Ben Lemery | Church & Culture

Going Back--Going Forward

Coming back to the Midwest has been relatively refreshing.  The people are different and even tonight, eating with some of my mother's friends, you can tell that they are willing to put their comments and opinions on the table for everyone to see.  In California, that is different as many people tend to be passive and non-confrontational regarding their opinions. 

I feel very renewed as I get ready to fly back on Sunday and very thankful for the remaining friendships I have, even after a year of limited contact with many of them.  More than ever, I realized how much people appreciated my straight forward approach to life and it showed based on the deep, trusting conversations we held during those times. 

One can only assume, in time, Californians will also appreciate what my friend Caleb calls "a gift." 

It was difficult for me to take that compliment because for so long it seemed like the "gift" was a curse.  But, I realize more and more that God has placed something special in me.  When I saw some breakthroughs that happened this past week because I took a risk to poke at a guy about some very personal things, it was worth the entire trip right there.

Sometimes, I simply can't analyze why God made me this way, I have to only focus on living it, everyday. If I can do that, the possibilities are endless on how He can use me. 

Risky Business

As I have been meeting with people in Mt. Pleasant, seeing old friends and hearing the stories of their past year.  The main question I have asked is, "what next?  What is God preparing you for?" 

It is hard to swallow the hard fact that you could be called into something much bigger than yourself and that you it isn't going to be a requirement of one day or one week but instead 4 years, 10 years, maybe the rest of your life. 

The people I am talking to have great calling on their lives.  Each one though has that same look on their face that I had when I realized that I was moving across the country.  It is almost the look of, "is this for real?"  Well.......it is.  God is creating strong people who will carry His legacy to the nations. 

One friend of mine will be moving down to South America to teach with his wife.  How exciting and what an opportunity to impact schoolchildren.  They get to mirror Christ in a natural way and hopefully see many come into His kingdom because of it. 

Another friend is leaving a comfortable job to really a whole new adventure. 

Others are getting married, having kids, etc. 

But God is creating something new in the atmosphere and each one of these people have a calling to impact.  The message they are saying is the same however, "we feel like God is calling us into bigger places."  None of them are saying, "God is calling us to start a ministry."

I think God is calling all of us to greater things but greater things that are interconnected with other parts of the body.  It isn't about us, it's about expanding the kingdom and seeing His glory manifest. 

The question I have for all of you, are you willing to take the next step in faith and just open up your life to whatever God has for you?  Faith is risky but it has greater results in the end. 

Back Home

It has been over a year since I have been in Mt. Pleasant, MI and even longer since I have seen my own family.  Moving out to California certainly had it's challenges but looking back, I realize how important it was for me to make the transition from east to west.

In less than 12 hours, I will be on an airplane and seeing people who have also transitioned in their lives.  Relationships that were once tight, may not be as close knit anymore.  People change, personalities change and attitudes change.  Views towards life adjust and some that were strong when you left, may be weak and vice versa.

There is always a pit in my stomach when I see people I haven't stayed in touch with as well.  You aren't sure what you are going to get and it is difficult to pick up right where you left off. 

The one thing I am thankful for is, I haven't changed that much.  I am still direct but maybe a little more compassionate; have a little more life to draw from but still a lot more to go; and still self-analyze myself about 400% more than I do anyone else. People either like that or hate it.  Personally, I don't give a crap, haha.  The friends that are still there, remain because we accept and support one another in this long journey of life.

Some of my friends are almost engaged, some are already, some are married.  I am still single. 

Some friends moved, stayed or can't figure out what their next step is.  I think I hit all three this past year.

I am excited to see people that I love and the refreshing time it will bring will be a highlight of this year.

Pray as for my flight and that God would safely direct it or that He would let us all pass out before it crashes. 

It will be a good time.

Redemption: The Story of the Ages

Redemption is the core part of the story of Christ.  

When John the Baptist said, "Behold, I send a Messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you." (Matthew 11:10)

When John the Baptist prophesied this, I don't think he understood the full scale of this statement.  However, if you look closely at this verse, I would interpret it like this, "who [Jesus] will prepare your way before you."

In order to grasp the full scale of this one sentence, said to maybe a couple hundred people at most, you would have to understand the purpose behind it.

