Books: Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy (Review)

A couple of weeks ago, my staff and I were hanging out at the local pub, Roosevelt’s, and for some reason we thought it’d be entertaining if we took a personality test. I’m not really a fan of personality tests and assessments, but I figured it’d be interesting to see where we all would land. We took the Myers Briggs personality test and one of the sections in the test had to deal with the difference between feelers and thinkers. Surprisingly, feelers are more emotive while thinkers think. I am the only thinker on our team.

Since, I have been thinking (shocking) about that test and began to assess how I approach my prayer life. I often think and desire to want to have a thriving and robust life in prayer, but after thinking (again) I concluded that I often approach prayer a little too strategically and a little too analytically while not allowing myself to sit in my emotions.

After reading Mark Vroegop’s new book Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy I have felt more and thought less. Mark’s book is on the subject of lament and he writes that “to cry is human, to lament is Christian.” This book has been good for my soul in countless ways beginning with the understanding of what lament really is AND being bold enough to approach God completely broken.

Lament isn’t something that is regularly taught or spoken about in the church. I know it’s not something I’ve talked about before and part of that is because I didn’t know what to say about lament. I think I viewed lament like accessory movements in strength training; sure they’re important and you should learn them, but what for? Next thing you know, you’ve torn your hamstring and all you want, need, and are capable of doing is accessory work. I digress.

While Vroegop provides several working definitions for what lament actually is, it is one of his first comments about lament that struck me:

Lament is the honest cry of a hurting heart wrestling with the paradox of pain and the promise of God’s goodness.

If you have found yourself in a a difficult season(s), know someone who is wrestling with the truth about God, or simply wish to dive in a deeper appreciation of prayer and communion with the Lord, then I highly recommend purchasing this book.

CULTURE AND PRAYER

Culturally, suffering and lament seems to be something that is taboo. We have become accustomed, in many ways, to work our way out of suffering and lament in order to feel better about ourselves and our circumstances, but the Bible teaches us that suffering is inevitable for the Christian as we follow Christ; we are going to be rejected and life, at times, is going to suck. That’s a hard truth to swallow in a culture that says you don’t deserve to suffer and that if you do happen to find yourself in a difficult circumstance, it’s up to you to get yourself out as quickly as possible.

The truth about lament is that it stands in between the pain of life and the promise of God. And to me, that is incredibly encouraging! Lament is a beautiful grace that teaches me there is a space in my communion with the Lord where I can be totally and utterly honest, broken, and vulnerable.

It reminds me of a conversation I recently had with my son. After confessing sin, he began to weep and his vulnerability led him to feel like he needed to hold back. I assured my son that this was the time for him to lay it all out on the table; I wasn’t there to get mad at him or discipline him, but to listen to him and be present as he wept. Once I said that, the flood gates of tears opened up and he was able to be totally vulnerable and broken in our time together. I think that’s what lament feels like with God. It’s a space where He draws us to Himself, with snot and tears, to be totally and completely vulnerable before Him affording us an opportunity to ask some bold things with confidence and trust Him because He is good.

Vroegop does a phenomenal job of walking the reader through the three parts of his book (Psalms of Lament, Lamentations, and personal and community application). This book has been a great resource for reflection and teaching and I highly recommend it.

FAVORITE QUOTES

To pray in pain, even with its messy struggle and tough questions, is an act of faith where we open up our hearts to God. Prayerful lament is better than silence. However, I’ve found that many people are afraid of lament. They find it too honest, too open, or too risky. But there’s something far worse: silent despair. Giving God the silent treatment is the ultimate manifestation of unbelief.

You need to know that lament does not always lead to an immediate solution. It does not always bring a quick or timely answer. Grief is not tame. Lament is not a simplistic formula. Instead, lament is the song you sing believing that one day God will answer and restore. Lament invites us to pray through our struggle with a lift that is far from perfect.

Lament is the language of a people who believe in God’s sovereignty but live in a world with tragedy.

In my study of lament, I’ve come to love the word yet. It marks the place in the journey where pain and belief coexist. It is how we gain the confidence to ask boldly, despite the sorrow and grief we feel. Yet mean that I chose to keep asking God for help, to cry out to him for my needs, even when the pain of life is raw. Yet reminds us that sorrow doesn’t have to yield before we ask God for help. Part of the grace of lament is the way it invites us to pray boldly even when we are bruised badly.

