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Friday, May 15, 2009

Arkansas Day 4


From Big Creek to...Somewhere Else
It has been a while since I last wrote about our trip...sorry. You may want to back up and check out the previous posts:


We awoke on Wednesday to fog (and thus the wet laundry on the line). 




(yep, all those clothes...wet.)

We had spent most of Tuesday soaking wet - thanks to rapids and rain storms - and it had been really nice to change into dry clothes (those of us who had dry clothes that is). 

It took a while, but we got a fire going; wet, rotten driftwood can be hard to light... and it is SMOKEY!



If you have ever been on TREK you know that there is something magical that happens after a few days in the wilderness - pan fried spam becomes a delicacy. Any other time I'd save myself the trouble and just chew on the can, but when I started frying that spam...

The day was getting off to a pretty good start. The fog was clearing and the skies were not filled with death storms. After a good breakfast we loaded up and noticed that in fact the river had risen a good bit in the night, but everything was good. 

We even caught a couple fish before getting going. 

Everyone had paid the money to get an Arkansas fishing license for this trip and so far the results were pretty abysmal. We knew that the flow of the river was a bit fast, which had to be the problem. What we didn't realize was just how fast that river was getting.

Before leaving Texas we'd checked and the water was moving at around 300 cfm (cubic feet/minute) - nice leisurely float and slow enough to hopefully coax some fish into a frying pan.

What we didn't know was that by the time we got in the river on Monday afternoon the flow was at nearly 1000 cfm's...and by Wednesday it was at nearly 10,000 cfm!!!!


Somehow, the trip down to Middle Creek didn't take us very long...

The water level rising had transformed the calm river into the mess that had nearly drown us the day before and now its rising had actually made it so that the rapids we encountered were just rushing water through narrow areas - mostly passable and just fun.

We were all getting pretty good at navigating these still dangerous areas and took turns going through first. Though we were getting more comfortable we were still not taking any more chances and so at each one of these white water excursions we beached our kayaks and scouted out what we anticipated would be the safest route to take. After the first person entered the rapids then the rest could get a better idea of where to go and what to expect. 

It was just after one of sections that we found ourselves at Middle Creek - way sooner than we'd originally thought (I guess 10,000 cfm of water helps the paddling process...). 

Chris had gone through the rapids first and I could see that he was scouting out a cut back in the river. I followed him in and then I heard a sound that was almost as unwelcome as banjo's...

The unmistakable Arkansas accent calling out, "Oooohh, look! Kayakers! Woooooooo!!!!!"

"This is it," I thought, "I am NOT going out like this..."

I looked up on the hillside and there was a line of folks on horseback. 

Well, we may have to sacrifice Robey...I'm sure he'd want us all to continue on with happy lives. We'll tell your story friend...

After a couple minutes we decided that the hillbillies were mostly harmless, though I still wonder the 12 year-old was their spokesperson. We asked them if this was Middle Creek - they didn't know - and we asked them if they'd heard a weather report for the next couple days - nope, but they were quick to give us some guesses. Big help. Thanks.

We decided this was Middle Creek. We were lucky because where the creek entered the river there was a nice calm pool which was out of the flow of the river. We were unlucky because this bank of the river was incredibly steep. 

That meant were going to have to make camp on the other side of the river and hope we could make it across the current before being carried too far downstream - there was no coming back up stream in that stuff!

Middle Creek was the destination that most of were looking forward to most because it was where we'd found (via maps) several 80 foot tall waterfalls. The plan was to spend a whole day scouting out these falls. I was really excited. 

We made it across the river with no real problems and actually found a great campsite up on a ledge. Obviously this place had been used by folks on several occasions - there was even a homemade table! 



While we were getting water (which was an exhausting process that we got to repeat when we accidentally dropped the container and got river water in it...), we saw more people. These were other floaters - a guy in a small sit-in kayak and a skinny dude single-handedly navigating a large aluminum canoe like a champ...I was impressed. They were quickly out of sight and we went back to getting water and setting up camp.

For some reason there were bees all over this campsite, but we survived. Everyone's tent got up, a small pile of firewood was already started, clothes were drying on trees down by the river...awesome!

