Category "Life With God"

Quoting from Paul Scanlon’s book The 15 Revolution:

The 15 Revolution is a revolution of love, interest and compassion for people.

It is learning to live, as it were, with your head on “swivel” as you begin to notice the people who were always there…

Evangelism without compassion is a loveless duty and compassion is not fueled by duty, but God’s amazing grace.

The 15 Revolution is all about increasing our personal compassion quota.

Helping others in any sustained way has to be compassion-driven.

Duty, obligation and guilt can all motivate us, but they lack long-term sustainability.

Compassion keeps us going in the face of a poor response.

Being a Christian places us in the privileged category of those whom God has been compassionate—that reality should be all the motivation we ever need to help someone else.

Compassion is fueled by empathy, a sense of walking in another person’s shoes. That empathy-fueled compassion then thinks about how to make those shoes easier to walk in.

Increased compassion makes us better people.

Compassion notices things, spots opportunities to help and looks for ways to ease suffering.

Compassion increases by helping others and forgetting about ourselves.

The resulting condition is called Christianity.

It doesn’t matter if it’s dodgeball, basketball, football, paintball or steal the bacon…

Picking teams is all about selecting the right people—for your advantage.

We choose the biggest, fastest, strongest, most recognized, talented and experienced players to be on our teams.

But…

God’s kingdom doesn’t work this way.

He’s not interested in selecting people for His advantage.

He has selected us and welcomed us to His team—and this cost Him. It really cost Him.

It’s not as if we had something to offer Him—we don’t make Him victorious or more successful.

“Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you were called into this life.

I don’t see many of the ‘brightest and the best’ among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families.

Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that culture overlooks and exploits and abuses…

Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1.26-27, 30 MSG)

The 15 Revolution isn’t about selecting people for our advantage.

It’s not about surrounding ourselves with people who will help us “win”.

The 15 Revolution is about loving, welcoming, including, serving and blessing people—even when it costs a lot.

Neighbors are those nice people you trust and enjoy spending time with.

But what about all those people you don’t trust or enjoy spending time with?

They seem unfriendly.

They vote differently than you do.

They have loud parties when you’re trying to sleep.

Their dog thinks your yard is his bathroom.

Their lifestyle is… uh, “alternative.”

They don’t mow their lawn.

They are drunk. Often.

They don’t qualify as “neighbor” material, right?

The Bible says we must “Love God with everything you have, everything you are… and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10.27)

A religion scholar in Jesus’ day felt trapped by this command to love God and his neighbors…

Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define neighbor?” (Luke 10.29 MSG)

In typical fashion, Jesus tells a story—this time about a “good Samaritan.”

In Jesus’ story, the guy who was robbed and beaten is Jewish.

The other guy—the only one who stopped and helped—is a Samaritan.

Jews and Samaritans were known for their unneighborly tendencies toward each other.

They generally hated each other.

They certainly didn’t hang out BBQing or celebrating the 4th of July together.

So, let’s get back to the question…

People we don’t trust or or enjoy spending time with don’t qualify as “neighbor” material, right?

Well, the question is wrong.

Because the onus (responsibility) of being neighborly isn’t on them.

It’s on us.

Yup.

It is our responsibility to love God and love people—regardless of their condition, behavior, lifestyle or attitude.

And we have lots of neighbors…

How we feel determines what we see.

Feeling fearful?
Suspicious movement in the shadows catch your attention.

Feeling hungry?
Everywhere you look, another fast food advertisement pops up.

Feeling confident?
Somehow, you catch all the admiring looks and smiles of approval.

Feeling arrogant?
You quickly notice how weak, inept and foolish these people are.

Feeling shy?
It’s obvious that everyone fits perfectly here—except you.

Feeling hopeful?
Opportunity is everywhere!

Feeling angry?
Each failure and act of incompetence plays out vividly before you.

Feeling happy?
You see beauty everywhere—the falling leaves, snow-capped mountains and fluffy clouds.

When Jesus saw crowds of people, he felt compassion for them.

How He felt determined what He saw.

He didn’t feel put-out, bothered, annoyed, superior, scared, disappointed, let-down…

He felt compassion.

