Words from Wags

It has been a great several days meeting people that I will stand long behind in God’s Kingdom reward program. Not only many faithful Kenyan pastors who toil faithfully with almost no support, help or comfort (not to mention little training or encouragement) but also meeting many people who have quietly served decades making Tenwek hospital in Western Kenya an amazing place. They are new to having the Pastors conference on their grounds and it is truly amazing to see what they have developed here to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the Kenyan people. Tenwek’s motto is, “We treat, Jesus heals”. And treat and share truth they do. This “little missionary hospital” has grown to be one amazing place, now doing surgeries as complicated as knee/hip replacements, open heart, eye surgeries and cancer treatment and research. They have their own nursing school, community service program that teaches preventive care and abstinence, and so much more. It is now staffed by 600 Kenyan doctors, nurses and administrators with about 7-15 US docs who live here with their families. It is amazing to watch these families live amongst the people. It is like stepping back into the 50′s watching their kids run barefoot with homemade bow and arrows/spears/toys over grassy Kenyan mountains that are lush, green, and full of trees/loud birds. They learn to swim in the river at the bottom of the hill and play like kids should play: free, without an Xbox, and full of imagination. Folks make their own butter and can’t wait to invite you into their homes that are filled with children, the peace of Christ, simplicity and joy. Beautiful to be around.

If you know me at all I don’t like to use the term missionary when I am talking about anything other than a normal believer who is being faithful wherever they are, but if you think of what it must have been like to wade into the African frontier and bring light and hope to the tribes of Western Kenya, I am getting to know some of the saints that did it and some of the new generation who are now continuing to support what is now, as it should be, largely a work done by native Kenyan believers. Every patient and person accompanying a patient is individually loved on and receives care and truth. Over 10,000 treated so far this year and all without government assistance. It is the top hospital in the region and one of the best training schools in Kenya for multiple medical disciplines. Followers of Christ doing what they should as they should in a place so marked by peace and simplicity you envy it. As i said …I will gladly stand back as these friends receive their eternal reward.

Meanwhile, at the conference I am loving and motivated by hundreds of men and women who sit crowded on hard wooden benches for 10 hours a day, soaking in everything we can give them. Teaching on servant leadership, conflict resolution, the problem with tribalism in the church, forgiveness, discipleship, preaching/teaching, reconciliation, role of church in crisis, and forming a nation and more. They take short breaks for tea and worship that would make a dead man dance. My heart is full…especially knowing that all my friends in Dallas are seeking to live as missional lives and taking advantage of their mission field littered with Xboxes, excess, and anything but rolling lush green mountains. May peace, joy, love, and simplicity (you can drop the homemade butter) abound in your home and may you live so faithfully that I can’t wait to stand behind you as I watch the Lord celebrate your faithfulness.

Got word from Rick and Chad today that the first day of their conference in Sudan went well. I look forward to joining them in next 36 hours as I wrap up here. Jumping on a small bird (cessna) off of a valley airstrip with our faithful friends at Mission Aviation Fellowship- more great guys who have chosen to live here solely to transport guys like me to places it would otherwise take hours to drive. They say they are the donkey and we are the Samaritan that seems to love our neighbor. Grateful my donkey has wings and these guys jump in with me in prayer everytime I jump in one of their planes.

Don’t know what your mode of transportation is going to be today but I pray you are the good samaritan and love your neighbor with truth and grace wherever you go.

Privileged and grateful.

Friends,

I received an excellent question yesterday via email that I’d love to share with you. Check out the question, think through how you would answer, and see my response. Chime in/comment here if you have anything to add/further thoughts!

From: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 08:37:44 -0500
Cc: pastoraloffice
Subject: I’m curious…

Good morning! I was pondering this last night, and wanted to get your thoughts on it… The Jewish leadership’s primary problem when Christ came was a fundamental misunderstanding of scripture regarding the Messiah. They were looking for a conquering King and were, thus, blind to His true identity. Similarly, many people now are on the lookout for Christ’s return, also in the form of a conquering King.

Is it possible that we may also have a fundamental misunderstanding of scripture, and be on the lookout for Christ’s return in a form altogether different than the reality? I know we think we read and interpret scripture correctly, but dogma sometimes seeps in undetected. I just wanted to see what your perspective on that would be… Have a great day!

