Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Less organization - more chaos.

That's the prescription I found as I was reading an article about the Origins Conference in LA. It was sponsored by Erwin McManus and Mosaic.

The article was constructed by David Trotter from his conference notes and his experience. I was unable to attend, but I find the information he has provided to be essential reading. Thanks David.

Here's the one that hurts...


"If you're trying to be relevant, you are already behind. We are agents of change creating the future that God is imagining."


Dang it!

...Oh yeah

When Jesus says "come follow me" - he is on the move. If you stay where you are, the distance between you and Jesus will grow.. He is moving, moving, moving. A disciple is not seated - a disciple is moving (on the move).


There you go again...

P.S. I should have stopped reading:
Christianity has become adequate rather than an extraordinary experience with God.

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

You Must Become a Missionary

The modern, church-as-franchise mentality where "one size fits all" no longer exists. Your contexts are all unique—your kids and your situations and your churches and the local communities in which God’s planted you all are special.

That’s why—as we exit modern ways of processing reality—it’s crucial to reexamine long-held beliefs and assumptions regarding how we communicate with youths and teach them to live out the gospel.

"Garbage In-Garbage Out."
"Propositional Truth" Evangelism.
The Gospel of Consumption.
"Worldliness."
"Christian Culture."
Western Christianity.
Jesus as "Personal Savior."
"Sacred and Secular."

Here’s the point: Let’s bring reality to bear and realize that the culture is upon us. Our kids are already in it. It’s not a matter of needing to rescue the kids from the culture—it’s a matter of rescuing the lens through which they interpret culture. It’s a matter of them living in a community, discerning the truth, and redeeming what aspects of the culture can be redeemed.

Read more in this article entitled, "A Second Reformation Is at Hand" - by Mark Driscoll & Chris Seay

Shifting Cognitive Styles

James sent me a link to a verey informative article. Though it was published in a Youth Ministry periodical, it has a broader application for emerging culture and churches who are evaluating how to share the Gospel in a changeing context. Here's a brief excerpt:

The need for cultural relevance as Christians isn't a new one. Missionaries have struggled with this in a more pronounced way as they've entered cultures far different from their own to share the gospel in a relevant manner.

We've all heard horror stories of missionaries trying to westernize people once they embrace the gospel of Christ. But those on the mission front have learned and continue to learn more and more how to allow Christ to transform those in a different culture rather than imposing their own culture on others. Being sensitive to one another builds trust, and trust is vital in all relationships. To effectively present Christ in the context of culture, we must have trust within the culture to which we hope to introduce Christ.


Read more about, "Shifting Cognitive Styles"

Find out more about the author, Mark Matlock, at PlanetWisdom.com

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Old friends

I had the privilege Sunday evening spending some time with a couple of HSU friends Dirk Strickland and Doug and Debbie Riggs. I sneeked up on them during the Sunday evening service. It was great fun.

Later in the week, I spoke with Becky Barber Shinpaugh about the experience and we began reminiscing about some of our college friends as well. I thought I'd mention the names that I could recall that came up in those discussions:

Dale and Judy Pond
Marv and Jo Knox
Johnny and Jeanette Huckaby
Larry Homes
David Miller
Pam Culbertson
Wayne and Becky Sheffield
John Hinkle
Greg and Pam Smith
Earl Powell
Gene Alexander
Renee Maciel
Roger Roenfeldt
Bobby and Terri Price
John and Janie Milam
George and DiAnn Koehl

Others that I've thought of since...

Craig and Christi Klempnauer
Mark and Kayla
Steve and Sherron Kilgore
Susan Hamilton
Steve and Jeannie Abbott
Phil Barnes
Paul Jackson

You scored as Cultural Creative

Cultural Creatives are probably the newest group to enter this realm. You are a modern thinker who tends to shy away from organized religion but still feels as if there is something greater than ourselves. You are very spiritual, even if you are not religious. Life has a meaning outside of the rational.

Cultural Creative

88%

Postmodernist

56%

Existentialist

50%

Fundamentalist

44%

Romanticist

38%

Idealist

19%

Modernist

13%

Materialist

13%


What is Your World View?
created with QuizFarm.com

Read more about the quiz and the author
Email : eddxii

Saturday, May 21, 2005

I'm having the time of my life.

Tonight we pulled a movie out of our modest collection. Something's Gotta Give. There is a scene towards the end where Diane Keaton's character, Erica, is talking to her daughter at the beach house and has a terrific quote,

You can’t hide from love forever… I let someone in and I had the time of my life.


This isn't the first time I've seen the movie, but tonight, at that moment, I realized that I'm having the time of my life.

I've been blessed with an amazing, loving wife. Day after day and year after year, it just keeps getting better. What a privilege to have someone to grow with.

God bless you. I love you with all of my heart.

Friday, May 20, 2005

I want to be a stay-home missionary

“When a missionary moves in, and the town needs a well, we expect the missionary to dig a well. We are sitting in a mission field but thinking like club members… It may be that we've reached everyone that wants to be just like us. Innovation must push us to move out of mono-culturalism, back to high-intensity people development." - Reggie McNeal.

Sunday, May 15, 2005

Dance for Jesus

a.m. Community of Hope UMC, Mansfield, Texas
Frankly I chose to attend this morning because their Dance Ministry was leading in worship. Now that’s out of my box.

The first thing I noticed was the phrase, "Celebration Guides." Not bulletins (announcements), not “Order of Worship” (structure), but a guide for the celebration.

Next, the dress was casual – not business casual, but real life casual. Those in attendance looked as though they were chosen at random from the local mall. One student made his entrance all the way down one aisle via a skateboard during a worship song. It wasn’t disruptive. He wasn’t “making an entrance.” It was contextual and natural. He joined the other youth on the first few rows, and then joined in the celebration.

