On Saturday, after dropping a off a gift to a friend, I noticed the powerfully gentle rotation of wind turbines north of West Lafayette, IN.  After a few miles’ drive, the grandeur of one of these machines stood before me.  I couldn’t help admire how quiet the blades rotated, even at close to 150 mph.  With no power lines in sight, it was hard to believe that electricity from this structure was transported off to the national grid in order to aid the resources of some city.  Also, the mystery of how wind power is converted to something that runs our computers, heaters, etc.

Jesus, as we know, talks about the mystery of wind in John 3 in relation to the Holy Spirit.  We’re not too different than these wind farms, aware of the need for turbines to be in the right area to generate the most power.  We are exhorted to, in a similar way, to plant ourselves in the right “wind zone” to allow the Holy Spirit to empower us as we show up and allow His character to move through us.

This spiritual power was clear this weekend as I spent time with my parents, friends and childhood church to be reminded of God’s mission to the world.  Many thanks to my family and friends who had me into their homes, took me ice-skating, and out to a local coffee shop.

This trip all-the-more reminded us of the urgency of planting ourselves among 20 somethings so that we can reap a generous “wind harvest” by God’s Spirit.

Being “renewed” by His power as He renews others through us,

Matt and Colette

It bursts out among us. The emotions that follow are liberating and sometimes uncontrollable. Glimpses of unexpected sensation are rare, but powerful. If you haven’t seen the viral clip of Susan Boyle from last year http://bit.ly/boyle042009.   The beauty of the unexpected, with Boyle and with our Lord, is that grandeur leaps out from simplicity or even perceived “ugliness”.

Today, a friend in North Carolina sent this update about his insight into the story leading to Jesus’ birth. He’s a fellow laborer among The Navigators’ 20’s Mission. God submerged him in the unexpected wisdom from this passage in Luke 1 – it describes so well our intention with friends in their 20’s. Here’s his writing – we hope you are blessed by it…

There is a story I would like to relate to you because it resonates deeply with me about what I see the Lord doing among 20somethings.

The setting was a meeting with my peers, getting acquainted with the new national director of our 20s Mission. The purpose was to brief him on what we had seen the Lord do as we launched this work over the last decade. It was a west coast meeting, so the time shift had me up before dawn the second morning. I grabbed my Bible and headed out to find coffee. When I had my cup in hand, my reading program opened to Luke 1.

It’s the start of the Jesus story and act 1 is Gabriel announcing to Zachariah – and therefore to Elizabeth – that this childless couple is now going to bear a child who will become John the Baptist. The second act is Gabriel talking to Mary several months later about the virgin conception that is about to take place in her body. Most of us know these parts of the Jesus story well.

What got my attention is what happens next – Gabriel tells Mary about Elizabeth’s pregnancy. In effect, God himself orchestrates a connection between the older established generation (I was thinking of me and Susan) and the next generation of young adults (here the men and women we have mentored and coached came to mind). Whatever else God had in mind, for Mary this connection serves a very useful purpose. How does an engaged single mother learn how to bear a child? By learning from an older woman who has gone (however recently) through that experience.

Mary immediate heads off to find Elizabeth. And you know what happens next. The six-month old baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaps and Elizabeth joyously utters a profound statement of blessing to Mary. I see this all the time with Susan and me (and with our peers) – we interact with men and women in the next generation, perceive what God is doing, and then give a word of affirmation regarding that truth.

Mary promptly responds to Elizabeth’s benediction with a statement of vision. It is astonishing in its scope and depth. She begins with the acknowledgement of what God has chosen her to do – bear His son. She notes that the story will never be forgotten. She focuses on the nature of God – his holiness, mercy and strength. She envisions God deposing tyrants and raising up the oppressed (in essence, making all accounts right). She speaks to the national destiny of Israel and concludes with a reference to the promise to Abraham.

