Man's Search for Meaning

I am just now discovering Viktor Frankl's book Man's Search for Meaning. This little book has sold over 10 million copies world-wide, over three million copies in English. Frankl, a psychiarist by training, tells the story of his four years in the prison work camps during World War 2. The second half of his book goes on to speak of his discipline in psychiatry called logotherapy. There is so much in the little book of such great value, it is difficult to choose what I want to write about. I must start somewhere, and so I have chosen the following quote from page 64.

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"a man's suffering is similar to the behavior of gas. If a certain quantity of gas is pumped into an empty chamber, it will fill the chamber completely and evenly, no matter how big the chamber. Thus suffering completely fills the human soul and conscious mind, no matter whether the suffering is great or little. Therefore the "size" of human suffering is absolutely relative."

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I have often thought when I was suffering from some "little" pain, that it was not worth trifling over becasue, after all, there are so many others out there who have "big" suffering. No doubt my work as pastor, in some of my ignorant or hard-hearted times, has left little room for empathy or compassion to the "little" suffering of others when, after all, little children are starving from lack of food, or people have buried every family member due to AIDS. My pain, or the pain of my fellow suburbanites, always seemed less than others "out there" in my heart and mind.

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And yet, if Frankl is correct, pain and suffering is real and relative. If his analogy is correct, it is not appropriate to compare the suffering of one to the suffering of another. Every human soul will indeed be filled with suffering, and like a gas, it will fill the soul completely. This is real. And it is also relative to the individual soul.

My call and task is not to "judge" the suffering of one or another. I think my call and task is to share in the suffering of my fellow brothers and sisters. Each person, including myself, will have suffering that is real and consuming. My task is not to "judge" it, but to share in it.

The Gospel and Transformation

I just had a very good friend return from South Africa. He is the same friend who took me there just over a year ago. It is SO AMAZING to hear him talk of his experiences there. The devestation occuring as a result of AIDS and poverty, the dangers from thugs and car-jackers, the amazing transformation of lives and hope represented in some of the ministries there. It is all so overwhelming and stirring just hearing my friend share his trip. But there was one question in particular in the midst of our 45 minutes together that got me thinking. While there, my friend saw radical life change in many, many people. I am talking about the kind of life change where a drug user and dealer has now quit cold turkey. A thug and criminal is now living the straight and narrow. A once hopeless and helpless bum has hope and drive for his future. And the numbers of people who have experienced such radical life change is staggering. These stories that are happening every day over there would make the front stage of our church as a BIG DEAL. And they are common place over there.

This lead to the following question:

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Why is the gospel of Jesus Christ making such a radical impact and changing lives over in South Africa, and not here in Indiana (or America)?

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Don't get me wrong...it is not to say that the gospel is not impacting lives here. But it seems life change in episodes...maybe one here or there. I would contend my church is pretty relevant and effective in our culture, but we don't see the kind of positive life change happening every day like there. The impact is expotentially less.

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Why?

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I have no real answers. But my gut and my own experience both in South Africa and here in the US tells me it is true. Lives are changing radically over there, but not so much here.

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I have been reading a book called Under the Unpredictable Plant, but Eugene Peterson. It is a book written for pastors on how to cultivate a spiritual life in the midst of working as a pastor. Peterson makes a big deal out of our consumer culture here in America. He says on page 80 and 81 "The people in our congregations are, in fact, out shopping for idols. They enter our churches with the same mind-set in which they go to the shopping mall, to get something that will please them or satisfy an appetite or need."

"Mostly they want to be there own god and stay in control but have ancillary idol assistance for the hard parts, which the pastor can show them how to get."

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I am wondering if Peterson is on to something of an answer to my question in his book. Peterson talks in metaphors at times, and one I like is the idea of being a farmer and working the soil. If the soil is the culture by which we work in, I wonder how different the soil is in South Africa than in America? Perhaps in America our consumer culture has created a soil that does not allow for the gospel to take root and grow up in the way that changes lives so radically.

