Tim Harlow

Rachel's Poem

My daughter Rachel (the Out of Eden one) wrote this poem for her professor to make into a choral piece. It turned out quite well and since I'm out of time this week to blog - I thought I'd pass it along.

By the way, this is her website if you want a copy of any of the songs Rachel's MySpace

Dust Psalm

i am made

shielded from the scalding sun

void of fiery atmosphere song

heralding that i am come

i am made

near to ground

kin to dust and grass-top glaze

like i spend my time-size days

the earth knows how to bow within the folding starry arms

but I

—!

oh Lord, i cannot blow away the dust that sinks atop my soul

i cannot scatter cloudy prayer from words that crystallize in air

one Hand in stars

one Hand in dust

one Heart keeps soul hinges from retiring into rust

i am made

If there is a God, then there is thought behind my existence. If there is thought behind my existence--well, then, love is the only plausible motivation, for of what use could I possibly be to a God powerful enough to create me in the first place?

So here I am. Suppose I am made. Suppose the Genesis account of creation gives me some insight into what my existence means, whether or not events took place in that exact order or in that exact way in space-time history. First comes the grandeur of light, of day! God’s glory has a physical manifestation now, surely. The galaxy of stars, the planets revolving around our own star. The oceans, the redwoods, the Serengeti, the Great Barrier Reef: smaller by comparison, but imposing in their own right. Surely these are a perfect reflection of God.

But something is not yet complete. Entering dimension, shrinking small enough to feel grains of dirt separate from each other, God fashions a man. Breathes life into his form. Says—shockingly—“This is my reflection.”

I now have the gift of breath and with it the opportunity to respond in some way. Stuck in dimension myself, inhibited by chronology, I fill most of my days with things that matter little and hardly know enough to look up at a God whose image I bear and say…well, thanks. In fact, when it happens that I am suddenly aware of him, I trip over my words and find that I don’t even know how to respond to him. The planets have a grand order to their lifespan; the seasons turn perfectly on cue. Nature understands her role.

I do not. And the dirt of my humble origin seems to muddy the grand prayers I try to pray.

Fear not, Someone says. The same love that passed by the show of stars in the beginning to breathe life into you is not too lofty to stoop down again and be in your dusty midst. I think the Creator has not yet finished his work.

-Rachel Harlow

We're Starting a Movement Today

I’m no longer content to just pastor a church.  I want to be part of a movement of God.  I was very inspired this week that my vision has not grown with the church.  19 years ago when we started here– this thing we call Parkview was a vision for me.  A church, like the early church, that was growing daily in souls and in faith.  I honestly could see this.  I didn’t know about multiple sites, or how much missions influence we could have.  I didn’t know how it would work out, or even where.  But I did have a vision and this is it.  I love it.

 

But along the way, I’ve settled in.  I kept the same vision, instead of looking to the next one.  Now we’ve arrived (to a certain degree) at the fruition of the vision.  What’s next?  Do we maintain this – or ask God for more?  

MORE.

 

I was reading this on Wednesday – 

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

 

What brings God glory is when he does immeasurably more according to his power.  No one can look at Parkview and think that I, or anyone, else did this.  Only God gets the glory.

 

And now God will get more glory when we decide that we are going to be a part of a movement.  A movement that starts 100 churches and 5 campuses by 2020 – the 2020 Vision.  A movement that reaches out around the world and connects hundreds of thousands of people to their Creator.

 

Francis Chan spoke this week at our conference.  He said, ‘Jesus took 11 men and said, “I’m going to start a movement through you.  You are going to take my message and change the world – without the internet :) ”  Then he said, “If Jesus could take those 11 men and change the world, why can’t you take 11 friends and change 3 blocks?”

 

We can do a lot more than that.

 

Don’t miss this weekend.  We’re starting a movement.

 

Tim

What If?

I’m at a conference called Exponential that is all about church planting. Wow! Last night we met with some leaders of six other large churches from around the country to talk about partnering together to plant 100 churches in the next three years.  The church that is leading it is Community Christian in Naperville. And one of the other churches is Faith Church in Dyer.

