Walmart v. Target

This past week I was in a conversation with a few people about Target versus Wal-Mart. Yes, I know one of those deep personal conversations that can have an affect for weeks to come. After much research, I have discovered that both stores can meet most personal and household needs, so they have had to find ways to attract the market share of customers.

If you have been to a Wal-Mart super center on a weekend lately you can testify that they have been successful at getting people in the door--as long as you don’t get run over by a car in the parking lot first. As most of you can predict by now, I like Wal-Mart because it has low, low prices. I may spend an hour looking all over the “Wal-Mart Universe” and an additional 30 minutes in a check out line to save .69 cents, but I can always walk away knowing I got the best deal.

Others of you like Leigh-Ann have a preference for Target. As a company Target claims to have, “high-quality, stylishly designed items plus all the essentials for your life, displayed in a clean, organized and welcoming environment.” Those of you who are self proclaimed “Target Snobs” are willing to spend a few bucks more to shop in a clean environment for a classier product.

When I think of Wal-Mart or Target I think of a location that is jammed full of things for me to consume. I get to walk down the aisles and grab what I like and leave what I don’t like. When I can’t find exactly what I want, I complain and focus even more on finding what I want. I have seen messes in both stores and have never picked up a broom or mop to help clean it up. I have never stopped my shopping to assist in stocking shelves. I have never (for many reasons) gotten behind a register and started checking people out of the store.

Why?

The business model of both Target and Wal-Mart cater to the consumer. Unfortunately, most churches are the same way. “The church” has morphed into a mindset that promotes an “all about me mentality.”

The body whose head is Christ has become paralyzed from the neck down and is often immobile. We have become a prisoner of the building!

Whew!

With that said, I have some good news! We have completed a long term lease for a location at 1828 Walnut. You can look online at the space here. In a nutshell, we will build out an auditorium that will seat nearly 500, plenty of kids and teen space as well as office space. The location is about 5 blocks from the new Sprint center and 5 blocks from Crown center in the heart of downtown, Kansas City.

On the outside of the building you will notice a large sign that says, “Gateway Station.” If we were looking for another good reason to locate here, it would be this sign. The key lesson we have learned over the past 8 months of looking for space is that a New Testament church does not need to be controlled by four walls. In fact, our entire purpose for existence is to move beyond the four walls. We are called to “be the church 24/7.” I could go on, but I am now stepping off of my soap box….I will save the rest of my sermon for Sunday :).

Next Sunday, May 4 we will meet for a tour of our new location at our regularly scheduled service time of 10:45AM. We will not be able to have a full-fledged service since it is still raw space. We will spend time in prayer dedicating the building, I will bring a standing challenge from the Scriptures and we will introduce our upcoming Capital Campaign. Following our time at the building we will head over to the “outdoor living room” of the Kansas City Live section of the “Power and Light district” for lunch. There are several restaurants to choose from with prices ranging from $6.00 per person on up. We want everyone to be able to enjoy this celebration, so if you cannot afford to eat here, please let me know. God has already burdened an individual to help anyone in need.

You're Out!

This past week, New Life played it’s first softball game of the summer. Talk about a battle….New Life against “Joe’s.” They were a group of superstar softball players (totally kidding on the superstar) actually they were just a group of guys that called themselves, “average Joe’s.”

Well, I have to admit, New Life is anything but average….we are old, slow and out of shape. If I have to hear any more old men complain about how sore they are.....I guess I’ll just keep smiling and laughing with them. The game actually turned out in our favor….we came back to win in the bottom of the last inning. So we are 1-0….undefeated and ready for next week.

During the game, we were knotted at 0-0 after the first half inning in the field. After a few batters, it was my turn, so I took the long walk from the on deck circle to the batters box. I kicked a little dirt around and got settled in to my batters stance. After taking a practice swing, I looked around the outfield for weaknesses and then focused on the pitcher. At that moment, behind my “game face” I was just hoping to get a hit.

“BATTERS OUT!”

I looked back at the ump, and he looked at me like I was deaf…. “You’re Out!” Was this some kind of cruel joke, the ball hadn’t even been pitched yet. Then as though he didn’t owe me an explanation, the umpire said, “You’re wearing your wedding ring.” I’m thinking to myself, (Sarcasm alert) “Uh, huh….very observant.”

My temptation to argue was very brief since I couldn’t think of anything to dispute, so I just walked back to the dugout. I knew “Coach” would not be happy. He warned me 15 minutes earlier to take it off and I just plain forgot. I was without excuse. I felt like a loser…not quite as much of a loser as a few of the other guys throughout the night (I won’t mention any names :-) ).