We grabbed some stuff for a quick scouting trip across the river and headed back down the kayaks. We'd only been at this site for about an hour but when we went down to the water we realized that there was about 2 or 3 feet less of beach...

The river was still rising.

Nobody wanted to be the one to say that we should move on, but nobody wanted to get stranded on this stinking river either.

After a while we made the difficult decision to abandon Middle Creek and head for Cow Creek. It would only be a short trip into Buffalo City from there and hopefully we'd be able to get out even if the river continued rising.

So, back up the hill to the campsite, break everything down, a sad farewell to the table we'd barely gotten to know and the campsite at Middle Creek was history...tiring useless history.

It wasn't too long before we came upon the two paddlers we'd seen earlier. Their canoe had apparently been loaded down with the REI base camp starter kit.

These guys had a great big tent, a cooler with who knows what and a bunch of random supplies - our kayaking / canoe trip on the Brazos last week with some guys from Granbury was actually pretty similar.

We stopped and talked to these hardcore guys from Minnesota (of all places) and learned that not only would the rain continue but they were actually predicting snow and possibly blizzard conditions in the next couple days.

Perfect.

I looked at the guys and asked, "so am I the only one who didn't pack for snow?"

I wasn't.

One of the reasons that the decision to leave Middle Creek was difficult was that it was getting close to dark. As much as we didn't want to get stuck in the middle of the wilderness if the river rose too much we also didn't want to get stuck on the water when the sun went down. Around here if you need to get out of the water you just head for the bank and get out. In the Arkansas wilderness the 200 ft cliffs, steep hillsides and thick underbrush make exit points rare.

So we paddled pretty steadily and kept moving toward Cow Creek - which was identifiable by the Elephant Head Rock...which was much more elephanty than the pictures had seemed. Weather permitting the plan had been to spend a day at Cow Creek also - there was a loop hiking trail here with some historic landmarks and interesting scenery. 

There were also people camped there...PEOPLE! We were getting very tired of seeing people on this day when we were in the middle of the wilderness getting away from people. 

We decided to press on and found a great campsite not long before sundown...there was a large stretch of beach and then a steep bank up to a ledge about 20 feet above the water. Surely this would be safe even if the river rose all night!

The rain started about the time we got the tents set up and dinner started. We scrambled to set up the rain fly (a chore we had perfected on Tuesday!) and I finished cooking dinner while the guys secured the kayaks a little higher up the bank, just in case...

All in all the evening turned out pretty good though. The rains stopped after a little while, dinner was good and we felt pretty good that the kayaks would still be there in the morning.

Good night Arkansas.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

We Are Not Alone

Happy Mother’s Day!
Today is a special day for so many of us - there are those, such as myself, who have been blessed with loving mothers and who are married to women who are loving mothers. My mother sacrificed so much for us, especially when we were very young and she worked 3 jobs just to keep the plates spinning...Every time someone comments on my wife’s blog or facebook that she is truly a great mom, my own heart swells with pride...My mother-in-law is incredibly thoughtful and was responsible for teaching and training this generation’s most talented mother...My little sister who is now happily blogging about diapers and spit-up...My grandmothers who are now spoiling my children just like they spoiled us when we were little (and when we were over there last time...) - to all of you wonderful women - Happy Mother’s Day!!!

At the same time that this day is a happy one for so many of us, for too many others it is a painful reminder of even more painful memories, disappointments and tragedies.

To all those who weep today because you’ve never been able to conceive a child; to those who have lost children or lost mothers; to those who’ve never had a good relationship with their mother and to mothers who long for reconciliation with their children; to all for whom this day causes mourning instead of rejoicing: we hurt together and in one voice we cry out to God for the day when he will set all these things right. We call for justice because the world is not as it was meant to be.

My prayer is that you will find peace and comfort in the midst of your pain. I pray also that you are blessed with a community of friends and family to surround you. I urge you to reach out to those around you - you may feel that no one can understand your pain, and that may be true; you may feel that people won’t know what to do with you if you are honest, and sadly that could possibly be the case as well.

But that’s what makes the comfort of a friend so effective. It is truly powerful and worth the risk it takes to invite it in precisely because it isn’t available from just anyone. If you are alone, we invite you into community with us. If you don’t live near us, we want to help you find community with someone near you - but we can’t help you if you remain silent.