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And if this is in fact the reality of our soil, I do have great hope. Maybe if we can change the soil a bit, the gospel will find root, and this sleeping giant that is the American Church just might awake. Oh man...then what might happen. Poverty? Aids? Irrelevance? No more. But what will it take to change the soil? Another good question. I think I am only allowed one per blog.

"Defending the promise..."

I recently downloaded and listened to a Catalyst Podcast where they were interviewing Tim Sanders (here is his official web-site and his blog if you want to check them out: http://www.timsanders.com/ and http://sanderssays.typepad.com/). The interview was interesting on the whole, but one thing in particular stuck out that I want to comment on here.
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Tim said "15 years from now leadership is not gonna to be about new ideas...it is not gonna be about project work. In the future, leadership is gonna be about defending the promise behind the mission. Leadership is gonna be about connecting the business to society in a sustainable manner. It will be about the intersection between the company you work for and the host community that supports you. It is gonna be about the intersection between the business you run, and the ecosystem around you. Leadership will be re-defined around who's leading who to good."
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Three things I want to comment on, each of them underlined above. First, defending the promise behind the mission speaks to the realities that an organization produces. There must be value added to people's lives from whatever is produced, in all areas of production. No longer are organizations going to be allowed to produce great shoes for us Americans, while paying unfair wages and providing unfit working conditions for others. The promise behind the mission speaks to the actual, physical, tangible realities that any organization produces. I LOVE THIS. It fits who I am in terms of wanting to believe in something grand and bigger than myself, but measured by what is actually produced. In my line of work, serving through a local church (albiet MEGA in size), defending the promise behind our mission is insuring people are actually transformed into better people that have meaning in their lives, not just empty talk that produces nothing.
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Secondly, this idea of sustainability is becoming more and more important. The most recent sermon series at my church was on this very topic. The days of NON-sustainability living are passing away. The consumption that proliferates my culture can not keep up. It simply can not. And God knows I have so much work to do in this area myself. But helping create in lives, create structures, or create organizations that are sustainable is quickly becoming a passion of mine. I think Tim Sanders is correct, people are not going to get behind businesses and organizations in the future that conduct themselves in non-sustainable ways. Tim suggests quite the opposite actually, that they are going to punish those businesses that operate in non-sustainable ways by not investing or buying from them.
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For a great example of a different kind of business model, check out toms shoes. They are wicked comfortable (so I am told), unique...and for every pair purchased they give a pair away. (http://www.tomsshoes.com/).
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Finally, Leadership will be re-defined by who is leading who to good. Isn't that the kind of person you want to follow? Someone who is leading you to good? NOT the kind of good that simply makes us feel better about ourselves...the kind of good that is hedonistic or self-seeking. But that which is really good, the idealistic, better for everyone kind of good. The sustainable kind of good. The kind of good that is still good for the next generation, for my kids and for my grandkids. That is the kind of leader I to follow, and the kind of leader I want to strive to be like.
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So what good are you doing today?

Known for our love? Defend the space.

Jim Henderson was at church to speak to our Covenant Community (the membership of our church) at Grace Community Church on Friday and Saturday morning, November 9 & 10. Basically the deal with his book is Jim hired an athiest to attend 10 churches with him around the country and they wrote about what they experienced. It is a fascinating little book, and many are getting pretty worked up about it. You can learn more about Jim and his organization at:

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http://www.offthemap.com/

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Two things that have stuck with me in a big, big way from our time with Jim Henderson. First, he told a story of when he was in the South speaking to a church and he hired two athiests to be interviewed in front of this church he was speaking. He asked this biker bar owner and this medical doctor from India the following question: If you could tell Christians one thing and they would listen to you, and it would increase their credibility with you, what would you say? (Okay, I can't remember if this is the exact questions, but this is the jist of it).

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The biker dude said "You should do more of the stuff you do when there is a hurricane."