Wow! This is vision straight from God – it certainly exceeds anything Mary has seen up to that point in her life. Reading it that morning, it was less surprising than it was thrilling. Because this is what I get to see all the time – our 20something friends embrace great vision. They get a large view of God and a big view of what can – will – happen. Often it is the dynamic of affirmation from the older generation that incites seeds of vision in the younger. This is why we are called to do this ministry.

This is a clip we’re excited to share depicting Mike Jordahl, director of City Life for the 20’s Mission, dispensing the heart behind a structured initiative to enable young men/women to land well in cities.  It also captures much of our passion for helping young professionals in Seattle.

This statement, “Fish don’t want to be caught”, rang eerily among the congregation a couple of weeks ago as I sat in a church in Birmingham, AL.  Ronnie Stevens unpacked the interaction of Jesus and the disciples, specifically regarding being “Fishers of men”.  That statement has probably been read and heard by most of us many times.  However, once Ronnie leaned over the pulpit and stated these six succinct words, it brought home the difficulty for man and the power of God for mission.

Ronnie is the pastor of the Danube International Church in Budapest, Hungary (danubechurch.org).  Ronnie’s simple, yet profound communication of the Scriptures is a breath of fresh air.  It seems that so many are eager to expound God’s Word, but so few are clear channels of God’s grace.  Ronnie quickly struck me as such a man.

Below, you’ll find three of Bernie’s messages (with his permission) from the Missions Conference I attended January 30 to February 2.  You can either left-click on the link to begin listening in your default media player or right click and “Save target as:” to download the file to your computer for local playback.  Enjoy!

Ronnie Stevens Part 1

Ronnie Stevens Part 2

Ronnie Stevens Part 3

Lately, it seems much of what has happened around us in Seattle has been difficult.  Marriages being tested or short-circuited, a child inflicted with cancer, husbands unable to find work, sudden death of a parent, car problems that can’t be fixed, upside-down mortgage that forces a family from their home,  or a computer virus that renders a laptop inoperable.  The list could go on and on.  Many of you are experiencing “upside down” circumstances also, maybe even deeply yourselves.

Jesus tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world.  He commands us to not worry and that His burden is light and His yoke is easy.  These words can sound cliche during times like these – even impossible to believe.  The thought that God is advancing His Kingdom in such situations can be unfathomable.  We, of course, have much for which to be thankful.  What we have seen, heard and even felt regarding Haiti is incalculable compared to what we are experiencing.

What is God doing?  This has been a frequent question out of our mouths since the New Year.  We could simply throw out a few explanations or a few steps to follow and claim our lives are better.  However, as we walk through Scripture, it’s apparent that trouble is a close friend of God’s people and many of these trials never were resolved.  That doesn’t settle well in our minds, because we choose the movies that end happy with all problems resolved and the bad guys in jail.

Recently, at a missions’ fair in Alabama I shared out of Isaiah 61.  The beauty of this passage is that it holds brokenness and healing in the same hand.  Even more magical is how God promises to establish “Oaks” out of  “shoots”.  Essentially, He is growing His life powerfully through men and women who humbly accept their brokenness and allow Him to heal them.  Even beyond this, He promises that these broken ones will be the ones to rebuild cities.  Could it be that the Lord is preparing us more deeply for His Kingdom as He “shakes” our world seemingly upside down?

This Scripture is to what we cling as we drink coffee with, invite into our home, lend money to, pick up at the airport, ride bikes with, study Scripture with, pray with, weep with, travel with, rejoice with friends in their 20s.  We enjoy watching the “Biggest Loser” for many reasons.  One of the exhilarating aspects of this program is how they take men and women who are “stuck” and inspire them to not only lose weight, but live with deeper purpose.  It’s not just the weight that inhibits, but underlying lies and agendas that need healing.  We see friends in their 20’s the same way – the outlying issues/situations is where we begin, but our prayer is that they would embrace God’s honor and realize He wants to grow them to be healthy laborers for Him.

Recently, a friend preparing for a mission trip to Africa was, all of a sudden, accused of bad service during his job at a local restaurant.  He has had a spotless record, but a couple of days before departure was given a bad report by a party of 25 who made him take every plate back to the kitchen!  Also, had just received word that positions might be terminated soon – not the sort of news you want to hear when you’re getting ready to jet to the other side of the world.