I certainly felt helpless after getting called out. There was nothing I could do but accept the judgment of the umpire. At the risk of sounding sacrilegious by comparing our text for the week to my softball episode, Jesus experienced an unfair and extreme trial far beyond my caper in the batters box on Tuesday.

This Sunday, we take the journey with Jesus from Annas and Caiaphas to Pilate. This certainly is “A trial of epic proportions.” The focus of the entire service will be on the “Kingship of Jesus.” I invite you to study the text before coming, found in John 18:28-40. If you are interested there is a great timeline and map of the events of the week here.

I also remind you that if you have not been able to join in a small group, now is a great time to check one out. Our downtown small group will be serving dinner over at the Ronald McDonald house. If you are interested in joining in you can contact Trent. I hope you have a super-duper weekend!

Down to the Wire

KU Wins! I can’t believe it! Even if you are not a KU fan or even a basketball fan, there was something for everyone to cheer about after the National Championship game on Monday night. Unless of course you:

• Were one of the cable customers in Lawrence who lost their reception for the final minutes after a car ran into the cable box at the end of the game.
• Are Coach John Calipari and the rest of the Memphis team who couldn’t make a free throw if the game depended on it (oh yeah, it did).
• Went to bed thinking Memphis had it all wrapped up....

I read in the Kansas City star that President Bush even called Coach Bill Self at 8 a.m. Tuesday morning. Self said Bush called his cell phone. He was asked how the president had his number. "I imagine they've got people that can find that," Self said with a grin.

After several lead changes, the game came down to the "The Shot." It swished cleanly through the net, tied the 2008 NCAA championship game with 2.1 seconds left, and made it possible for the Jayhawks to beat Memphis in overtime, 75-68. If you missed it you can see it here.

If you are a KU basketball fan you know that in 2005, it was the Bucknell disaster. In 2006, a repeat with another first-round ejection, this one to Bradley. And, last season, the year ended in an Elite Eight loss in which KU struggled to even make lay ups.

KU has had to live with the reputation of choking for years, and now they are national champions. I love stories of overcomers….of people who beat the odds and succeed. If you are like me, I am confident that you will find hope and a challenge in the service this Sunday.

We will study John 18:12-27 which is actually two different scenes: One with Jesus before Annas the “High Priest Emeritus” and one with Peter and his denials. On the surface it would seem that the story is only about overcoming failures and difficult times. As we probe deeper there is much more, but you will have to come to find out. If by chance you are on your deathbed and can’t make it you can listen to the sermons online here.

Always for an Audience

This morning I was yet again faced with the fact that I am aging. If you just gasped and said, “I wish I was his age”, then you may have already experienced moments just like I did this morning.

I was out for a jog, enjoying my new Mp3 player, feeling great, loving life and running fast (at least that’s what I thought). I turned the corner on to a paved trail and up ahead saw a caution flag. Since it was just getting light out it was hard to make out what it was for. Soon I realized it was in front of a 3 foot hole in the trail. Almost immediately the challenge to jump over it began to pound through my mind. Al I could hear in one ear was, “you are quick and agile and athletic and fast and you can jump high….” (for some reason my ego always has pretty good things to say about me).

As I made the approach, I found myself timing my steps, envisioning myself flying over the obstacle and landing gracefully in stride.

What I thought and what I did were two totally different things!!!

My timing was a little off, my jump was a little awkward and my landing off-balanced. As soon as I landed (though it was not pretty, it was on my feet) I looked towards a group of townhouses about 500 yards to the left for affirmation. Then I thought, if someone was happening to look out their window, I probably made their day.

I can hear them at work now, “Ok, this morning, I was looking out the window for deer and turkeys and this guy was out running. He must have thought he was in competition or something because he attempted to jump over a little caution flag and as soon as he landed (awkwardly) he looked right over at the townhouses. What a loser!

I guess I am struggling with why I immediately looked around for some affirmation. I was hoping someone would see my great athletic feat (if you can call a three foot leap over a two foot high caution flag athletic). I am finding that I am far too easily persuaded by the affirmation of those around me and far to slow to seek the affirmation of my Lord and Savior.

This week our sermon passage is found in John 18:1-11. This is John’s recollection of the betrayal of Jesus. A betrayal is not the end and this betrayal is certainly no exception. It is the beginning in a line of events sovereignly ordained by God to bring about our salvation. I hope you will be able to join in the service this Sunday at 10:45am at Union Hill Veterans Hall. Hopefully there will be no obstacles between the parking lot and the building. I can only imagine how high I can jump in my dress shoes.