Every month, members of the Metro Church family help out in the community with the Second Saturday Outreach. In February, we were able to bless the Culver City Winter Shelter and the homeless patrons staying there. The Second Saturday initiative, spearheaded by Maria Felipe, is a way for us to become missionaries close to home. We’re returning to the shelter tonight (Saturday, 3/12) at 6:30 pm.
The Culver City Winter Shelter is housed in the Culver City Armory during the rainy and cold winter months. About 150 people – both men and women – spend their nights in the warm facility. The Metro group served a basic dinner and provided a special treat with a couple of cakes, which everyone was very excited about . After serving dinner, we had the opportunity to pass out gum and cough drops to everyone. This gave us the opportunity to spend time talking to the people and get to know a little bit about their lives.
To say that the time spent serving at the shelter was gratifying would be an understatement. One of the Metro volunteers said “this was the best Saturday night I’ve had in as long as I can remember”. I believe many of us felt the same way.
Helping others blesses the giver as much, or possibly more than the receiver, and I hope that all of the Metro family can join in the blessing.
Check the Metro announcements for information on the next Second Saturday outreach. You can also check Metro’s online schedule here.
I’ve been asked by a number of you why I haven’t blogged about reading through the Bible in a year. The truth is I gave up back in May. I fell so far behind that I gave up. Then I realized that there was also a plan to read it in two years… And going by that calendar, I’m actually ahead! So, for those of you that fell behind, don’t be discouraged, please continue at your own pace and perhaps consider what I’m doing. I keep telling myself it’s not a sprint, it’s an enjoyable marathon… And crossing the finish line brings more joy and understanding than words can capture.
Lord God,
Give me a heart similar to that of your servant King David,
Teach me your wisdom, so that I may be wise like Solomon,
Strengthen me, as you did Samson,
Talk to me, and allow me to listen to your words, just as Moses once did,
For I am your servant like Abraham,
Grant me the humility of John the Baptist,
And the faith of your apostle Paul,
Lead me as you once led the twelve,
Your light guiding the way,
Above all, I pray that You show me how to Love the way you Love,
that I learn to forgive the way you forgive,
Mould me, shape me, for I am yours for all eternity,
This Thursday, May 6th is the National Day of Prayer. Please join Pastor Steve and the Metro Family at 7am at the Santa Monica City Hall front lawn. Santa Monica City Hall is located at 1685 Main St., Santa Monica, 90401
In addition, a second prayer event with multiple churches and ministries will be held at Bel Air Presbyterian at 7:30 pm. Bel Air Presbyterian is located at 16221 Mulholland Dr., LA, 90029.
The National Day of Prayer has been in the news recently. On April 15th, a US District Court Judge ordered an end the government’s involvement in the day. The Justice Department appealed the ruling on April 22nd, and on April 30th, President Obama proclaimed May 6th the National Day of Prayer. The president stated, “we are blessed to live in a nation that counts freedom of conscience and free exercise of religion among its most fundamental principles, thereby ensuring that all people of goodwill may hold and practice their beliefs according to the dictates of their consciences. Prayer has been a sustaining way for many Americans of diverse faiths to express their most cherished beliefs, and thus we have long deemed it fitting and proper to publicly recognize the importance of prayer on this day across the nation.”
So, feel free to join those who wish to see the National Day of Prayer carry on and grow stronger starting this Thursday morning. See you there.
If you’ve ever sang “Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble” or “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” at a worship service, you’ve sung a song by the UK Christian band Delirious?. The band was together for 17 years, touring the world and rocking out with amazing praise-filled songs. I’ve seen them perform at least five times and was very sad to hear they disbanded last year.
In March, a pastor in Nottingham, UK named Alistair Kent decided to create a Facebook group to get a Christian song on top of the UK Singles Chart for Easter. His campaign, Invade The Airwaves, urged Delirious? fans and Christians to download and physically buy the single “History Maker”, a 12-year-old album track. While they didn’t quite make it, “History Maker” charted today at number 4, showing the UK the importance of Easter through a song.
