brians blah blah blahg

just now finding the space to think back over this year’s “what if the church…?” project/endeavor/chaos/beauty. 11 churches in kc surrendered their pulpits and taught the same messages for 3 weeks. 1600 people gave up their saturday to serve in the urban core. 9 urban organizations got countless to do items punched out. and 2600 people worshipped at theater in the park on wednesday. and box truck full of supplies went out to serve the city.

but what did God get out of it? that is tall question and even carries a presumptuous twinge in proposing an answer. but what do you think God got out of it? the people got exposed to great missions. the missions got contact with people who represent volunteers, churches, and future resources. the buildings got fixed, painted, cleaned, landscaped, and sheetrocked. the communities of kck and kcmo got visitors at least for a day. churches got to make a difference in the city. the city got more personal to everyone who served. but what did God get?

did God get resources for his ministries? nope, had that already. did God get a great concert? maybe, but no way it compares to the music of the heavenly realms. did God get pleasure from his word being taught? probably and now we might be getting warmer. Psalm 147 takes a stab at what pleases God…

⁷ Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
make music to our God on the harp.

⁸ He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.

⁹ He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call.

¹⁰ His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of a man;

so what does God get?

Psalm 147 verse 11 says

¹¹ the LORD delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love

of all the things that “what if” may have done for the people, the churches, and the city…

the one thing God may have gotten out of it is the attention of His children. anyone that served with a healthy sense of fear toward God, the kind of fear that a child has when they have a father that expects them to make wise, selfless choices and live to higher standards, probably put a smile on the Father’s face. anyone that served, taught, sang,  or played that did it all for audience of just 1-God, most likely got an affirming nod. and all the people that served and gave because they know the only hope of the city is God and His unfailing love, can sense the affirmation of the Father.

and what did God get again? He got what every father wants-the opportunity to tell a story about a time when His kids were being good.

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God

www.whatifthechurch.net

coming again in 2010.