Can you imagine what could happen in Chicago if we had it surrounded by churches who were working together?  What if?

I’ve been watching video from Africa to get ready for the weekend’s message on “Doors” that are open for us – as I update our Great Investment Campaign. I couldn’t have imagined all the great stuff that’s happened there.  What if?

Lockport had 510 people for Easter.  Who could have thunk it? What if we had 5 campuses by 2020?  What if?  

What if we planted 100 churches world wide by 2020? What if?

What is our limitation?  We have thousands of people, great leadership, and open doors all over the freaking place! The economy?  Are you kidding me?  Is that our limitation?

What if we get to heaven and find out that there could have been more, but we didn’t ask. What if?

You’d better be here this weekend.  The stuff that is going on here is supernatural!  I’ve got a lot to tell you.

Ephesians 4 - As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  

AND BY THE WAY – HAPPY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS' DAY.   I want to thank Jenny for taking such good care of me (she actually just won an award in her continuing education program for being so good).  I want to thank all of the admin’s who keep things really going around this church.  We have an amazing team.  

People of Parkview – you have an amazing church staff that does an incredible job.

WE ARE BLESSED.  

Tim

Don't forget Lee Strobel will be with us next weekend. He'll be speaking Saturday, May 2 from 8:30 to 10:30 AM from his new book The Unexpected Adventure - Taking Everyday Risks to Talk with People about Jesus on how to interact with non-believers. The cost is $10 and includes breakfast. Register here or contact Jeanna Lentes at 708-478-7477 ext. 235 or jeanna.lentes@parkviewchurch.com.

The Fam

We're still riding high from the amazing Easter service, but we got to get away and relax after the whole thing.  It was good and needed.

We hit the road on Sunday afternoon and drove to St. Louis.  Denise’ brother Doug and his wife Patti serve the Wildwood Christian Church in the West County of St. Louis.  It’s a great church in a great area and you all know how much I depend on Doug for help with sermon writing and ministry encouragement.  The cool thing for me is that when I’m with family I am also in a ministry support group. 

By the way – Happy 50 to you Patti.

Then we headed on Monday down to Springfield to see Denise’ parents and her sister and brother in law.  Jack is also a pastor, he just started a church here a year ago and it’s going really well.  They have been blessed with an unbelievably cool meeting space in an old restaurant with a fantastic location.  God’s hand has been in Lake Hills.  It’s also fun to hang with Jack and share ideas and vision and be able to relax with someone who gets me.  Denise’s father was also in ministry until he retired so the whole thing is really encouraging.  I really couldn’t have picked better in-laws.  I know I say that often, but it’s true.  I’m blessed to have married SO well, and I’m blessed that she came with a “blessings” family instead of a “baggage” one.

We’re on our way back now and looking forward to an awesome weekend with Ryan Dobson.  You won’t want to miss this.

And then next weekend we’re going to take a look at our vision.  You see signs around there that look like road signs.  “Grace Happens, You Matter to God, Come As Your Are, and Children at Play.”  It’s time for me to explain those again.  These are some core vision issues for us and I would love for you to hear about it.  I will be updating you on all the amazing ways we’ve been fulfilling that vision because of our “Great Investment” campaign.  You can obviously see the work that is going on at our Orland Campus, but you need to hear about all that God is doing that you can’t see.  It’s unbelievable. 

As we follow the example of Jesus, we need to remember these words…

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.   (John 12)

Serving with you,

Tim

Holy Easter!

And you can read that statement several ways!

We had the best Easter ever at Parkview.  Not just in the record crowd of over 8600 (a record by a mile), but in the Spirit and the spirit.  I've never been sad to be done preaching 5 times before.  It was such a great service.  Our creative team (especially Debbie and Mark) are incredible.  Denise and the worship crew really busted it to make all of this happen. John and Kim and Kevin and all the team - thank you!