Would you pray that these young men and women would not lose heart and think that Jesus’ Kingdom “flips” alongside the world’s system?  We are trusting Him for friends who are emotionally healthy, culturally savvy, relationally wise, and right-side-up Kingdom focused.

It’s quite a culture shock for me (though I did manage to find a good coffee shop here, whew!), but being in Birmingham the last couple of days has been nothing but delightful.  I’m attending a missions’ fair at a local church.

The highlights, besides meeting godly laborers from around the globe and seeing one of my best friends, has been unpacking our story.  I had the privilege of speaking for twenty minutes to a young adults’ class, depicting how Isaiah 61:1-4 motivates us to walk deeply with twenty-somethings.  However, the most enjoyable class I encountered was the K-3rd grade children.  They were given a lesson on the lifecycle of coffee, from farm to the cup.  They were able to see, feel and even smell this magical bean from the green stage to the grinds.  I then bridged this lesson to 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, how we are to be the fragrance of Christ.  Just as coffee can only be effective when it is ground and shared, we can only be adequate for Christ as we let Him work on our lives and reveal His “smell” through us.

Thanks for praying and contributing so that others can experience Jesus’ aroma through our lives.

For his birthday Jeffrey received his first guitar.  After trying Daddy’s and realizing it was too big to play, he enjoys strumming on this blue beauty.  He’s got the stance and strumming down, next is forming the notes and chords.

It seems that when it comes to helping friends in their twenties and thirties, new skills are needed constantly.  Lately, Matt has been using his garage as a repair shop as a couple of guys have helped make repairs on his car as well as their own.  One night three of them were up until 12:15 a.m. working on the brakes of a ‘91 Thunderbird.  This has been a unique way of bonding and shared experience.

Another night, Matt and Colette had two other couples over for conversation and cards.  Wedding advice was flying across the table, in between hands.

A good friend donated gourmet lasagna from his restaurant, along with a laptop for Matt to fix.  He also has been enlightening Matt  on film production, mentioning today of his friendship with Joel Moore who played Norm Spellman in Avatar.

The text of 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 is inspiring, “ I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.”  Learning how to enter peoples’ worlds through the gateway of their interests and passions has opened a fascinating realm of mission.

It’s a front-row seat to transformation.  The friend we mentioned in our last update who has been submerged in a life of incessant lying and deception has been busy. He not only walked away from two of the major cults he had been deceiving, but he is taking steps to reconcile relationships in his family and prepare a memorable 50th wedding anniversary for his parents (though that event is still a couple of years away).

Yesterday, he and I met at a local coffee shop.  I was running late and feared he had left, but much to my surprise he was still there with coffee and a bagel waiting for me that he had purchased!  He even gave me an ipod yesterday!  I was wondering if this was the same guy I had known for the last eight months.  His countenance was even different.  He still has deep wounds and is on a journey towards Jesus.  Thank you for your prayers which God has honored this Holiday season.

Another one of our friends has his fiancee staying with us as she visits him over her college break.  It’s been a fun experience to host her, seeing this young vibrant couple enjoy time together after being separated by many miles.  They plan on a May wedding and hopefully will be living here after they are married.  They gave us a great evening playing Dutch Blitz, along with another twenty-something couple this past weekend.  It was cool to see the other young married couple giving advice about their wedding and young married life.

Last night about six of us gathered in a friends’ house to watch the documentary, “The Call of the Entrepreneur” (http://calloftheentrepreneur.com).  We spent about an hour discussing concepts of calling, faith and work, risk, pain, etc.  We hope to meet again in a month to continue discussion along these lines.  Most of the guys in the group were in their 20’s and 30’s.  I am leading another group tomorrow night (Wed) near the Boeing Facility in Everett, WA with several young professionals, most of whom I have never met.  My desire is that this film can engage and inspire these new young friends to honor God in their endeavors.  Also, that they can realize the adventure of following Jesus in the creative talents, skills and gifts given to them.

