At first, the guys and I were going to go with a funny video idea called “Witnessia”.  But the more we talked about it, the more we felt like we wanted to say something really important.  While some Producers use humor to do that, it’s never been our forte.  For us, the answer was to create a short film called “The Least”.  For me personally, it’s the film that’s been haunting me for a couple of years.  I’ve felt like I was supposed to create it, but I kept putting it off.  The urgent kept winning out over the important.  Happens most days to me.

So we invited a few key people to participate.  Then, we invited everyone who follows us on Twitter and Facebook to participate as extras.  We had to create a church service dismissing, then walking to the parking lot, and then to cars. We shot from 10:00am – 1:00pm in the Fresno heat (106 degrees that day).

We also had to find the perfect church building.  We found it in a neighboring town.  Pastors Paul and Greg were extremely gracious to us, allowing us to use their more-than-perfect facility.

The short film debuted at the Echo Night of Film on July 29, 2010.  As hundreds of people watched it, I felt like my heart was gonna jump out of my chest.  The three of us were interviewed afterward (live).  I muddled something like, “Mama got dogface in the banana patch”.  I was too nervous to speak with any coherence, so Dave and Jason saved the day, speaking very plainly and confidently.

So that’s the back story.  Now you know.

As you watch this film, I’m wondering if you could answer just one question?  Below, could you please tell me and other readers who you believe the sign-holders are?  We’ve already had quite a few varying opinions.  I’d love to know how you interpret this film.

And whoever the sign-holders represent for you, our prayer is that we all make a decision to do something for them.

WHAT THEY’LL DO – The community leaders will create and maintain sustainable businesses in their communities.

WHAT I’LL DO – I’ll find the money to help launch these businesses, and then create a plan for them to pay back that money.  But they’ll pay it back to themselves, not to me.

RESTORATION PROJECTS

These projects will help you catch the vision that I’m caught up in…

COMMUNITY #1 – A CHICKEN FARM.   A beautiful woman named Guadalupe (who’s also a stronger leader than most men I know), has a plan to create and maintain a chicken farm.  The money we provide will give her everything she needs to begin selling fresh chicken to her community (and to those outside her community) 8-10 weeks after she’s funded.

Total Cost:  $3000.

COMMUNITY #2 – WROUGHT IRON.   A very humble pastor of a church wants to train young men to create wrought iron art for doors, windows, and gates.  I like the idea of the pastor investing spiritually and practically into the lives of the young men in his care.

Total Cost:  $4000.

COMMUNITY #3 – A FISH FARM.  This is the group that most impressed me with their organization and vision.  They want to create and maintain a fully functioning Tilapia Farm, selling this fish to outside communities, while providing a great food source to those inside the community.  This will also employ people from the village on a full-time basis.  The government of El Salvador is willing to be involved in this project, donating the land, and providing a tractor to dig all three lakes needed.  They’ll do this at no cost, and no expectation of repayment.

Total Cost:  $20,000.

COMMUNITY #4 – SURVIVAL.  This community is too poverty-stricken to possess any capacity to even think about a sustainable business plan.  They’re concerned with stopping the diarrhea among the 1100 people who live there, and with providing their family’s next meal.  While the other community leaders displayed hope in their eyes, the leaders from this community displayed weariness.  So we’re looking at getting them everything they need to beginning growing their own crops by the river (a pump, tools, seed, etc.).  They’ll also need clean water, but previous drilling attempts have failed.  The crops will be grown and consumed by their community.  No sales, no profit.  I hope a business will grow out of this, but these people simply need help, and they need it now.

Total Cost:  $3000 (apprx).

NEXT STEPS

I’m busy developing The Floodgate Foundation -  the non-profit organization through which donations will flow.  As the needs arise in El Salvador, we’ll wire money to an account we establish there.

I’ll also be working with Dave and Jason (my partners at Floodgate) to create The Floodgate Foundation website.  The site will feature pics/videos of each community restoration project, along with the opportunity to donate to each project individually.