From: pastoraloffice
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2011 8:49 AM
To: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: I’m curious…

Xxxxxx….that is a brilliant question and great observation. Here is my response:

Father…help me to walk every day and read Your Scriptures in humility and truth. Don’t let me miss Your will and way in anything. Protect me from my biases, even MY hopes. Fill me with YOUR hope and let me be one that sees with YOUR eyes. Come quickly Lord Jesus, and don’t let me miss You when You do. Until then, let me be Your hands and feet. Fill my mouth with truth and make my life an expression of YOUR love. By Your grace may others see Your Son in me….His grace, His goodness, His courage and His love. I long for the day when You will return as King. As evidence that You are a King may everyone see You reign now in and over me and Your people. Come quickly Lord Jesus, and don’t let me miss You when You do.

Here is my other response:

Matthew 24:4-31. By His grace we have a bit more specific revelation than our friends in Israel did. Even so, I love the question!

Todd Wagner | pastoraloffice@watermark.org
www.twitter.com/wordsfromwags
www.watermark.org
214.239.8809

If you have been around me for very long, you know that I am CLEAR on the issue that next to God’s word and His Spirit, there is nothing as present a means of His grace in our lives as authentic fellowship with other believers. This is such a central issue to the Christian life that from the beginning we at Watermark have made connection to other believers non-negotiable for members of our larger faith community. Periodically, we have to remind brothers and sisters of this fact. Below is a copy of the letter (and the reason) we send to individuals who are not in accountable relationships with others at Watermark as well as some links to further resources on the community topic.

If you are a member of Watermark and need help connecting with others this way….contact Dana Douthit at ddouthit@watermark.org.

Meanwhile….Read it through, pass it on and live it out!

Dear XXXXXXX,

Thank you for completing your 2011 4B and for your desire to stay connected with us at Watermark. We are writing to let you know that our records indicate that you are currently not in a community group. We realize that our records could be wrong or there could be a misunderstanding about what we define as a Watermark community group. A Watermark community group consists of yourself and a minimum of at least two others, with at least one being a member of Watermark. Because the nature of this letter is about your membership and community, we want to let you know why this is so important to us.

As your church leaders, our Elders are continually challenged by Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

The privilege and trust given to us to lead His flock is one we take very seriously (Acts 20:28). All members (elders and staff included) have chosen to make the body of Christ at Watermark the place where we find community, accountability and encouragement. The first line of care always comes from other members closest and committed to you. Watermark has a direct touch with every member through the almost 1000 community group leaders we regularly meet with, train, encourage and serve. Each leader provides constant care and attention for everyone in his or her group. If someone is struggling or needs assistance beyond the group’s ability, every leader has direct access to a staff member who has access to every spiritual and physical resource in the church. In this way, every active member of Watermark has accountability that tracks throughout the church, directly to the elders.

This is consistent with the model provided for us in scripture (Exodus 18) and because of its importance, we supply significant resources and staff to assist our body so they can pursue and prosper in these life-giving relationships.

We have seen again and again that the single most important step a person can take for radical life transformation is to be committed to authentic, biblical community. The commitment to biblical community that is shepherded by trained and accountable leadership produces growth. That growth pushes you towards a deeper understanding and desire to be transformed in the image of Christ.

Because we believe firmly in the importance of the biblical call for God’s people to live in community, after six months we make members inactive who are not in a group of three or more people (with at least one other person being a Watermark member). As your church leadership, we would not be loving or leading you well if we allow individuals who remain isolated from relationships with other members of our body to believe that they are being cared for and shepherded as Christ intends.

Please let us know if you believe we have not served you well in your effort to connect, you need help connecting or if you have chosen to find God’s provision for community at another church. If we do not hear from you on where you are in the process of finding a community group or how we can help care for you, we will not be able to take responsibility of your care before Christ. Therefore we will move you to “inactive” as a member. We understand that it takes time to find a group, but we also want to be faithful shepherds of our members and call you to all that scripture calls you to. If there are any extenuating circumstances that we need to be aware of please let us know.

Right now, we would like to know if you:
1.) Have found a community group and we don’t have that accurately reflected in our records
2.) Would like to share with us how you are living in obedience to scripture related to this area
3.) Plan on attending group link or have a personal strategy in place to find community
4.) Do not wish to join a community group at this time.

We look forward to serving you and hearing from you soon, and are praying that you would avail yourself to all that Christ intends. For some great reminders on the importance of community and the heart behind this communication, please see:

THIS IS THE LIFE Part 1
THIS IS THE LIFE Part 2
Connected to Others
Gifts I’d give my children 2007

Four fools on a stool Part 1
Four fools on a stool Part 2

Hebrews 3:13,

The Community Team

To get the full understanding of this post, you need to listen to last week’s message.  When I asked everyone at the end to share their sense of where, if anywhere, Christ would clean house at Watermark, I mentioned that you could write down, “He would be bothered that we have built/are still building facilities” if you wanted to, but that this is an issue our leadership has continually considered and spoken to in the past.  I also mentioned that I would post something here that captured our thoughts, as well as re-post some links to mesages where you could hear us talk about this specific topic again.  For those who like to listen/watch more than read, check out the messages linked here from 3/28/2010  and 9/12/2010.