Trust is believing what you know to be true even though the facts of suffering might call that belief into question. Lament keeps us turning toward trust by giving us language to step into the wilderness between our painful reality and our hopeful longings.

But whatever you do, don’t stop making this turn toward trust. Learn to live in the tension of pain beyond belief and divine sovereignty beyond comprehension by stepping into trust. Choose to place your confidence in God. Learning to lament is a journey as we discover how lament can provide mercy when dark clouds loom. Lament is how you live between a hard life and God’s promises. It is how we learn to sin and worship when suffering comes our way.

RECOMMENDED READING

• Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering The Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop

Easter and The Nicene Creed (video)

I’m so freakin’ pumped for this Sunday as we remember and look to the resurrection of Jesus! Further, this video on the Nicene Creed is incredibly captivating; gets me every time.

If you don’t have a church or are looking to attend a church this Easter Sunday, I would be honored if you joined us for worship this Sunday (4/21) at 10:30 a.m. at the Mcallen Creative Incubator (601 N. Main Street)!

Develop Other Preachers

I love to preach. Preaching is my jam.

Personally, my personal time with the Lord in scripture is always different from what I’m preaching through on a Sunday at Storehouse McAllen. In my personal bible study, it’s great communion with God and a great time of prayer and reflection. But when I turn to study the passage I’m preaching on, I let all of the nerd out. I love studying God’s word and I love preaching God’s word to my church. And as much as I love studying, teaching, and preaching I need to remember that I need to be taught and I need to sit under sound preaching too.

In my short experience, I have seen many pastors crave the pulpit and turn it into an unhealthy platform for their own personal gain while at the same time suppressing other aspiring preachers. I don’t want to do that. I need to remember that just as personal time with the Lord is good for my soul, sitting under the preached word alongside of other brothers and sisters is refreshing for my soul too.

Since the replanting of Storehouse McAllen, I have been and currently serve as the main preacher. And as we have grown and by God’s grace, as I have begun to develop other men, I try to get out of the pulpit a few times a year. I’m not a preacher first, but a disciple. Additionally, me stepping out of the pulpit is good for my church.

Here are five reasons why stepping out of the pulpit is good for me (and you) and good for my church (and your church).

1. Recovery
When I became the primary preacher and teacher at Storehouse McAllen, in a word, I was stoked. I was excited to be preaching every Sunday; carving time out throughout the week to go full nerd and creatively construct a message of redemption for the people of God. I would hear other pastors and preachers share about the ongoing deadline of Sunday and taking time off from preaching was necessary. For me, I was in a position and season where I wasn’t able to step out of the pulpit and if I’m honest, I don’t think I would have wanted to because Sunday didn’t feel like a deadline…at the time.

It wasn’t too long before feeling like Sunday was a deadline and the pressure was constant and exhausting on top of my other responsibilities. And there were several Sunday’s where although I had prepared a sermon, I just didn’t want to get out of bed because I was mentally and emotionally gassed. I asked for help from other pastors in the Valley and then slowly began to develop another preacher at our church and the first time I didn’t have to preach a Sunday was fantastic. It was a wonderful moment of rest and recovery. In a sense, preaching is like working out. You’re looking at several hours of study and prep time during the week (along with other pastoral responsibilities) and having an “event” at the end of every week. Over time, that taxes your body and it simply isn’t healthy because the body doesn’t have adequate time to recover. It’s the same thing with preaching. This is both necessary for you and your spiritual adrenal glands, but also important for your church. They need to see and know that you can’t do it all.

Your mind and emotions need an adequate time to recover for the purpose for continued advancement. In short, recovery is vital.

2. Family Time
There are many pastors and preachers that arrive to the church gathering with their family, but have to leave them shortly after to tend to Sunday responsibilities. For me, my wife and I drive separately because I need to be at church a little earlier and often stay late. Further, as a preacher, and although I get to sing and worship along my wife and son, I don’t get to stay with them because I need to preach. When I’m preaching, my time and attention isn’t centered on my family, but is shared with my congregation and is devoted to the teaching of Scripture.

When I’m not preaching, I love showing up and leaving with my family. I enjoy getting to spend the time with them and them alone because I don’t always get to on a Sunday. And my church needs to not only see that, but know that. My family is my first church and I need to be intentional about guarding time such as this.

