Chris Maxwell's Newsletter

Another Day Along the Way
Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Another day,
Church is a hot topic these days. Mega-churches get most of the attention. Or, churches facing conflict and crisis. New trends, old traditions, poor decisions, big dreams, modern technology, known names. For various reasons, churches can hit the headlines.

Churches with normal attendance host meetings in small buildings in our cities and towns. Little is said about their consistency, their faithfulness, their endurance. New reports tell us again and again about political views, inappropriate remarks, and moral failures. But many unknown people attend unknown facilities to hear their not-so-famous pastors preach never-to-be-heard-again sermons.

Not much attention. Few headlines. Rare interest. But that might be where Jesus attended if He rode His bike into a small town.

Revival services, political sermons, experiential worship, traditional liturgy, contemporary technology, fascinating facilities. We have a lot. But we also have frightening numbers of bruised believers too battered to attend any church of any size. I pray God brings us a season of healing, of forgiveness, of change. A season of church - true church.

I've experienced it this summer in many settings. A normal Sunday morning service where people do their best to sing and proclaim truth. A denominational gathering focusing more on experiencing God than keeping the business running. Family time in gyms and restaurants and cars and homes. Alone-with-God time. A prayer walk. The graduation of our youngest son as his two brothers, his parents and grandparents watched his welcome into an unknown future. Gathering with epilepsy patients, care-givers, and health care professionals as we seek to learn how to survive and thrive in overcoming weaknesses. On a boat. At a game. Walking. Talking. Listening. Praying with a doctor before he leaves on a mission trip. Nodding at a friend as he tells me his pain. Interviewing David Wilcox and listening to his words, his music, his thoughts, his passion.

Living as the church can happen on Sundays in Sanctuaries. It can also occur at airports, ping-pong tables, business meetings, and cafes. It is possible while laughing or crying or thinking or dreaming.

How are you and "church" these days? Have you been hurt? Do you still allow past pain to grow, influencing present and future decisions? What better options do you have?

Consider experiencing God and church wherever you go. By doing so, you might let God have a chance to give you a better view of life inside the walls of your heart. And toward "church." He might teach you how to make a difference while He is making you different.

I hope that's what He is doing with me.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: Read the Bible wisely, but understand that reading for transformation is different from reading to find information or to prove a point. (The Life You've Always Wanted, John Ortberg)

Another Day Along the Way
Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Another day,
Another school year ends. What has changed in the world? What have we all learned? How have we changed?

Another election campaign rages on. Who will win? Why? What are we doing to make a difference?

Another tournament is on the screen. As I watch the NBA finals, I wonder: What other desires did those athletes give up to work their way this far? What other athletes could have been there if they had given up on other things? Where does God want to take us and what should we give up so we can arrive there?

Another summer waits. What plans have we made? Which of those plans will change? What surprises await us? How will we respond to those surprises? What motivated us to make those plans? If Jesus typed our schedule, how would it look?

Another book I'm studying. I first read Calvin Miller's The Path of Celtic Prayer last summer. Studying his words now in a small group reminds me about the importance of letting God speak to us through various voices. So, I ask, which voices are guiding you closer to God? What voices are challenging the religious and behavioral addictions which often interfere with God's plan? What voices are reminding you of God's love, His truth, His invitations?

Another day is rushing by. What can we do today to be made new? What can we do today to let God's love flow through us to bring life into this world? What is stopping us?

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: We who are redeemed have been given the Holy Spirit to withstand Satan's onslaught. (Calvin Miller, The Path of Celtic Prayer)

Chris Maxwell
www.chrismaxwellweb.com

Another Day Along the Way
Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Another day,
A few weeks ago our college President, Mike Stewart, told us how 15 seconds can change everything.

Since I read the popular and controversial book, The Shack, I have enjoyed more personal conversations with three people who are actually one - Father, Son, Spirit.

Last week I dreamed about a friend God placed in my life many years ago. The thoughts while asleep reminded me to email him when awake. Years and miles have not damaged our friendship.

I've read a variety of Paul's epistles lately. Try reading a different one each day for two months. See what the Word's words might do to your mind, to your life.

This morning we heard a variety of stories in our Convocation, all revealing how this truth becomes a personal reality:

John 7:37-39 (NIV)
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

What substitutes have we chosen for the Living Water?

How will we let the next 15 seconds change us?

How will we change the world in the next 15 days? Or in the next 15 years?

What is God the Father saying to us in the next 15 seconds?

How is God the Son praying for us in the next 15 seconds?

What is God the Spirit doing through us on this planet?

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: I have no magic wand to wave over you and make it all better. Life takes a bit of time and a lot of relationship.
(The Shack, William P. Young, Windblown Media, 2007)

Another Day Along the Way
Sunday, January 20, 2008

Another day,
I thought the snow would come our way again. The forecast said so. The clouds confirmed it. News reports let me see it through the screen with my own eyes. Snow was white, falling, nearby, and coming our way. Saturday would be a day filled with flakes.

But they never came. They were close. Just not close enough. I kept looking and hoping and waiting. The snow never came all the way to us.