Finally, I’m develping a standard for people who want to give financially.  I know this sounds weird (or perhaps even arrogant), but donors need to be doing this for the right reasons, and not for any sort of public acknowledgement.

So here’s the bottom line – If, at the end of your days, you want to stand together with me (and others) and be able to say that you helped restore an entire Third World Community, then please begin praying about getting involved financially.  And if not this, then please do something (anything) for “the least of these”.  If you need a little motivation, watch Floodgate’s latest video (a portion of every sale of this video will go to the El Salvador projects).

Like launching a self-sustaining business in the middle of the community.

We struck water, finished the well, and were ready to fly home.  On our way back to the airport, I was talking to the El Salvadorian version of me.  His name is Carlos.

Carlos is my age, has a wonderful wife, and proudly shows off his three beautiful daughters.  He thinks Rob Bell is great, loves the global Church, and is 20 pounds heavier than he needs to be.  But unlike me, Carlos sports a mad mustache – the likes of which I can only dream of.

As Carlos and I talked, I shared my ideas for creating a business in that village.  He smiled graciously.  Then he said something that altered this season of my life.  He said:

“Americans always think they know what our villages need.  Rather than making that assumption, I wish there was an American who would ask a village what THEY think they need.”

“And then”, I added, “listen to that answer”.

275 days later, I’m on an airplane, trying my best to listen to their answer.  For the next three days, my friend Tony and I are traveling to El Salvador, asking three communities what they really need.  And because Carlos already has a tremendous awareness of this entire region, he’s narrowed the needy villages down to three, based on the group of leaders who already live there.

And our goal is to listen with no North American assumptions.

This trip is a response to Carlos’ challenging wish, and to God’s heart for the poor.  I’m overwhelmingly confident that this is the right plan, so I’m also overwhelmingly confident that God will speak our next step into existence (even though I don’t even pretend to know what that might be).

And this I know – Tony and I will fly back to Dallas on Wednesday of this week.  We will carry with us the hopes and dreams of three beautiful groups of people, written on scraps of note paper, and inscribed deeply onto our hearts.

I can’t think of any vision for the future that makes me feel more alive.

And we were all wrong.

The professor informed us that there is only ONE place in the entire New Testament where a biblical writer actually defines what “the Gospel” is.  Literally, it’s referenced and talked about everywhere, but defined only once.  By Paul.

1 Cor. 15:1-8.  You can read it for yourself here.

The Gospel, as defined by the Bible itself is the story of Christ’s coming, Christ’s death, Christ’s resurrection, and Christ’s appearances to tons of people.  And all of that is “for sins.”

There is no part of this Gospel definition to be performed by me.  Or you.

TO FUNDAMENTALISTS – Don’t get on the defensive; I’m not attacking. If you find yourself taught to attach any lifestyle issue to “the Gospel”, then you might want to re-evaluate.  If – for you – the Gospel of Jesus includes not drinking, or not dancing, or not watching rated R movies, or not gossiping, or not killing anyone, or not being gay… If you’ve accidentally attached any of those works to a working definition of “the Gospel”, then you’ve attached a work to the Gospel (I meant to repeat myself there).  You can have your own personal convictions from your reading of Scripture, but those personal convictions are never intended to be added to the Gospel.

Because the Gospel is about His works, not ours.

TO SOCIAL JUSTICE ADHERENTS – There’s a huge debate these days about whether the Gospel of Jesus Christ includes feeding the poor, clothing the naked, and giving water to the thirsty.  While Jesus taught us to respond to “the least of these”, He didn’t make it a part of the Gospel message.  I’m giving this season of my life to the poor in El Salvador, but my work is not a part of the core Gospel message.  It’s my RESPONSE to the Gospel.  And I can’t drop that same expectation onto anyone else’s shoulders.  That’s not my job.

Because the Gospel is about His works, not ours.

WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT? Just one reason, mainly.

Because it stops being good news the minute I include my own veiled piety.  If I attach my own “holiness” to the Gospel, I’ve just become a Pharisee.

I’m trying to give away an old version of some really crappy news to people (the story of Christ PLUS my own good efforts), and I’m packaging it as being “good news”.  It’s kinda like hiding cow dung in a Victoria’s Secret bag.