He felt compassion and saw that people were hurting, confused, struggling, helpless—like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9.36)

Jesus, full of compassion for the crowds, turned to his disciples and said, “What a huge harvest! How few workers! On your knees and pray…” (Matthew 9.37, 38 MSG)

The harvest demands more workers who are motivated by compassion.

That’s right—we need more compassion workers!

The harvest is huge.

Hurting, confused, struggling, helpless people should never annoy us (not if we’re motivated by compassion).

How we feel determines what we see.

Let’s pray this simple prayer: God—help us to feel what you feel and see what you see!

#The15Revolution

http://www.15rev.com/

Sometimes, I think we approach things backwards.

Here’s what I mean…

We criticize loudly and publicly but admit our mistakes quietly (or silently—or not at all).

We want a say in how things go, but we want other people to cover the cost.

We’re obsessed with rules and regulations, but we’re not interested in grace.

We’re full of political opinions, but rarely have a kingdom perspective.

We’re aging on the inside, but fighting to stay young on the outside.

We want church to be comfortable and familiar for us, but we’re not concerned about those who are outside the church.

I’m sure there are plenty of other examples—here’s one I want to focus a little more attention on…

We’re incredibly sensitive—easily hurt, offended and wounded, but we’re insensitive—cold, indifferent and harsh with others (especially those outside our group).

That’s backwards.

And messed up.

Instead, we should be unoffendable—but incredibly sensitive toward others (especially those outside our group).

We need thick skin when things don’t go our way, we’re criticized, when we’re told no…

And we need soft hearts for others.

Essentials for the 15 Revolution: thick skin and soft hearts.

“Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.” (1 Peter 3.8, 9 MSG)

http://www.15rev.com/

Books available for purchase $7 at Fairwood Church
Sundays 8:30, 10 & 11:30am

Did He select the twelve from the best Ivy League schools?

Did He stage his audiences with gorgeous people for the press cameras?

Did He honor the sexist, racist and bigoted conventions of his time?

Did He surround himself with people from the right side of the tracks?

Oh no He didn’t.

He didn’t select disciples based on their academic qualifications.

His ragtag disciples were fishermen, tax collectors and common men—all chosen to be carriers and representatives of his Good News to the world.

Jesus’ words and relationships confirmed the value He gave to those on the fringes of society.

His daily acquaintances included such characters as beggars, prostitutes, wild-eyed demoniacs, lepers, half-breeds, tax collectors, widows, the poor, the blind, the deaf and the paralyzed.

The Pharisees rejected these troll-like people, except as needed for their own attention.

Jesus announced that the “least of these” —the hungry, thirsty, imprisoned, sick, stranger, and impoverished are His representatives; when we care for their needs, we care for God Himself (Matthew 25:34–40).

To reject the rejected is not OK in God’s kingdom.

No smells, appearance, moral depravity, or economic condition is worthy of turning someone away.

Part of what it means to be in the kingdom is to have genuine, compassion-fueled relationships with these “least ones” —the rejected, ragtag, troll-like fringes of society.

“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life… if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor…

Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.

Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”

(Philippians 2.1-4 MSG)

The following are quotes from Paul Scanlon’s book: The 15 Revolution…

The 15 Revolution is as simple – and as difficult – as being willing to give 15 minutes a day to be inconvenienced in order to help someone. It is being willing to give 15 minutes a day to be interrupted, distracted, diverted or delayed. 15 minutes to add value to someone else’s world.

It sounds simple, I know, but what makes it difficult is how ‘hard wired’ we are against being inconvenienced, interrupted or delayed.

I’m not trying to offer some complex new theology or evangelistic concept. This is more about mobilization than theology. Because we are all selfish by nature, we do not default to helping others. So, without a revolution of some kind, that innate selfishness always wins in the end.

To slow down is anti-cultural.

The 15 Revolution sets out to reverse this trend, to make us more aware of the people in our immediate space and to provoke us to be the bringers of God’s life to the hurting world on our doorstep.

God is always willing to be inconvenienced to reach someone and so must we.

