By Ben Snyder on 4/29/2008 6:48 AM

A friend emailed this to me today...

"One of the reasons we have to create evangelism programs is that no one is asking us questions such as, "What is the reason for the hope within you", "Why do you live so differently" or "Why do you love the poor, provide service widows and care for prisoners?" Our churches are so rooted in the Western story that would our neighbors think if we had Jesus removed from our life that our treasure would be removed? Or would they think it would be a small loss in relation to how we live seeking to pursue the American dream along with the rest of our unbelieving neighbors? In Acts and the early church evangelism was built on questions because of the radical alternative way Christians lived."

As I think about my life - I ask the question, why is it so hard to live radically? and then, why is it so easy to desire the life of the American dream?

Thoughts?

By Ben Snyder on 4/28/2008 10:30 AM

By Ben Snyder on 4/24/2008 11:57 AM

Now, I know that environmentalist and "going green" is cool these days. I also know that in some Christian circles the whole global warming thing and environmental tree huggers is considered foolish, not true, or political garbage. However, I have a though to consider that has changed my perspective a bit.

This past Monday was Earth Day. And for the moment I would ask that we all set aside our political passion or distaste for environmentalism.

First - we all believe passionately in the sanctity of life - that every human life is a gift from God and should be treated as such. That is why abortion is an important issue for us - because it is God's domain, His gift, His creation.

Second - we also believe that we are to be good stewards of the gifts that God has given us - which is true of our spiritual gifts, our finances, our material possetions and so on. Why? Because we believe that God gives us these things - and when we view them as our own, it distorts their purpose and our view of God.

So, if those two are true - wouldn't it make sense to view God's created world that way? Yet, for so many people, instead of viewing it as a gift...it is something we consume. At the very least, I wonder how our interaction with the stuff we buy, the things we throw away, and the way we consume the created world would look different if we treated it as a gift from God?

If there is anyone who should be excited about "tending to the garden" (as it states in Genesis 2) - shouldn't it be the people of God?

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not interested in all the political garbage that is contained in between the lines of environmentalist's jargon.

I think I am simply suggesting that we take a second and consider viewing our products and our earth as a gift instead of something we consume.

Thoughts?

By Ben Snyder on 4/2/2008 10:28 AM

So we had around 200 people attend the Global Distance Project meetings -which was awesome. It has been fun for me to watch people talk and think about how they are going to participate. Some of these people have no idea what is in store for them. Friendships will be formed out of this common experience by people who had never met before. There will be so many lessons learned. And challenging goals will be achieved.

And when this is all said and done, hundreds of HIV/AIDS children and families will be touched and blessed.

I hope many more consider participating - whether running, cheering, or giving to the cause...I believe running this GREAT DISTANCE in response to this GREAT NEED will have a GREAT IMPACT both in Honduras and our lives right here.

Our next information meeting is April 19th & 20th following each service. Invite your friends!

By Ben Snyder on 3/25/2008 4:02 PM

Monday - 5 miles - done

Tuesday - need to go run and the stinking wind and weather isn't cooperating

PS - this weekend is the big invite to all of CedarCreek to run a marathon, half marathon, or be a part of a marathon relay team to raise funds for Casa Hogar Vida...following each service.  I am so pumped!

By Ben Snyder on 3/18/2008 7:27 AM

This is the time of year refered to by Holy Week - the week leading up to the death and ressurection of Jesus Christ.  It is a time filled with activity (and sometimes chaos) for those in the church world - especially places like CedarCreek launching a new location. For families, it will be Easter baskets and new outfits and family gatherings.

So, with the holiday that symbolizes the climax of the Christian faith - what things are you doing this week to reflect, embrace, and celebrate the story of the cross and tomb?

By Ben Snyder on 3/15/2008 6:30 PM

One of my leaders sent me this article in reference to the "unplugged" week that the high school ministry and myself went through a week ago.  It describes how 68% of our society experience anciety when they are disconnected. Wow. I would have been in that group. Going unplugged certainly made me aware of some of my own dependencies and ways that I waste time. It was fun listening to what some of the students had to say. If I am honest...I am thankful to have my music back.  I really love the tunes, and spent some time thanking God for the gift of music.

This unplugged idea has caught on with some of our staff members who are taking holy week and unplugging.  Josh - Thanks for the kind words and I am excited for what this week has in store for you!  Because of his blog - this unplugged idea has gone global.  How cool!

For me, I am going to take the later half of this week and unplug again to set my mind on the story of the Passion.  I hope you join me in reflecting on the Savior, His Love, His Passion for His Father.