There is a Grand Story that God is telling – one that culminated in Jesus.  He came.  He died.  He rose again.  Then He appeared to lots of people.  And EVERY nano-second of that Narrative was done “for sins”.  Yours.  Mine.

Can’t imagine why we’d ever want to add to that.

Today, I want to look at what Jesus did on Monday during Passion Week (Mark 11:12-19).  There’s so much here, and I apologize for the length.  I pray that this can become kind of a devotion for you today, and that you might not feel the need to hurry through it.

You’ll also discover that I don’t really come to any conclusion, only some suggestions.

So here’s what happened that Monday…

¹⁵On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, ¹⁶and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. ¹⁷And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written:
” ‘My house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations’^[c]? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’^[d]

Jesus went to the temple courts, saw what was going on in the name of God, and got really, really ticked.  He went on a rampage.

But why?

The classic interpretation suggests that people were buying and selling stuff in God’s house, and that’s not okay.  So for churches that have a coffee bar, Jesus might toss the latte machine out the window.

I wonder if something else is going on here, and I wonder if the Old Testament passage Jesus quotes informs our understanding?  The passage Jesus quotes is Isaiah 56.  There’s not enough room to print it all here, but you should really go read it for yourself, then come back.

In verses 4-5, Isaiah addresses eunuchs.  He says that, if these people who are ceremonially incomplete (and perhaps even considered to be unclean) pursue God, and honor Him by keeping the Sabbath (an issue of dedicating themselves to Yahweh in addition to the King they serve), then God will call them “sons and daughters”, and they “will not be cut off” (that’s some really funny wording for eunuchs, but I’m not going there).  Here’s the point:

Those who are considered ceremonially incomplete or unclean, but who love God and are pursuing Him, are not out.  They’re in.

Next, in verses 6-7, Isaiah addresses the foreigner – the alien – the non-Israelite.  He basically says the same thing, adding that they will find “joy in the House of Prayer”.

Those who are considered nationally unclean, but who love God and are pursuing Him, are not out.  They’re in.

He ends his thoughts with this:  “For My house will be called a House of Prayer for all nations.”

ALL nations.

Back to the Temple, on Monday.

The mention of selling doves is important.  Because of God’s grace and kindness, this was the only sacrifice God required from the poorest of the poor.  Not a fattened lamb, or bull, or scapegoat.  And the mention of Temple “courts” is important too.  The courts of the Temple were where everyone was invited to come, pray, and experience God.  Nationality or social status was never meant to exclude people (maybe that’s why the Acts 2 church met there – so everyone could come).

Those who are considered marginalized and not worthy of love, but who love God and are pursuing Him, are not out.  They’re in.

But because of a pricing issue, the poor were actually excluded from experiencing atonement (the sacrifice of a dove) because they couldn’t afford it.  Even more importantly, they became excluded from the Grand Invitation of becoming sons and daughters.

Do you see the heart of God?  From the beginning, God’s heart was for Israel to become a light to the world, not an exclusive club.  And when well-meaning people block that invitation, God gets really, really ticked.  That’s why the religious leaders plotted to kill Jesus – their club was being compromised.

Wanna apply this to the Christian church today?

God’s heart is for Christ’s Church to become a light to the world, not an exclusive club.  And when well-meaning people block that invitation, God gets really, really ticked.

Jesus did nothing by accident.  And it was certainly no accident that, four days before opening the way for everyone through the cross, He turned the tables on people who had blocked the way of the Old Covenant.

When our churches invite “anyone” to come, we really need to mean that.  God’s heart is, and has always been, that for people who are willing to experience God on God’s terms (even if they’re not sure what that means), they are invited to come, learn, grow, and worship.

Dave Wilkins – one of the Partners at Floodgate, created this video.  It expresses the invitation better than I ever could.

Come As You Are from Floodgate Productions on Vimeo.

Follow me, and I will make you:

* Successful.

* Theologically accurate.

* Politically influential.

* Healthy.