We are going to have to step outside of our routines, plans and agendas if we want to join the 15 Revolution and embrace inconvenience as our friend.

Our pace of life and our sense of personal space / boundaries has made it nearly impossible for us to get involved with the needs of others.

Jesus was willing to be inconvenienced.

He paused.

He stopped.

He allowed interruptions to his schedule.

He fed, comforted, welcomed, healed and restored.

He lifted burdens.

If we don’t (pause, stop, allow interruptions to our schedules, comfort, welcome, heal, restore and lift burdens), we have wandered away from what Jesus is all about.

“Jesus arrived… ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do this because God was with him.” (Acts 10.38 MSG)

About a year ago, I heard Paul Scanlon teach on being willing to be inconvenienced. That teaching has since been put into a book: The 15 Revolution.

The book is legit—you will love it.

I want all my friends to read it (which is why we purchased cases of them and are selling them for just $7).

Here are a few quotes from the book:

“The 15 Revolution is as simple – and as difficult – as being willing to give 15 minutes a day to be inconvenienced in order to help someone. It is being willing to give 15 minutes a day to be interrupted, distracted, diverted or delayed. 15 minutes to add value to someone else’s world.”

“It sounds simple, I know, but what makes it difficult is how ‘hard wired’ we are against being inconvenienced, interrupted or delayed.”

I’m not trying to offer some complex new theology or evangelistic concept. This is more about mobilization than theology. Because we are all selfish by nature, we do not default to helping others. So, without a revolution of some kind, that innate selfishness always wins in the end.”

“To slow down is anti-cultural.”

“The 15 Revolution sets out to reverse this trend, to make us more aware of the people in our immediate space and to provoke us to be the bringers of God’s life to the hurting world on our doorstep.”

“God is always willing to be inconvenienced to reach someone and so must we.”

“We are going to have to step outside of our routines, plans and agendas if we want to join the 15 Revolution and embrace inconvenience as our friend.”

I’m super excited for this new series at Fairwood Church.

Let the revolution begin!

Did He create an exclusive insiders-only club?

Did He speak in KJV only?

Did He wear a suit and tie on Sundays?

Did He hide from people who were dirty and messed-up?

Did He create his own subculture—complete with schools, stores, TV shows, movies and music?

Did He put bumper stickers on his donkey?

Did He isolate himself?

Did He picket?

Did He go political?

Did He coddle his supporters?

Did He keep a safe distance from sinners?

Did He ignore the outcasts—the fringes of society?

Did He care more about his reputation than people?

Did He stay so busy that he had no time left to help others?

Did He avoid being inconvenienced?

Oh no He didn’t.

(or as some people like to say: “Oh no He dih—ent”)

But the religious leaders did—which is why Jesus said this to them:

“Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.” (Matthew 9.13 MSG)

I wonder… do we follow after the Pharisees or do we follow after Jesus today?

Are we practicing Pharisee-anity?

Or are we practicing Christianity?

Did He befriend the outcasts?

Did He hang with outsiders?

Did He welcome people with bad reputations?

Did He include people who didn’t have it all together?

Did He ease burdens and lighten the load?

Did He care?

Did He love?

Did He allow his schedule to be interrupted?

Did He comfort?

Did He heal?

Did He restore?

Oh yes He did.

And we’re privileged to continue this work…

“Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.”
—Jesus (Matthew 25.40 MSG)

The incredible thing is, when we serve/bless/love someone in need, we are serving/blessing/loving Jesus!

“I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.” —Jesus (Matthew 25.35-36 MSG)

So, the questions get turned on us…

Do we befriend the outcasts?

Do we hang with outsiders?

Do we welcome people with bad reputations?

Do we include people who didn’t have it all together?

Do we ease burdens and lighten the load?

Do we care?

Do we love?

Do we allow his schedule to be interrupted?

This is what the 15 Revolution is all about.

It’s that daily reminder to serve/bless/love.

It’s a simple way for us to “plan” each day to be alert and ready to give 15 minutes of our life to bless someone else.

When the questions are asked of me (did you care—did you love—did you welcome—did you include), I want the answer to be a definitive: “Oh yes he did!” —not— “Oh no he didn’t!”