For all readers, below are some brief thoughts laid out for you.  From our perspective, the question is not, “Should Watermark ever have/continue to build facilities?”, but, “Is everything this church has being used to maximize the glory of God?”  This is always the question.  Paul tells us, “…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:33b).  What you do is often not nearly as important as why you do it.  I can’t think of anything that would offend God if you did them in faith because you have purposed to reflect on and respond to His world in yieldedness to His Spirit and for the purpose of loving Him/loving others.

Questions about buildings are not primary questions. Whether or not to build/expand is only asked as a strategy question related to the best way to serve God and love others given our current circumstance.  As we have continually asked the Lord to lead us and how to best steward our property, we have never received any answer that involved selling our property/land, nor have we ever felt like the thing Christ would have us do is stop maximizing the use of our property.  

We don’t believe that buildings are an accurate way to judge success, and likewise, we don’t think the fact that we have buildings/are willing to put more buildings on our campus means we are out of touch with the Spirit.  The Spirit is not as concerned about physical buildings as He is about spiritual buildings.  Today, His Spirit dwells in His people, not in buildings.  If spiritual people use physical materials to serve, equip, help, and reach others, then those physical structures are a source of spiritual good.  If the physical building is used for any other purpose, no matter how beautiful it is, then it is a distraction more than a dwelling place for God.

We are neither for nor against buildings.  We are for the Spirit transforming us into servant leaders who increasingly walk in the fullness of God’s intention for us.  We measure our success not by our prosperity or our poverty, but rather by our purposeful, radical surrender to Him.  We want to measure our success by our ability to be and make disciples…living stones being built up to a spiritual house, as a holy priesthood, using physical stones when appropriate to make physical buildings useful for eternal things.

One analogy I have used before (see again 3/28/2010 message) is that of a medical school. Hopefully everyone would agree that we as believers should care for one another. Similarly, when people are sick, we employ physicians to nourish those people back to health to the best of their ability.  We love the idea of training people to be “doctors” that are equipped to help others in crisis.  A necessity in equipping our “doctors” well is building “medical schools” where they can be trained.  
 
We agree that it would be wrong for a school to build as many buildings as it could just so it could have bragging rights as the biggest medical school in the country.  However, enlarging the campus of a medical school would be right if the school were being used to unleash hundreds, if not thousands, of doctors whose skills and knowledge of how our bodies function could be continually honed to train other doctors, and therefore bring physical comfort and health to others.

Our hope is that the facilities on Watermark’s campus will be maximized with men and women who are both filled with and yielded to the Spirit.  In turn, even more men and women can be trained, not just to minister to people’s medical needs, but to be faithful in ministering to people’s hearts as well.  This is a training campus; we are equipping the saints for the work of the service (Ephesians 4:11-13). We pray that God would keep showing us what He would flip in our lives to make us more useful to Him, and that as we would continue to love each other, speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:24), we would increasingly be temples/buildings that He is pleased with.  Praying with you and looking for more encouraging conversations in the days ahead.

None of the cards that I have read from last week mentioned the building being something Christ may “take on” if He came into our midst, but since I told you I would reflect on why we believe building is right for us now, I wanted to get this post up before the week was out.  I may have fun with several of the answers we did receive in the days ahead, but for now, suffice it to say there was nothing overwhelming mentioned by anyone as obviously out of sync with God’s desire for us.  I am sure there are thousands of little choices we make every day that need radical attention, and I am committed with you to get to listen more attentively every day.

Father, we ask for You to keep coming in, speaking up, turning tables, and moving us toward your intended purposes for our lives.

Psalm 139:23-24,

Todd

9.         I never went to DTS full-time…it would not have been right for ME.  However, I was grateful for what I learned from every class I was able to take/audit/listen in on,  and I continue to learn from resources that many guys down there have written and made available.  Scholars make learning possible for men like me.  I remember John Hannah, Distinguished Professor of Historical Theology, telling me, “Don’t do what I did. I have committed my life to study things and synthesize them for you so you don’t have to.”  I am unspeakably indebted to scholars who allow me to glean from the harvest of their hard work.  May the Lord continue to raise up more scholars for His people and may His people be always led by shepherds who are either scholars themselves or who humble themselves continually at the feet of those who are committed to scholarship.  (1 Peter 5:5-6)