Lead singer Martin Smith sent this message today to supporters:
When I was a little boy I remember sitting in church listening to the old lady playing amazing hymns on the organ. Even then I remember it affecting me. Even then it seemed that for some reason this music got inside my soul. Then, when I was 12 my dad bought me a guitar. I didn’t care how it sounded; it was bright blue and it looked amazing. Mum and dad were mad enough to let me play it in church one Sunday and, I guess, that was where things began. Even back then I knew somehow that my mates at school would find our church music boring. All those hymns and all that solemnity and ancient words were bound to feel so alien to them and their worlds of TV pop shows, waffle jumpers and wet-look hair gel. The old lady with her amazing hymns would be lost on them.
And so, back then, I had this hunch that something needed to change. I had a feeling that I should do what I could to be a part of that shift into whatever would come next. Years later I found myself with a microphone, four incredibly talented friends and a bunch of songs that resonated with a movement of people across the earth that wanted their faith to count. For my friends – the ones behind me and those in front – it was never enough for this to be about making a weekly display of religion at the altar. It was about something altogether bigger: the act of bringing our lives as a sacrifice to our Creator. This was not about filling pews but about meeting God, a God who is not dead but alive, our God for whom we choose to stand on the roof tops and shout about it. With the microphone and the friends behind and in front of me we would sing unending songs of how great it felt that God had ‘saved my soul’. The happiness was such that I’m pretty sure we all danced at least a thousand miles over the years.
These were the days when Delirious? was born and became the property of the people. We were never a traditional chart band; we were writing songs for a little movement of spiritual rebels, not for mass-market or industry execs. Even today I still believe that God’s songs get measured by a different scale than chart placings and sales sheets. But I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t wish that Radio 1 had played us a bit more back then. But who can blame them? We had the word ‘God’ in our lyrics, and let’s face it, that’s enough to spoil even the best of parties. We were hardly the sort of band that Q magazine were going to champion either: the most dangerous thing we ever did was drive back through the night to be at church on a Sunday morning with our wives and kids.
We never had a number one single, we never played top of the pops, we never had a platinum record. But we stayed together for 17 years and gave it everything we could. We loved it; saw people’s faces light up. We played in more than 40 countries, saw heaven touch earth and saw ordinary people believe they could be history makers. I can remember so many of them: people from all walks of life realising they were part of a bigger story, a treasured and vital part of his story.
On November 29th we played our last show together at the Hammersmith Apollo. It was both sad and happy. It was the end of something great, the lowering of a flag, but deep inside was the knowledge that the flag needed to come down to allow a new set of colours to be painted on it. That’s the thing about people movements: they don’t just die when the microphone gets switched off. They live on, not dependent on the new song or the latest video. They live on because of the beautiful truth that movements are made of people who are on fire for something. It is because of this that I am certain without a shadow of a doubt that the spirit of what we all sang about will live on forever. After all, it’s been echoing down the generations already. Delirious? didn’t really do anything new; we just got to hold the flag for a bit, just like that old lady with her amazing hymns. All of us reach the point where it is time to pass it on.
And so this all brings us to this week. This extra-ordinary week. This week when I finally figure out what people mean by the power of Facebook. What I take away from it is this. It was not that the campaign was determined to get a song in the charts, or that it wanted to help raise the Delirious? flag one more time. They just happened to be the symptoms of something far more exciting and powerful: the power of people who want their faith to count, people who want to make some noise because of what God has done for them. People who know that out of the deathly silence of Good Friday comes the greatest sound of all as the Father’s only Son re-wrote the laws of the universe so that you and I could be restored with God.