Before Jesus, redemption was found in the blood of the sacrifice of animals.  When Christ's blood trickled down the crevices of the cross, it became the eternal substitution of redemption with God.

When John the Baptist said that Jesus would prepare the way, I don't think anyone could have known how that path to redemption would exactly be formed.  

It is one of those notions that shouldn't make sense but it is the path that was created to restore a deep love and desire with Father God.  

On December 2nd, 1999, I remember wanting to die.  I had lost my father one month earlier, was relatively friendless and felt like the previous twelve years of school were happening once again in college.

However, in the process of me desiring to take my own path, another path was made for me.  I remember that Intervarsity Christian Fellowship was meeting that night and it was the one place that I felt a semblance of acceptance.  

You see taking that path, I ended up at their large group meeting, a guy named Brandon came up to me after and asked if I needed prayer.  In the middle of praying for me, he asks if I have ever asked Jesus into my heart.  The path seemed to wind a little differently for me and the path was prepared before me.  

All I had to do was make the choice to walk on it.  

It's amazing how His blood paved the way for me.  

Do you think you, or your friends or maybe that person you are walking by in an hour knows that the path was paved?  Already?  

All I had to do was make the choice to walk on it.

Are Campus Fellowships Effective?

I have been reading on past revivals that have swept over different campuses in America and one shocking tidbit of information that I have found is that none of these revivals were ascribed to a specific campus fellowship.  Each revival normally started with a grassroots effort of prayer and gatherings with like minded, hungry people who all desired God to come and shake the campus.

This begs the question of the purpose of campus fellowships and their overall effectiveness. 

My observances over the years of campus Christian fellowships have been:

1. High School Didn't Look Much Different: When you enter into a large group meeting, it looks like a high school cafeteria.  Every clique and group is segmented by their likes, dislikes and looks.  Regardless if you agree with that or not, it is relevant and real.  The caste system is very much in full effect and those in leadership tend not to be the "most spiritual" of the group but instead who fits in the popularity paradigm. 

2. The Overall Message Is Seeker-Friendly: I actually stand by this in regards to a group that sees 20% of their overall attendance as non-believers or new Christians.  But, I have never seen a Christian group have this percentage.  The depth of the message normally is only crust level and unfortunately if you are there for more than two years, you begin to hear the same message cycle again as one group graduates and the next come in.

3. Small Groups Are Essential: If you are not apart of a small group in college, you will rarely go deeper in your own faith.  Small groups provide accountable systems and allow leaders to challenge students at a different level than large group affords.  However, the constant complaint I have heard from past small group leaders is they are already burnt out from leading and have no one to help them through their own spiritual needs.  This cause and effect can hurt the entire small group and those attending.

4. Prayer Is Last On The List: Few Christian fellowships have intercession teams, prayer rooms or set times during the week that they will come together and pray for revival to come to the campus.  When I did the Michigan Campus Prayer Network, the amount of groups I found that had prayer meetings were few and far between.  At San Jose State University, there are only 3 students who consistently meet and pray.  3 out of thousands.  Central Michigan University has had a roller coaster movement with prayer but they have stayed semi-consistent for a few years now.

5. When It Comes Down To It, People Aren't Getting Saved: Why we allowed the bar to be set so low is beyond me.  We are happy if 10 people get saved all year.  It is a clear misunderstanding of the kingdom mindset we are supposed to have on campuses.  I remember standing outside of a campus fellowship, here in California.  I was waiting for a friend in the courtyard.  In that half an hour of waiting, every single person who was attending that group walked past me.  They didn't look at me, say anything to me or even acknowledge my existence.  Had I not been saved, they would have missed a moment in time that they could have invited me to their fellowship meeting.  (Which I was attending anyway)  When my friend got there and we went up to the table to get my name tag, the young lady said, "we were wondering who you were."  We can always think and wonder who someone is but we need to step out and take the chance to find out who they are.

This isn't a smack down of campus fellowships.  The need for community and structure is important for Christians but I do feel that the above points need to be prayed over and digested if we really want to see effectiveness take hold on the campuses.  I know I will be as God opens up new doors for me on the campuses.