t need a letter of reference! It is your God given responsibility to go and TELL! Don’t come crying to me that you stutter, stumble over your words or throw up when forced into public speaking! This is God’s commission not mine!! He has empowered you with Holy Spirit to enable you to be a hearer AND a teller!! You are not alone! We are never alone!! TELL everyone you meet everything He has done! We are not members of a secret society with a secret story. We are members of a Kingdom without walls with a STORY to be shouted at the top of our lungs! Open your mouth, pick up a pen, grab a keyboard, whatever, you know the STORY that has the power to bring Life! Are you willing to LISTEN and TELL?

Hoops Team Forming

by Scott Allen on December 09, 2009

Vision for the Nations

by Kristina Sundstrom on November 11, 2009

Throughout my life God has been giving me a heart for the nations and for missions. While this interest in the nations began as a desire to travel and see other cultures, as God captured my heart, he began to give me a vision for the nations. Now not only do I want to see the world, I want to see God’s love shine throughout the nations in ways that change both the hearts and the lives of people. I am learning more and more about how the Gospel has the power to both transform souls for eternity and to transform lives here on earth by providing hope and love to those who are referred to in scripture as “the least of these.” In addition to commanding us to “Make disciples of all nations” as in Matthew 28:19, God also directs us to act for justice. One of the many places where God commands this is in Isaiah 1:17, where He says, “Learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” The Gospel can accomplish both justice and salvation and, therefore, impact both the current moment and eternity if we allow God to work through us for his purposes.

As God has been refining my heart and developing my desire to reach the nations, I have had the privilege of going on several missions trips including one to Bosnia and another to Budapest, Hungary. On both of these trips I saw the importance of using the Gospel to serve others in the moment as well as impact them for eternity. In Bosnia we were able to work with the Phipps who have made incredible in roads in the Orthodox Church and are now working with the leaders of this church to help the congregation develop personal relationships with God and also serve the community around them. The Gospel has become more relevant to the members of their congregations when they can its direct impact on their cities.

In Budapest, Hungary I experienced a completely different kind of ministry that can serve both the immediate and eternal needs of the people. We engaged in a variety of experiences while on this trip from performing music to eating and talking with homeless people on the streets. While working with the Tobins, we learned a bit more about their vision for the city. It is their desire to open a coffee house that will provide a safe and comforting place for the people of Budapest to come and escape the challenges that they face every day. This city battles depression at incredible levels, and, therefore, many turn to coping mechanisms such as drinking. However, God is using the talents of the Tobins as both musicians and baristas to provide a haven in which people can find peace and joy amidst their daily struggles. In addition, the people of Budapest value intellect and the arts, and the Tobins hope to use music and the arts as a means through which to share to Gospel and impact souls for eternity.

While on both of these trips it became evident to me how God has plans to use each one of our talents to bring both justice and salvation to the nations. Ephesians 2:10 became one of the theme verses for our Budapest trip, and it says: 10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” God has prepared works for each one of us, and he has created us to fulfill them in our own unique ways. If we allow God to work through us, we can fulfill his commands to both share the Gospel with all nations and act against injustice.

CrossRoads wants Friends and Followers

by Deb Borrello on October 15, 2009