I love that I am a part of a small but vibrant and growing community of people dedicated to this kind of shared life. It is hard and so often we look around and secretly long for the days of anonymous, consumer Christianity - just like the newly freed Israelites longed for the familiarity of life as a slave in Egypt.

Sometimes it feels like we are alone in this struggle. It can seem as though no one understands what we’re experiencing...

And so to everyone who experiences this type of fear - hurting mothers, lonely children and the communities that seek to journey with the hurting and lonely - I say this, you are NOT alone...WE ARE NOT ALONE!

I read an article this morning about a church that reminded me a lot of Christ Journey and it struck me that there are communities like us springing up all over. Its happening because we need it to happen, its happening because God has been calling us to let him make it happen! And as it happens, the hurting find hope amid incarnational communities and those communities can share hope with one another.

So do not allow the excuses to pile up. If you are afraid or alone, know that these are characteristics of the kingdom that is passing away and Jesus’ words of good news are offered to you, “The Kingdom of God is at hand!”

We invite you to cultivate the With-God life and experience the Community of God here and now...

Friday, May 8, 2009

Seeing It In Practice

Sometimes I get worked up about stuff... 

I take something which has personal significance, put effort into preparing it, risk being misunderstood or taken advantage of and put it out for other people to see. Then I sit and wonder if anyone cares.

My previous post, When Weariness is Sacred, was one of those experiences and this time we received a very powerful response to our story of weariness.

Yesterday on Christ Journey Life I posted most of a letter I received from a friend. It came in the mail Thursday morning and Rachel called me in tears in the middle of my formation group to read it to me. She doesn't usually do that...

If you haven't read the letter/post, check out That God Would Refresh Your Tiredness - a title taken from a line in the letter.

The interesting thing is how timely this letter really was given what we're processing through at Christ Journey. This week Chris and I have been preparing to help our community think through the cycles of confusion and clarity that the Church has experienced since the beginning - cycles which heighten our anticipation of God reconciling all things and sorting through the chaos.

But last week - and my friend was likely unaware of this when she wrote her letter - we talked about our core value of Mission. Like the Weariness post, this sermon was one in which I have a lot of personal investment. To some people that may seem like an odd thing for a minister to say. Certainly I invest myself in each message I bring to the community; of course I value speaking the truth in the midst of the Gathered People. But sometimes the content is something particularly special for me. This was one of those sermons. 

You can listen to the podcast of the sermon on Christ Journey's iTunes account or using the sermon player feed. If you weren't gathered with us at the Nashville room on Sunday I encourage you to check out the podcast...mostly because my brilliant 5 year old read a prayer like a pro (there are several prayers which lead into the message...Conner is the one that sounds like a kid's voice!)

But I'm also posting a modified transcript here because without even knowing it, my friend was living out the content of this message...

(Reader 1) Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us grace to contend fearlessly against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in maintaining justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 


(Reader 2) Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.


(Reader 3) Dear God, our Father in heaven, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.


(Reader 4) Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom: Enlighten by your Holy Spirit those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of your truth, they may worship
you and serve you from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.


(Reader 5) Almighty God our heavenly Father, you declare your glory and show forth your handiwork in the heavens and in the earth: Deliver us in our various occupations from the service
of self alone, that we may do the work you give us to do in truth and beauty and for the common good; for the sake of him who came among us as one who serves, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 


(Bret) O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you, bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

.......


Before the beginning there was a community. God has always existed as a community of one. Don’t try to figure out the math - I suspect it just might be beyond us! What we should focus on, what we can grasp is that we are to understand God as relationship of love and sacrifice. It is not just an important value of God’s, but is actually a part of Who God Is!


And so we’ve talked a lot about community for the last several months. If something is seen to be a basic expression of the nature of God, it should definitely find its place as a core value for His Church, right? Even last week, as Chris used the image of an elaborate song to illustrate what the Church is, we saw community. We saw that the different instruments, melodies and chords were all meant to exist in harmony. None were complete on their own - each was a part of much larger story being told. That is the Church - an expression of the community of God in this place.


I wanted to start by saying something about community because we’re going to focus on another one of our core values today. And this core value loses its value if it is understood as something separate and apart from the others... 