3. Guard Against The Culture of “The One”
When we first replanted, one of the things I wanted to implement as soon as I could was either inviting other preachers to our pulpit or develop other preachers. In part, this was so that I could time off as I’ve mentioned, but also so that we could guard against, what could be a “celebrity” preacher. I use the word “celebrity” loosely, but my point is that I have seen men embrace their role as a preacher with unhealthy and idolatrous motives. While I believe that preaching is the central ministry of Sunday mornings, many preachers, I think, can use their pulpits to elevate their own status rather than the glory of God.

Additionally, when a preacher guards the pulpit well, it also protects the church. There are many people who attend church because their eyes have been fixed upon the preacher and not fully on the God of the Bible. I think when you have other preachers in your pulpit, it helps to protect the church from the “celebrity” preacher culture.

4. Developing Other Preachers
Similar to guarding from an unhealthy preaching culture, when you develop other preachers there are two great things that happen, in my opinion. First, it shows the church that you have a culture of developing other leaders, preachers, and pastors and they get to be a part of that process. Second, you provide other men with an opportunity to practice their gifting. Preaching on a Sunday morning is a different environment than the monthly preaching lab so you get to help develop preachers in a different setting with unique pressure.

5. Inviting Others
I understand and aware that if you have just planted or replanted your church, you may not have one or two other men who you are developing to preach just yet. My encouragement would be to develop friendships with other pastors in your city and develop close friendships with other pastors in your network or denomination. I have invited other pastors from neighboring cities to preach at Storehouse McAllen and it has been a great blessing to me and my church. For instance, not only do I get a Sunday off, but our church also sees that we value friendships and partnership with other churches. This year, I’m inviting a few friends from Acts 29 to come and preach for me and I’m excited for our church to hear them lead us in the teaching of God’s word and for our church to meet them!

REMEMBER, RECOVERY

At the end of the day, developing other preachers, building friendships within your city, and guarding your pulpit culture will take time. I would recommend making it a priority because preaching week after week will eventually take a toll on your body. Recovery isn’t meaningless and it serves a great purpose, advancement. You’ll be able to accomplish more when you prioritize development and recovery in your ministry, with your family, and for your soul.

I’d love to chat to hear about what you do or if you’re looking for help, I’d love to be a resource. What do you do at your church?

What's So "Good" About Good Friday?

For many in the Valley, Holy Week is a sacred time and while less than 10% of the population in McAllen are Christians, there is a strong religious observance and “reverence” toward many seasons in the church calendar. And as Good Friday approaches, I thought it would be helpful to walk through the meaning behind it as it is a huge part of history and a cultural value for many Valley Natives.

To clarity, Good Friday is paramount for the Christian because it is the day in which Jesus willingly suffered, was crucified on a wooden cross, and died as the ultimate and perfect sacrifice for sinners (1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:2; 2 Corinthians 5:21) followed by the Resurrection (Easter) where Christ, after three days and according to the Scriptures, was raised from the dead conquering sin, hell, Satan, and death (1 Corinthians 15:3-5; 55-58)

On Good Friday, Jesus cried in a loud voice, “It is finished!” which marked a turning point in redemptive history. The loud cry of Jesus meant that the work by which we are reconciled to God was not satisfied through His atoning sacrifice.

WHY “GOOD FRIDAY”?

There are many discussions surrounding the origins of the name “Good Friday.” For some, the word “good” is a derivative of the word “God” suggesting that the origin of this day was actually “God’s Friday.” For others, “Good Friday” is a unique contradiction as Jesus, who was fully God and fully man, dies crucified on a cross, but through His death provides redemptive hope (more on this in a minute).

Here are two reasons why Good Friday is so good in spite of the terrible sequence of events that occurred leading to the death of Jesus:

1. Good Friday and The Condition of our Hearts

One of the things that Good Friday should lead us to recognize and understand is that we are a sinful people who are under condemnation. When we read the law of God, we quickly learn how holy He is and how depraved we are. This doesn’t mean that we can never do moral good, but it does mean that apart from Christ, we are enslaved sin. It’s not that we’re simply human and imperfect, but that we are enslaved by nature (Romans 6:16). Good Friday is a reminder lifts our eyes to our need for a savior. The gospel of Jesus is what brings us grace and the relief of salvation.

2. The Joy of The Resurrection

As terrible as the events of this day were—Jesus beaten and whipped, his beard plucked, a crown of thorns placed over his head, deserted by his closest friends, and crucified—we could not receive the hope and joy in the resurrection without it. The significance of the cross isn’t only that Jesus died, but that the wrath of God was poured onto him on our behalf in order for forgiveness and reconciliation to take place.