All the seventeen years that the band was together we never existed just to get in the charts or sell sell sell. Our best motives and highest calling was to try to be a voice that made others think, that called out praise and tried to chase down the smile of God. It was always about responding to what we saw in you – people all around the world, on fire for God, wanting to see the world changed by His Glory. In the end you did us out of a job. Our cheers and shouts for you from the sidelines reached their proper end, and we stepped back, the chapter closed.
Then, four months later you take a song and put it in the top ten.
I want to say thank you to all of you who bought or downloaded the song. And thank you to the remarkable individuals who came up with the idea in the first place and helped bring it to birth with such integrity, wisdom and skill. All of you – the planners and the facebookers and the downloaders – you’re all mad! Mad because you probably already own three copies of it, mad because you spent hard earned cash on a song that’s 15 years old and mad because you joined with others that you’ve never met to create a whole lot of noise about Jesus.
But I love mad people, and I’m very proud to be a part of all your lives.
All over the last tour we were using a Latin phrase cos it sounded better and more mysterious than the English. ‘FabuIa Est Vestri’ – The Story Is Yours. I had no idea it would be taken to heart so quickly. I had no idea you would show how clearly that the story certainly is yours now, just like it always was and always will be.
Historymakers… I look forward to seeing you all in the next chapter.
I think this is a brilliant idea and one we should try here in the US. What do you think?
Please join Metro Church at two special services this Sunday, 4/4.
From 6am-7:30am, a large number of local churches will join together to worship the Living God. Meet at Will Rogers State Beach, Pacific Palisades between Chautauqua and Temescal at Lifeguard Station #12. Dress warmly and bring a blanket or beach chair.
Then at 9am & 11am will be the Metro Easter Services at 1420 Yale St. Please prayerfully consider inviting a family member, a neighbor or a friend to this year’s services.
“The Lord is long suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving inequity and transgressions”
Numbers 14:18
Known as ‘In The Wilderness’ in Hebrew Bible, Numbers is the fourth of the five books of Moses (Pentateuch in Greek / Torah in Hebrew).
It was written by Moses around 1400BC, and is the story of the faithless Israelites wandering around the desert for forty years.
When I read through the Bible the first time, I remember struggling through the previous book, Leviticus. This time around, I found it much easier to understand, as my imagination captured the struggle of the Israelites wandering aimlessly through the desert. I was expecting to cruise through the Book of Numbers, but then I started to read the census in chapter 1 and wondered… why Lord??? The details baffled me. So I asked some friends at Metro and discovered that if you drew out the numbers of Israelites to scale, as they walked through the desert with the tabernacle at its center, it would form the shape of the cross. Coincidence or not?
Later in chapter 7, there is a massive list of the offerings given by the various tribes. I believe it is one of the longest chapters in the bible, and dare I say it, it reads very monotonous. In this list God is writing down every detail of every sacrifice the Jews were making to him, and I realized that God is probably doing exactly the same for me. Every time I do something to please him, he smiles and makes a note. I feel so reassured that God keeps a list of the good things I do, and thanks to his Son, Jesus, the list of my sins has been and will be destroyed.
Speaking of lists… I was recently told a story of a Nun who communicated with Jesus in her dreams. The Pope at the time denounced her, and asked for proof. He requested that in her next ‘dream-communication’ with the Almighty, the Nun should enquire about one of the Pope’s past sins, his skeleton in the closet.
The next morning the Pope questioned the Nun about her dream. She said she asked the Lord about the Pope’s dark history, and the Jesus gave a very simple reply, he said, “I’ve forgotten”, and the Pope believed her!
I have no idea if this story is true, but I like to believe it because I too have sinned, and that list is very long!
Throughout the Book of Numbers the Israelites were constantly complaining to God, saying that what He wasn’t providing enough. Even though He provided for all of their needs, they didn’t listen to his commands and turned to other idols. As I read those chapters, I considered my own communication with the Lord and asked myself these questions:
Like the Israelites, are my prayers filled with complaints about my life? Am I constantly moaning to God about something that He has generously provided, and in my heart believing I deserve better and more because I believe I’m special? And how often have I turned to other idols in the world to fill my needs?