 

We had tech and security and kids workers and greeters who did all five services.  I can't thank everyone like I should, but you all know you made an eternal difference.

 

And of course I'm proud of my daughter and her incredible song and talents (and her friend Emily who drove up with her and sang back up).

But the place was just electric.  I've got goosebumps just thinking about it.

I want to especially thank the 120 prayer warriors who came to the prayer vigil (as well as the hundreds who are praying at home.)  I totally think this was the difference this Easter.

The whole service is online at the Parkview Media Center.

I'm still flying high.  Jesus is alive and Parkview Rocks.

I'm reading Ryan Dobson's book "Wrecked."  I really hope you will be here this weekend to hear him.  I will be there.  You may think a guy who grew up in the home of Focus on the Family doesn't know about being "wrecked," but you couldn't be more wrong.  He's got a testimony that includes being far from God and a divorce in his life before God brought him back.  Be here.  

And thanks for letting me have the best job in the world.

Easter Blessings,

Tim

And We're Off...

We had a great first Easter service last night.  Packed house, things went well, and I believe the message of the cross and Easter were well received.  God wants you back in Eden.  It's a great service, if you aren't going to be here live, I hope you'll pull it up and watch on the web.  Our great team did a fantastic job.  This is a cool team to work with! 

I had some friends who lost their mom this week.  I wrote them this note and I thought it was appropriate for you all to hear.

"There is something a little more special about losing a loved one this time of year, for believers.  As I’m working on my Easter message and we’re all trying to get the last minute details on the service, I can’t help but stop and think through the beauty of the whole thing.  In my prayer time this morning I was thinking about how hard Christmas always is for me.  It’s a beautiful story, but it is so familiar and it’s hard to find something new to preach about every year.  Easter is completely different.  I mean, I know the whole thing goes together, but Easter has so much more richness because it is not just about what Jesus went through for us, it’s about what it means FOR US.

Jesus told Mary and Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25)

It’s been different working on my message this week.  Because I’m dealing with the theology of the whole thing, and most of the theology is on the cross.  I don’t think Jesus had to come back from the dead to pay for sin.  He paid for our sin on the cross and forgiveness is on the cross.  Resurrection is for hope.  Easter is for us – to prove that it’s real.  That’s why Easter is so important.

I Cor 15:12 - But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Jesus was the firstfruits.  He was the example of what is going to happen.  It proves that he had the power to really take our sin on the cross.

I don’t mean to preach to your grief.  I just want to remind you that Paul said we “don’t grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.”  (I Thess 4:13)"

Then I got this email back from my friend Lisa,

"I think when you become aware, and then the full knowledge settles on you, that there is nothing humanly possible to do to keep someone you love here on this earth, the focus becomes all about the transition into eternal life.  We feel gratified to know that we all tried our best to help Mom physically and to remind her that she walked with God on this path.  In fact, her death was such a spiritual moment for me (even in the midst of painful personal grief) because I felt completely convinced that I was witnessing her peaceful, graceful passage into such freedom and adventure.  It was a privilege to be able to promise her we would be ok and to encourage her to go with the angels.  I am so grateful for faith." 

THAT is what Easter is about.

He is not here, He is RISEN.  And so will we.

Have a Blessed Easter.

Tim

 

Scripture

Just read it.  

As you prepare for Easter, pick it up and read it.  There is hardly any way you will read for long without hitting something that has pertinence to this weekend.    

I am always in several different places in the Word at any given time.  I just happened to be in John and Ephesians today.  

John tells me about Lazarus who had already died, but the disciples didn’t know it.  

John 11:11-13 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.  

I like the metaphor of sleep – don’t you? We don’t die – we sleep.  

John 11:20-27 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”  

We usually give Martha a bad rap because of the whole kitchen incident earlier – but what I love is that even in her grief, even in her anger at God, her questioning “why,” – she still has her faith.  

John 11:32-44 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”    

This miracle was not for Lazarus, he hated the whole thing.  He didn’t want to come back!  It was proof.  “For the benefit of those standing here.”  