Isn't that how life seems to go sometimes? Others have it - whatever the "it" we desire might be. We've been told it will come our way. We crave it, dream of it, wait for it. The "it," though, never arrives.

As we think of seeing what hasn't arrived, we wonder whether to continue waiting, to keep our hopes up, or just give up and move on. From white flakes forty miles away to jobs we requested one day too late or money we needed one week ago or a prayer we thought would be answered two years before. Or two decades. Or ever.

We wait and watch and request. We hope and wish and desire. Often, we give up.

Why not give this a try? Let's keep hoping but stay busy while waiting. Let's realize winter is still here and a few more flakes just might come. Let's give thanks to the few flakes which fell our way before. Let's thank God for what has arrived: rain we needed, no snow for those who did not want it, and good days of peace and joy for many. Let's look at the big picture and give thanks to the Snow Maker. In other of life's events, let's appreciate more and complain less. Let's give thanks.

Even if He doesn't send it our way. Or, whenever and however He does send it. Let's give Him thanks.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: These are our few live seasons. Let us live them as purely as we can, in the present.
(Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek)

Another Day Along the Way
Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Another day,
The hurried arrival and departure of Christmas happened again. A new year here already? Were we ready?

Time moves so quickly. We, again, seek improvement, forgiveness, dreams, plans.

We list hopes. We pursue wishes. We long for change: weight to lose, friends to make, goals to accomplish, places to visit.

As we enter 2008, I pray we hear from a Lion. The Lion.

Yes, I've been reading and listening again to The Chronicles of Narnia. C. S. Lewis' stories present some of the most creative narratives ever written. They never get old to me. While recently driving for several hours, I let the CD of The Horse and His Boy remind me of a Lion. The Lion. And I realized the only way resolutions and dreams are possible. Again.

Only as Aslan directs us, protects us, and corrects us, can we travel safely and successfully.

As we enter 2008, let's let the Lion lead. List hopes, pursue wishes, and long for change. But let Aslan direct, protect, and correct. Maybe then, even as inexperienced boys, we might fight the battle and win the war.

This year will be like no other. New days await. I pray we are ready. For life, for change, for the Lion.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: It was from the Lion that the light came. No one ever saw anything more terrible or beautiful.
(C. S. Lewis, The Horse and His Boy)

Another Day Along the Way
Sunday, November 11, 2007

Another day,
"Above all, I live for your glory."

I think often about songs we sing. About confessions we announce. About doctrines we state as beliefs.

Last Tuesday I could not stop thinking about what I confessed as I sang during our Convocational worship at Emmanuel. It wasn't the frequent worship debates about ancient versus modern, time length and volume, personal preference or deep devotion. I hear of those; I think of those. But last Tuesday wasn't the time. My mind asked me a question: "Do you mean what you are singing?"

Singing about living for God's glory above all else, I wondered: Do I live that way?

Reading the Psalms gave me a little peace. David and other authors wrote volumes of hopeful confessions. Not all as doctrinal declaration. Not all as evangelism strategies. Many of their lyrics were prayers of release. They voiced anger and pain, poetically handing hurt over to the Listener.

Still, their statements about surrender appeared to have meaning. They moved from releasing anger to revealing hope, from hurt to healing, from temper to truth. Do our songs of praise state what we hope to become true one day, or do they reveal what is true as we sing?

In other words, do we mean what we are singing?

For me, I needed a few days to meditate on what I live for. I had to write a list of nouns who might take God's place. People, places, and things which rank of higher importance in my life than God - call them idols. I needed to detect my true life purpose. I've done it before. I'll do it again. Why? I need to do more than sing a song. I needed to ask myself about myself.

Think about you. Your life, your time, your interest, your dreams. Your goals and reasons for doing what you do. Your deepest desires. Your future.

Where is God? Is He above all?

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Prayer Surrendered: (Psalm 115:1, NIV)
Not to us, O Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.

Another Day Along the Way
Friday, October 19, 2007

Another day,
I write. As prayer, as confession, as therapy, as information, I type letters on a keyboard to turn ideas and images and thoughts and feelings into words. Like David's Psalms, the therapy heals. The prayers are heard and the pain is released.

Do you write? I suggest it.

One of our students gave permission for me to display her confession. Read it. Pray it along with her.

And write your own. It is the right way to respond to life's experiences.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell


This Fear (by Samantha Sandlin)
What is this fear I feel?
I know it's not from You.
This fear is of my calling.
It is of the future planned for me.
I've tried to ignore it.
I've even tried to convince you to change it.
I know you're taking me out of my comfort zone.
That is where my calling is.
I don't want to leave the comfort of my dream.
I feel You pulling me.
I know I can't resist.
My greatest desire is to be in Your will.
To be in Your will I must step out of my comfort zone.
This is what I fear.
I need Your help.
I can't step out without it.
I know I must also resubmit myself to You.
I need You for this as well.
Here again is my will.
Take it, change it, and make it Yours.
I recommit it to you.
Give me the wisdom, knowledge, strength, and courage needed for this.
Remove the chains of fear holding me in place.
Take my hand and lead me into my future.