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The doctor said, "you should really get along with one another more. Lutheran, Baptists, Catholics...why don't you get along more?"

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And I thought, yes!! Followers of Jesus SHOULD be known for the good works that they do, and for the way they love...especially one another. It saddens me that this is not the case.

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Second thing that stuck with me is the idea of "Defending the Space" of our relationships. There are typically three reactions that church people have to his book and things they want to talk about when he speaks. First is his "aberrent beliefs"...they feel the need to talk theology with Jim and "correct" him, or tell Matt that he is going to hell. Second, they want to talk about his expeirences at the churches and what kind of services they should put together. Jim is quick to add caveats that he was not a very effective pastor when he was a pastor, and Matt Casper is an athiest. They are NOT experts in this arena.

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Less often is the case (and the real reason the book was written) do people want to talk about the space between Matt Casper (the athiest) and Jim Henderson (the lover of Jesus) and protecting that space. He spoke about moving from debate to dialogue, or from apologetics to apology, and a number of other really helpful ideas concerning our relationships with other people. But that which is most important is the space of relationship between Matt and Jim.

It seems to me that Jim has captured something true in our culture...how we are consumers and our churches are steeped in catering to consumers. And he has also captured some helpful thoughts in how to relate to "the other", what it feels like to be outside of the mainstream. And he does so in some powerful ways. I am very grateful for the book and even more so, for having Jim here with us.

How to make Soup

Commentary by Steve Heiniger. Kevin Roth working the camera and asking the questions.

Church and Church

We attended two different church services while in New York/New Jersey. The Bridge met at the Hope Center on Saturday night at 6:00. What an ecletic group of people, many living on the streets or just getting by, many struggling to have hope, to beat their addictions, to keep their heads above water. Jimmy, who we affectionately named "whack-a-mole" due to his showing up during the service in different locations, gave us one of our fondest memories from the trip. Every time another worship song was brought up on the screen, Jimmy would burst into song. When "Shout to the Lord" was brought up, Jimmy broke into a mixture of Darlene Zschech's beautiful worship song, and Jon Bon Jovi's "Shot Through the Heart." None of us will hear either song the same ever again.

What struck me the most was the hope and love that Pastor Miguel extended to these people. Miguel is a janitor at a local public school by occupation, a volunteer with New York City Relief, a husband and Father of 4 (ages 15 all the way down to 3 months)...but above all, has an amazing heart for the people in his church. We were all blessed to join with this small community for worship.

On Sunday morning a group of folks got up early to head into the city to check out Ground Zero. I was one of the few who stayed behind to maximize the hour of sleep that we gained from the time change. At 10:00, the group who went downtown returned in time to head out to New Brunswick to join with Abundant Life Family Church (http://www.alfwconline.com/splash.php). It was a vision morning and they were unveiling plans for a new building...total cost of the project equaling somewhere between 25 and 30 million dollars. The similarities between Grace Community Church and their church were striking. Both started in 1991, similar in size, similar fundraising campaigns. There was also a wonderful spirit of hospitality that I find at Grace. We felt very welcome.

The differences were also obvious at points as well...just take the worship for example. The worship was a full body experience, and EVERYONE was fully involved. It was awesome. And we were obviously visitors simply from the color of our skin. But never once did I feel out of place or unwelcome. Jasmine Graham and her friends made us feel right at home. We shared a wonderful meal at a Jersey diner after church with Kiki, Lorna, Jasmine, and Marcia.

The worst part about the trip home was having to get on a plane, only to sit on the tarmac for nearly an hour, while our Colts played out the fourth quarter and we lost. Steve especially was thankful for his friend with the cell phone!

Some More Pictures

Sacred Space

I have ridden in vehicles before with anticipation...I remember so many big soccer games where my team was quiet, some listening to music, thinking about what they expected would happen on the field, each person anticipating the "big game." Each person would play their part, and hopefully, if everything went as planned, we would walk away successful, feeling good about our game. Today I learned why so many dedicated people are willing to give up their free time, and many of them their very lives...it is because they have experienced something sacred on a bus.