Before the beginning there was a community. This Community of what we refer to as Father, Son and Holy Spirit had a perfect relationship of mutual love and respect. This community was not incomplete, it was the definition of completion. It needed nothing, it lacked nothing.


However, the relationship of the community, being rooted and established in a deep indescribable love, felt compelled to Create. Isn’t that what love does? It creates more opportunity for love.


And so we have the episode of the Story we refer to as Creation. And God, the initiator of community went into this place. He walked in the Garden. He continued creating and he continued relating to his Creation.


Even through the episode of Crisis, when the creation rejected the relationship of love and community and instead launched into selfishness and isolation...still this God continued going to his Creation. He called a man named Abraham and made a Covenant with this man. God, the Relational One, blessed Abraham and promised that through Abraham all peoples on earth would be blessed...in fact all of creation would be blessed.


As the children of God continued year after year to cycle through seasons of Confusion and Clarity, this God, who exists in Community, kept going back to them over and over. He patiently taught and corrected and reminded and invited and urged and groaned and pleaded. 


The Community could not stand to see Creation languishing in isolation.


And so the relationship with great leaders and the inspiration of great prophets continued until the God of Community decided that ambassadors would no longer suffice. 


Once again, God would walk in the Garden. 


And so once again the relational God of community sent himself - that is the nature of true community. And Jesus the Christ walked among us.


He gathered a community around him and continually invited the broken, overlooked, forgotten and oppressed to rejoice because the Community of God was at hand - it was here and they were invited in.


And when the time came for Jesus to return to the Father, the Spirit was sent. And the Spirit wasn’t sent to wander aimlessly - it came to form and cultivate community in the Church...which was to become the Body of Christ. And that Spirit called for the community of believers to be sent to the ends of the earth, 

continuing the ministry that Jesus had dedicated himself to, 

    continuing the ministry that God had called Abraham to, 

        continuing the ministry that God initiated in the first Garden, 

            continuing the act that began in the beginning, 

                continuing the character of the one who was a Community before the Beginning.


The Community cannot be understood as something that exists somewhere off by itself. The nature of True Community is expansive. It is dynamic. That means that it is always growing and bringing into itself everything around it. The Community is not located somewhere behind closed doors.


The Community is not community if it is only focused on itself. That is something less than Community. There is no Community apart from Mission. 


And there it is.


One of our stated core values is Mission. We make an unbelievably huge mistake if we see mission as something that some of us are called to “do.” While mission is certainly active, it is more than doing...it is an essential part of our “being.” 


A house church that is invested in the lives of its participants - but has no vision for its neighbors is not yet community. It may be a great thing for those who participate, but it is something less than Community.


As a follower of Christ and a member of the Church we are called to Community - with one another and with God. And its pretty simple - to be in community with God means to be caught up in his Mission, because God is a missionary God...


God’s Mission is to restore relationship and expand Community. All the prayers we prayed a few minutes ago are prayers for God’s Mission - prayers for those who serve the poor, who battle injustice, who love and raise children, who invest in the lives of others, who teach, people who have a job...all these are contexts for Mission when they are approached intentionally.


They are not an excuse to say, “oh my work is mission so I’m doing what I’m supposed to.”


Okay, that’s great...how are you participating in Mission through your work? Are you intentionally living as though the Community of God were a reality in that place? Do you treat people with dignity and respect...even the ones you don’t like? 


Front yard bbq’s, trips to Chick-Fil-A (or intended trips), an intentional visit to the park with your kids, serving as a counselor at Royal Family Kids Camp, giving up a Saturday so that Harvest House can be open for those who can’t come by during the week, sharing a meal with the poor - showing them dignity and friendship...these are all examples of participating in Mission and are an important part of experiencing Community.


The question is, what’s next for our Community? What new opportunities are there for loving this place and these people? It might be something big - like traveling to another city to wait in line for meal coupons to give to the hungry. It might be something small - putting an extra package of hotdogs in the shopping cart that you can share with a neighbor the next time you fire up the grill, or taking your kids to the park with an eye for the Mom who hasn’t had an adult conversation in days...


This isn’t merely about “doing” - its about being who we were created to be and experiencing life as God is restoring it to be.