* Persuasive.

* Worthy of a mass Twitter following.

* Wealthy.

* Popular within the Christian subculture.

* A mega-church pastor.

* A nano-church pastor.

Even though we’d never admit to any of these core beliefs, I wonder if we ever wrestle with putting our own definition in the blank space after Jesus’ promise to make us __________.   I know I do.

He didn’t make any of those promises.  Instead, he simply said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

When we follow Jesus, we start to look at the world, and figure out the best ways to introduce them to Him.

Not to our brand of Christianity.  Not to our beliefs about Obama.  Not even to our own church.

But to Jesus.

I gotta admit:  Every day of my life, I need to be reminded of that specific truth.

Proud to be an American.  I hear it every July 4th.

But I confess that, over the past ten years (give or take a few years), I’ve been less than proud to be two things:

* An American.

* A Christian.

I have my reasons for both.  Some are good reasons, and some are simply excuses to continue being cynical.  And I’m working on that.

But…

From the moment the earth shook in and around Haiti, I have watched American Christians respond with sacrifice, courage, and love.  And I’m blown away.

And they’re making me proud to stand with them.

I’m proud to be an American Christian as I watch Storme’s father travel to Haiti with Samaritan’s Purse Ministries, providing much needed medical supplies the day after the horrific quake.  Storme’s father is in his 70′s.

I’m proud to be an American Christian as I see the group of Christians currently being detained in Haiti.  They’re all from the Central Valley Baptist Church in Meridian, Idaho; and they’re being held for trying to get Haitian children some help across the border.  I’m extremely proud because last night, when Larry King interviewed their family members here in the States, they didn’t utter a single negative comment about the Haitian government, or the US Government.  They simply communicated love and grace.  I don’t think King knew what to do with their answers.

I’m proud to be an American Christian as I watch Lars and Rhett leave their jobs, their wives, and their children to minister to the people of Haiti.

I’m proud that Jason helped our company (Floodgate) see that we didn’t have an option NOT to donate funds the day after the earthquake.

I’m proud that churches everywhere are giving millions of dollars to help.

I’m proud that the church I now attend already has an ongoing mission in Haiti, and that for them, an immediate missions trip was a no-brainer.

So if you’re like me, you walk through some of your day asking when Christians will stop arguing about doctrinal issues, and start doing the things Jesus talked about – feeding the poor, clothing the naked, ministering to the sick, and becoming a voice for the unheard.  And perhaps like me, you wonder when Americans will give up their pursuit of wealth in the suburbs, and start to give their lives away to the lost and the least.

I think we’re seeing something special right now.

And I wrote this post to simply confess my own cynicism, and to focus myself and others on the astounding work that God is doing through…

American Christians.

Earlier today, a friend showed me this video by Francis Chan.  It not only put things in proper perspective, but it gave me a visual image I’ll never forget.

May we learn to live our lives with reckless abandon before a God who is, above all, good.

Truth #2: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.¬† Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea…. (Psalm 46:1-2).

Truth #3: I don’t understand how Truth #1 and #2 can BOTH be true.

Truth #4: The validity of Truth #3 does not change the validity of Truth #2.

The city has fallen.

North American reporters are crying on-air.

Bodies everywhere.  No age is excluded.

The camera pans past an elderly Haitian woman, waiting in line at the medical clinic with a broken leg.  No pain medication.  No help.  Yet.

Next to the elderly woman, there is an infant with a blanket drapped over her lifeless body.

The President of the country is homeless.  Now.

Women walk past the ruins, shielding the eyes of their children from the wreckage.

And into this tragedy – into this absolute mess¬† – Christian leader Pat Robertson speaks…

Honestly, I don’t even know how to respond to him.

May the loving and compassionate actions of thousands of Christ-lovers working in the stench of Haiti’s ground zero, drown out the voice of one man in a three-piece suit on television.

“The truth of faith is not articulated in offering reasons for suffering, but rather in drawing alongside those who suffer.”

Peter Rollins (The Orthodox Heretic)

Please help by donating funds for medical supplies to Samaritan’s Purse.