After making more than 70 gallons of soup, we loaded up the bus and headed out to the Southern Bronx. Our bus was made of all kinds of people...a girl from Finland, a high school graduate from L.A., 3 or 4 people serving community hours, our team of nine from Grace Community Church, and Steve, our bus driver and leader. On the way out, we started with a word form Steve, and then we talked amongst ourselved. But somewhere between Elizabeth and the Bronx, the atomsphere changed. We turned on some worship music, the conversation ceased, and prayer began. Suddenly time did not matter, our pasts did not matter, our differences did not matter, nothing seemed to matter. All that mattered was that we were gathered together for something important. Something sacred was beginning to happen in our midst.

At this time, we did not know the people we were to meet. We had no idea that Kevin and Steve would pray with Jesus (not Jesus, but Jesus...confusing...I can't put a tilda in), that Aaron, Teresa and Brad would witness Steve minister on the street to Damon Ford. We had no idea the countless children and adults that Teresa, Carol, Larry, and Barry would serve a warm cup of soup too. We had no idea the encouragement that would come from Johanna, Whitney, Miguel, and the others on our team. We had no idea what awaited us...we just know we needed to prepare. We were anticipating what was to come.

In that moment, driving through traffic, the music turned down and our prayers being expressed, we were enveloped in something so much bigger than ourselves. It was like the barrier between heaven and earth got a little bit thinner. The differences between us on the bus, and thos we would meet on the street, were erased. We were one in the Spirit, and one in purpose, and one in such a way that Jesus prayed for in John 17. And I began to understand something in a unique way. We had entered sacred space. God was with us.

Friday in New York

WHAT A DAY!! It has been so spectacular today. We started at 7:00 AM at the Hope Center. After we made more than 60 gallons of soup, we realized the brown rice was infested with worms and our soup was corrupt! We quickly discarded, washed and made a second batch so we could head out to Chelsea Park on the Lower Westside of Manhattan. We met lots of great people, some you will see pictured here. Kevin really connected with Billy, the guy pictured with him. The soup was good and satisfied my lunch. The bread is donated from a local bakery and is fresh and delicious. So many people live such hard lives...it was such a blessing for all of us to be able to provide a positive spirit, a warm cup of soup, a listening ear, or an encouraging word.

After the morning bus ride (which took us through the Lincoln tunnel and some interesting traffic), we walked to the Tropicana Diner. Talk about a big menu. We refueled on some good food and came back to the Hope Center for the evening bus. This time we headed out to the projects of Elizabeth. The children at this site were so beautiful and encouraging. I was struck by a 12 year old girl who was clearly in charge of her younger siblings, including a younger brother and a 3 year old sister. They were so beautiful, and happy to have our hot chocolate!

We got back to the Hope Center and cleaned up and were done around 9:15 PM. I think everyone is quite tired and worn out from the day. We start again tomorrow morning at 7:00AM and are headed to the Bronx. It is such a joy to be here!

New York City

New York City, here we come!

Our team of 9 set out today at 12:00 PM for the Indianapolis airport. Besides the motorcade for Dick Cheney shutting down our off-ramp from the freeway (he must be really important or something...sheesh), and our plane being delayed almost 2 hours, we had very smooth travel. Our team is made up amazing people...Larry Parlsey, Steve Heiniger, Barry Rodriguez, Kevin Roth, Brad Lenardson, Teresa Opsal, Teresa Easterday, Carol Fread, and myself (Aaron Elliott). We have a very long day tomorrow with New York City Relief (http://www.nycr.org/) that we are all anticipating with excitement.

What might be in store for us? Pictures to come as well.

Halloween 2007

How cute our my kids? The storm trooper on the right there is Zac Altekruse. We had so much fun. Sydney walked the whole time and loved getting all the candy from the folks. They did okay too...plenty of candy to share with Mom and Dad.