Next weekend, January 15-17, is a conference in Portland called “Ignite”.  This gathering will incorporate men and women from every age group as we seek to grow in our puruit of Truth featuring keynote speaker Dr. Dan Wallace from Dallas Theological Seminary.

On the home front, many changes abound.  Jeffrey is excited to announce his progress in potty training.  He enjoys playing his new guitar as he goes about his business.  Luke and Lana are chefs-in-training as they take coffee grinds and leftovers to the sink to produce masterpieces all are encouraged to sample.  Asha is the aspiring architect and seamstress, poring herself into drawing blueprints of houses and taking up cross-stitching.  Matt and Colette have enjoyed simple pleasures of home-made lattes and discovering new ways to exercise around our family’s busy schedule.

Thank you once again for your partnership – in prayer and resources for this strategic movement among the twenty-somethings.

Matt

Responsibility

Our youngest son, Jeffrey, has a new job.  He crumples the
paper used to start a fire in the wood burning stove.  It’s helped afford Daddy time to retrieve wood from the pile and get the lighter ready to get our source of heat going.  Luke, our oldest son, is being trained to fetch wood to keep the heat sustained.

These small, yet important responsibilities, will build character and confidence into our boys.  It communicates that they have value and purpose in daily affairs.  That same inspiration, our twenty­-something friends catch more deeply as they live and work in Seattle.  We have sought to include more friends to help with car and house repairs (There have been plenty).  This brings unique bonding, deepens their sense of purpose, and gets the job done.

Repentance

Yesterday, while drinking coffee and enjoying a bagel, a friend disclosed to me (Matt) that he had been lying about his identity for the last six months.  In fact, he said that this has been his way of relating for as long as he can
remember.  He still gets phone calls from church and cult leaders addressing him by different names!  As he and I have been discussing the truth of Jesus and being “in the light”, the Holy Spirit has secretly orchestrated circumstances to confront this destructive habit.  Would you pray for deeper freedom?

Thank you for partnering with us to achieve the goal of pointing young men and women to the heart of God.  Your financial resources, prayers and encouragement have been foundational for this work.  We appreciate how much you have invested in 2009.

With that in mind, would you consider your investment in this work for 2010?  Would you pray about the possibility of an extra gift above and beyond your regular giving?  Would you pray about an increase in your support?  If you are not supporting us on a regular basis, would you pray about beginning to do this?  We are trusting God to supply $15,000 to begin 2010 on good footing.  Just fill out and return the enclosed commitment card as the Lord guides you.  You can also give securely online at http://bit.ly/seattlestories.

Seeking to grow in responsibility and repentance,

Matt & Colette

A couple of days ago a friend of mine and I climbed up on our roof for
the last warm day of the season. Our reason, simple, to repair a leak
we have endured for the nine months. We stripped away several
layers of shingles and felt paper, including a roof vent. What we
discovered confirmed the evidence. Spanning two feet out in each
direction from the roof vent was moisture. It was obvious that water
was wicking in from compromises in the vent. Another culprit, a nail
hole a few feet down from the vent. After about four hours of labor, we
cleaned up the area with the satisfaction that our mission had
succeeded. We also needed to get the work done because a large rain
storm was about to hit the next morning.

By the end of the following day it was confirmed that the leak had
indeed been stopped. I called up my friend to share the good news!

It seems the roof situation parallels God’s work in our lives.
Eventually, the Holy Spirit reveals “leaks” in our lives that do not
seem dangerous in the short range, but if left untreated can do an
immense amount of damage. The difficulty sometimes, like with the roof,
is to find the source of that leak.

The last couple of weeks have proved that God is calling us to help a
few friends to discover where sources of pain have originated. They hit
a point where a relationship is hurt, they have difficulty connecting
with God, or are lacking direction. Would you pray for God’s wisdom as
we scour the “roof” and probe for deeper sources that drive the
issues?

Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel and tangibility of the time
you invest praying for His Kingdom to show up in our lives.