As I’m working on this Easter message, I keep coming back to the theology I want to give to people who otherwise may not know much about Christianity.  And the truth is the theology is on the cross.  The resurrection is for our faith and our hope. Christ’s resurrection is just like Lazarus’ resurrection – proof.  

Okay, then I was in Ephesians and here is the theology.    

Ephesians 2:1-9 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.  

That, boys and girls is the richness of this coming weekend.  If you are off on Spring Break – find a way to celebrate the “incomparable riches of his grace.”  If you are coming here – it’s going to be incredible. You should see the place.  I can’t give it away, but it will be inspirational and potentially life changing.  

See you this weekend – it’s the Big Dance.

Tim  

ON PAYING ATTENTION

 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him”…40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” 

41 Others said, “He is the Christ.” 

Still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee?  42 Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”  43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.  44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.  ( John 7)

Isn’t that amazing?  “Shucks, he cain’t be the Messiah.  He ain’t from Bethlehem.”

Why didn’t someone just ask him?  It’s a pretty simple answer, isn’t it?

Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” 

46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared. 

47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted.  48 “Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?  49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.” 

50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked,  51 “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?” 

52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”

Maybe Jesus should have had a Bethlehem High School Athletic Department shirt he wore around or something.

Why didn’t they ask him?

I spent most of my life in Oklahoma, 3 different places actually.  When people ask me where I’m from, I usually say Oklahoma (although I spent five years in Denver from age 5-10).

But when I need to do some legal document, like a passport or travel visa or something – they ask for “place of birth.” 

Houston.

Yeah, I was born in Houston... Missouri.  I was born in Houston, Missouri.  There is too such a place!  Many Missouri towns were named by a very boring people.  There is a town named Cuba, Mexico, Paris – Mark Twain was born in Florida, Missouri.  I guess people in the Show Me state just aren’t very creative (except for my wife)

I am (mostly) from Oklahoma, but I was born in Missouri.  My parents and I only lived there a few months, and then we moved to Oklahoma (they also had to flee the local authorities, so I’m a lot like Jesus in many ways).

This is not a hard concept, folks.

My point is that it would have been easy to get to the bottom of the whole Bethlehem deal.

And it’s not hard for you to get to the bottom of your doubts about who Jesus was, either.

Ask him.  

Do your homework, talk to people who know him, read about him in the Bible – but don’t forget to just ask him.

Tim

Trying to Eat Yogurt with a Fork

That’s what I just did.  I’m sitting in my office and grabbed my afternoon yogurt (yes, it’s Activia), and there were no spoons in the drawer so I ate it with a fork. And strangely enough, I spilled some on my shirt!  

I think you can eat chunky yogurt with a fork, but this one didn’t work.  

I’m working on a sermon about the Last Words of Jesus for the weekend and the deep meaning behind it.  I have Easter on my brain for next week, and I did a funeral for a dear saint this morning.  

As I sift through the thoughts on my laptop and in my head it just seems like there is so much material that every time I take a bite, there is more that falls through that I just can’t digest.  I’ve spent 19 Easter seasons preaching at this place, but I never seem to run out of material.  The richness of the Passion of Jesus is amazing.  I think I could teach on it every week all year long! Sometimes it feels like eating yogurt with a fork.  

It definitely becomes more important as you face a funeral or even your own mortality.  But dig in, no matter how old you are. If you spend some time thinking about what Jesus did on the cross\ reading his Word on the subject\ praying about what all of this cross stuff means – you will definitely feel like you are eating yogurt with a fork.  But don’t let that stop you from enjoying whatever it is that God allows you to get to your mouth.    

I didn’t.  

"The cross of Jesus changed the world. It didn’t just create a new possibility for human devotion. It didn’t just reveal an aspect of the character of God. It wasn’t just the most wonderful example of a terrible death bravely suffered. It changed the world.” N.T. Wright’s For All God’s Worth (thanks to Casey for this one)

Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  

Easter Rocks – even with a fork,

Tim