By Ben Snyder on 3/15/2008 6:16 PM

By Ben Snyder on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

Within the last six months my wife and I have readjusted our lives with a new mission to our simple south Toledo neighborhood. I was at a conference before then where some comments were made about living "missionally". It is a popular buzz word in churches these days - but, the truth of it has changed something in our lives.It is easy to say I care about lost people. It has been easy to pat myself on the back for inviting my neighbors every year to our big services (Christmas, Easter, etc) and think - I am doing my part to "reach the lost". The reality is - I don't know many of them. The truth is I am doing little -if anything- to engage them. Living missionally simply means that I see my neighborhood as a place where Jesus wants to reign, be worshiped, and heal human hearts just as much as he does in our auditorium on Sunday morning. In fact, the timing of this rescue seldom takes place on Sunday morning and doesn't fit into a neat little compartment in my life. It is every day, intentionality of loving those right next door.

Now, don't get me wrong. It wasn't like a light bulb switched on. This process is still just that - a process. But, the other day, my wife and I organized and threw a block part for our street. We believe it has been around 35 years since any such event has taken place on Bronx Dr. Recently she emailed her team about the event...I will let you read it for yourself.

My husband (Ben) and I have lived in our home in South Toledo for about 4 1/2 years. Day after day we drive past the same people, sometimes with a wave, but often without so much as a glance. We finally decided that something had to be done, so we threw a block party! We barricaded the street, pulled out a grill, passed out some fliers, and about 40 people actually came! We discovered that many of our neighbors are single-parent households, many are older individuals who can't get around well, and as far as we could tell, few have a relationship with Jesus. We spent 4 hours eating, playing corn hole, and just connecting with one another. By the time the barricades stopping traffic came down, it was obvious that many barricades that had been preventing relationships with one another had come down as well! Now we have the joy of being able to put names and life stories with faces; we can dream about our next steps in connecting (my daughter, Lydia, is working on some "paintings" that we'll be delivering to single older folks on the street, and I'm even pulling out the mixer to whip up some cookies!); and we can pray specifically for people who need Jesus.

It's easy to get wrapped up in your life, and not see the people around you who need to know about Jesus. It's easy to assume that "mission work" takes place in third world countries. It's easy to forget that we are supposed to start in our "Jerusalem," our neighborhood, our school, our workplace! Each day God lays multiple opportunities to impact people right in front of us . May we live in such a way that we take advantage of those opportunities!!!

So this is the beginning. We are praying for other missionally minded couples to join us in our humble south side street to be the Church for the people on Bronx Drive.

By Ben Snyder on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

I took our car to Caress Carwash over by my house because I don't have time to hand wash the thing - plus, the car wash does a nice cleaning job and it sprays fun colored soap on my car. So, decided to take Lydia through in our car thinking it would be like the circus. Singing, laughing, thrilled shreaks of joy...

Instead of the expected giggles, pointing, and excitment - it was wide-eyed terror that turned to frantic screaming.  Suddenly I felt trapped. What once as a colorful and fun spray and spin cycle turned into guns blasting the car and a big multi-armed monster enveloping our car. Lydia was having a melt down.  Even as we sat there in the endless car wash, I grabbed her hand and told her it was okay - Daddy was here.  It didn't help.

What felt like three hours later - the door opened and we finally escaped. 

It took fifteen minutes to calm her. Whew.

What is ironic is the other day I found her on climbing step number three in our basement (since we have put up a little barrier to keep this from happening again).  She had climbed up there all by herself...no help, no fear.  I pulled her down and was momenterally terrified of the potential devistation that could have happend had she fallen.  As soon as her feet hit the floor - she went right back to those steps and started climbing.  I tried to put my hands around her to hold her - and with the arogance of a one year old she pushed my hands away.  So, I snatched her up and carried her to safety where she proceeded to inform our entire neighborhood that she wasn't happy with that move.

After the car was episode I started thinking about what makes us afraid - and what should makes us afraid. 

In the car wash - there was nothing that could hurt her.  Yet, from her perspective - even with Daddy there trying to calm her - she was terrorized.  And on the stairs, one mis-step (which is common for her) and she would have fallen to serious injury.  In the car wash, I was amazed at the ridiculousness of Lydia's fear.  She was terrorized by the car wash which could do nothing to harm her, but unafraid of choices that could lead to real pain and injury. In both cases, when I got involved - it didn't help.  In the car wash, my reaching out to comfort her was not enough to end her fear...and when I stepped in to help keep her from harm - she pushed me away and eventually was upset by my care and protection.

It is so true how watching your kids teaches you so much about life.  So many times in my life I am terrorized by things that I need not worry about.  And so often in those times of fear and worry, God is desperately trying to get my attention to remind me who He is and how much He cares.  On the other hand, sometimes I make risky choices that with one misstep could cause injury. And when God steps in to help keep me from harm - I "push him away" or even get upset because I am not getting what I want.

So, what have you been "afraid of" lately? How might God our Father be trying to calm and care for you?
What choices have you been making that should make you a little "afraid"?
Or perhaps, have you been paying attention to how God might be trying to warn you about some of the choices you are making?