I realized that I had been complaining to God a lot! And that honestly I am so blessed; I have a loving wife, three wonderful kids, a house, a job etc. So why am I complaining? Exactly…
I also learned in Numbers how ambitious some of the Israelites were, challenging Moses’ authority, even though he was the one in direct communication with God. Moses was an amazing man; a good leader that remained humble! He could have been a Prince of the most powerful nation at the time, but instead he listened to God and became his humble servant!
It’s sad to think that after 2,500 years the human race really hasn’t changed that much, and we are still making the same mistakes as the Israelites made in the desert.
And then I came across chapter 24 verse 17, and saw Jesus’ name written all over it! Another arrow in the Old Testament pointing towards our Savior. If you didn’t spot it… please go back and read it.
I will leave you now with the passage that I first heard in my favorite film “Braveheart”, 12 years before I became Christian:
Our annual Good Friday service is at the beach tomorrow (Friday, 4/2). We’ll meet at 3pm at the beach just north of the Santa Monica Pier. Look for the large wooden cross and listen for the voices raised in praise. There will also be a beach baptism. See you there!
At the beginning of the year, many people at Metro decided to read the Bible in chronological order. Simon Lythgoe was one of those people and he will share his journey through the Bible on the Metro Blog. Please join Simon every week as he takes us through the Living Word of God.
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR, CHRONOLOGICALLY
Introduction
Pastor Steve has asked me to blog about my thoughts, feelings, and experiences as I read through the Bible this year. I still consider myself relatively new to Christianity, seeing as I only was saved in December of 2005. Before then I had spent my whole life as either an atheist, buddhist, freemason, and to be frank, I hated Christians. In August of 2005 I began having a series of miraculous dreams, where Jesus spoke to me. A few months later I knew that I could no longer deny Him, and accepted Jesus into my heart.
I believe that Steve asked me to write this blog because everything is so new and fresh to me, and I have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge about our Savior. For people who are further along their walk than I, please feel free to share your wisdom and thoughts in the comments. For people who are new to the faith – God Bless You! I pray this blog enlightens and inspires you to continue reading the Bible.
This is the second time I’ve attempted to read the Bible in twelve months. The first time took me eighteen months, and I felt guilty every time I fell behind in the reading schedule, but in the end… I did it! Every page is worth reading and every single story left its mark on me.
Early on, I realized that the key (for me) to reading the Bible was to keep things interesting, and ensure I didn’t get bored. I always read commentaries and listened to sermons on the books as I read them. I investigated, researched, and prayed about questions that came up. All of this helped bring the Bible alive for me, and God did the rest!
Going through the Old Testament, I remember struggling with some of the Hebrew texts, wondering how they were relevant in today’s world. All of my research into God’s Word led to a deeper meaning. I learned more about God, about people and the world around me, and about myself. I realized that every detail in the Bible was there for a reason, and I only had to scratch the surface for better understanding. Even those long genealogies and breakdowns of the thousands of Israelites in the wilderness had meaning. I pray things are stirred in you, and that your curiosity inspires you to investigate, and that your investigation points to one thing… God’s love and the sacrifice his Son made for you.
In conclusion, after reading the entire Bible I felt closer to God than ever before. I believe I discovered more of God’s will, His love for me, and realized that anyone can ask for God’s love and forgiveness and will receive it… they only have to believe Him! With the achievement of reading God’s holy words from cover to cover made me want to celebrate, and I had a joy inside me that was indescribable! This time after I finish, I will definitely be having a party!
I hope and pray that you will accompany me on this journey through all 66 books that make up the holy Bible. – SL
Please make a plan to spend part of your Saturday night at Yale St. to join us in prayer. We’ll start at 7:30, and it guarantees to be a moving experience. See you there!