Paradoxically, the day that is filled with blood shed, grief, sorrow, and what looked like a triumph for evil was actually a day where God’s glorious plan of redemption was accomplished.

Good Friday is where Jesus endured the cross knowing that it would lead to His resurrection and our salvation (Hebrews 12:2). Good Friday marks the day where wrath and mercy met at the cross. And that is why Good Friday is so good.

Not All Tacos Are Created Equally: A Brief Look at Hispanics and The Church

During an Acts 29 function, I was asked to speak and introduce the context of the Rio Grande Valley to a small group of pastors. Many of these pastors are from large urban contexts here in Texas such as San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas and the majority of our group had never visited or heard of the Valley. Those that did have knowledge of the Valley had gained it from what they saw on the news concerning immigration or had, at some point, taken a short term mission trip down here.

As I began to speak on the culture of the Valley, I made a few jokes on the pursuit of a multiethnic congregation saying that I believed that I had reached my quota by hiring a white guy from Indiana. Afterward, I spent some time speaking on the unique complexity of the term “hispanic.” I shared that this term is really a junk drawer for people from Spanish speaking countries and that not all Hispanics are Mexicans. Apparently, many minds were blown.

NOT ALL TACOS ARE CREATED EQUAL

I think the American church can impose and assume that all cultures are the same. In other words, what works really well in the suburbs of a predominantly white community should work the same if not as effectively in a place such as the Valley, Mexico, or Latin America. It doesn’t.

Culturally, there are many things about hispanic cultures that overlap, but not every culture is the same. Rather than taking the time to learn and invest, much of the American church has confused assimilation for discipleship. This model, for my hispanic community, is quickly sniffed out and the church is rejected.

So, what can the church do?

1. OBSERVE

One of the primary roles of a missionary isn’t to disrupt the rhythms of a people, but to learn them by asking questions, observing people in the daily, and listening carefully. The church is not a religious police, but a royal priesthood of believers (1 Peter 2:9-10). who, at one point, did not belong to God, but through His mercy they now do. The church must be zealous in doing good while speaking with gentleness and respect.

2. CULTURE

While many areas of hispanic cultures overlap, there are also significant differences in values, morals, and customs in between.

3. LANGUAGE

Many of the Spanish terms coined here in the Valley are non-existent in Mexico and many words in Mexico mean something completely different in Guatemala. When my brothers and I were growing up, our parents taught us four different Spanish dialects. We learned Valley Spanish, formal and proper Spanish, Chilango (a general mix of Spanish from Mexico and Spanish from Chile), and Spanish from Monterrey (speaking ridiculously fast in Spanish. If you know what a fresa is, then you know what I mean).

It’s not uncommon to meet another Hispanic and have zero clue at what they’re saying. For me, understanding a Cuban is one of the hardest things this side of heaven.

4. SOLDADERAS

Often, Hispanic culture is associated with machismo. And to be clear, it exists in many families and it’s toxic. But depending on the country and family, the head of the house isn’t always the man and his “authority” may be limited. When we were growing up, all of the men would gather to execute a big decision for the rest of the family AFTER my grandmother would make the call.

Looking back, it reminds me of a scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding and while I don’t remember the characters, I’ll never forget what the bride’s mother said to her daughter (a paraphrase), “The man may be the head, but the woman is the neck and she can turn the head wherever she pleases.” I think, when put differently, the men are captains and grandparents are the generals (especially grandmothers).

5. RELIGION

In many spheres of Hispanic culture, religious rites, tradition, and customs can be universal and widely embraced; all without ever having a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. When an individual confesses Christ as Lord and begins to speak of faith and repentance, there is a sense of betrayal toward the family and in many ways, individuals are socially rejected because of the gospel. The fear many Hispanic families have is that those who become Christians are going to assimilate and abandon their cultural identity.

EAT TACOS

If the American church is going to reach Hispanics, then there must be cultural awareness and patience. Hispanics’ love language is quality time and if the church is more passionate about preferences and assimilation and not discipleship and acculturation, then the gospel of Jesus Christ will continue to be resisted.

If you’re a church leader, planter, or just curious about engaging Hispanics then you need to hang out with Hispanics, in the backyard, while eating some tacos.

And here’s a pro-tip: if they start making fun of you, then you’re in.

Trust me.