The worship atmosphere was an extension of the leadership. From the Worship Leader through each member of the Praise Band they modeled authentic worship in their experience right before our eyes. Two keys: spontaneity and fluidity.

The use of a couple of video clips related to today’s theme was promising, but didn’t deliver much beyond a working title for the message.

The two highlights of an exceptional experience were the three dance elements spaced throughout the service and the six year old boy who paused while entering the row where we were seated to say, “Welcome.”

Saturday, May 14, 2005

Don't Just Sit There

Spectatorship is ruining the worship experience within congregations every week.

Have you ever considered how a person's worship experience (or lack thereof) affects the worship experience of their entire group?

Read article

Thursday, May 12, 2005

what are friends for?

I wanted to take a moment to say thanks to a friend.

My outdoor faucets have been leaking profusely. I went to the hardware store to get parts to refurbish them. As it turns out I needed a blow torch to remove the old parts and attach the new ones. Keith has come to the rescue again. He not only had one, but took time out of his day to drive across town (twice) and fix both for me. If it weren’t for friends like Keith, I’d be out a lot of money on household repairs. This blog’s for you…

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

from the archives at THEOOZE

excerpt from Andrew Jones' article
The Skinny on Postmodernity Series: Part I Postmodernism and Global Worldviews


Job and and Three Unhelpful Friends
1. Traditional. Bildad responds to Job by asking what the fathers have said about the situation because there was nothing new to be learned. He is a traditionalist and he looks back in history to find what others have already said. He has a high regard for truth and sees it as inherited, not to be messed with, something wrestled over by the elders, handed down to those eager for wisdom, and eventually passed on to the next generation.

2. Rational. Zophar appeals to rational wisdom and hints that Job is "witless" or stupid. He also gives a formula that "if" Job does certain things, then a favorable outcome will result. His approach would be considered "modern" in todays understanding of the world. Modern thinkers see truth as something available to those who are willing to work hard to find it. Truth gives itself to diligent study, methodical inquiry, unbiased interrogation. Truth evades the foolish and cannot be passed on through good breeding. It responds to scientific methods of discovery and can be proved on scientific grounds. Here we have the basic Enlightenment paradigm and the dominant western worldview for the past 200 years.


3. Mystical. Eliphaz appeals to his experiences to prove his point. He had a dream and his hair stood on end. A spirit appeared. This was proof enough. He sees God as one who "performs wonders that cannot be fathomed". He sees truth as something elusive, beyond the reach of mortal men who are bound in the material world, limited by the senses and the boundaries of existance. Truth to Eliphaz, and to millions around the world, is available only in short glimpses and at special times when the dimensions meet, in the time between times, in the gap moments of revelation and enlightenment.

Thanks to TallSkinnyKiwi

I've been hanging out and listening to the conversation about emerging culture and the Church's expression in that context. I followed a link from Andrew's blog and found two helpful pieces of information in his archives:

From October 2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 02, 2002

Recommended Reading (in chronological order)
1. The Condition of Postmodernity:An Inquiry into the Origins of Cultural Change, David Harvey, 1990.
Marxist David Harvey nails the postmodern argument as a differing experience of time and space. He then takes the reader on a fabulous journey through geography, power struggles, and postmodern movies like Wim Wender’s “Wings of Desire” (Himmel Ober Berlin).

2. Playing the Future:How Kids Culture Can Teach Us How to Thrive in an Age of Chaos, by Douglas Ruskoff, HarperCollins, 1996.
The best book on postmodernity in the 1990’s. Period. Rushkoff weaves together channel surfing, snowboarding and fantasy games with a firm grasp of fractals, chaos theory and postmodernism. Totally accessible. Absolutely worth buying and giving away, despite being 6 years old.

3. Church on the Other Side, by Brian McLaren, Zondervan, 2000.
This was my first “Christian Postmodern book” and a great introduction to how Christians were dealing with the transition. Brian covers the delicate issues of the postmodern transition with a warm and soft handed approach that did much to heal the drift that was evident in the late 90’s. This is still one of the best books out there and a helpful gift for ministers.

4. Postmodern Youth Ministry, by Tony Jones, 2001, Youth Specialties.
Tony brings the postmodern conversation into contemporary youth ministry and comes out with some relevant ways of doing ministry among youth and probably everybody else. He also mentions me in his book in a positive way and that automatically qualifies his book to sit squarely and securely on my list for a very long time.

5. The Postmodern Bible Reader, edited by David Jobling, et al, Blackell, 2001.
This is the most comprehensive sampling of postmodern philosophy in relation to theology that I have come across. I say philosophy, because the Reader does not deal so much with postmodern physics, architecture, art, or music but rather hangs out in the world of cognitive philosophy from a Western world perspective. However, it does it very well and introduces its readers to a great sampling of thinkers who have impacted and are currently impacting the postmodern conversation as it relates to reading the Scriptures. There are thoughts from Judith Kristiva (feminism), Walter Benjamin (history), Umberto Eco (linguistics) as well as Derrida, and other all-time pomo favourites. This book was my introduction to Zizek, and my first reading of Michel Serres who is becoming my favourite postmodern writer.

6. Transforming Mission:Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, by David Bosch, 1991, Orbis.
Postmodernism is not the main theme of the book but his treatment of posmodernity in relation to missiology is worth the price of the book, which unfortunately is a whole lot of cash.

7. The End of the World ...As We Know It: Clear Direction for Bold and Innovative Ministry in a Postmodern World, Chuck Smith Jr, Waterbrook Press, 2001.
Chuck jumps into the same conversation, tackling many of the difficult issues, but he brings something to the table that no writer had - a personal dimension, the emotional center of living under modern fundamentalism and the freedom of doing ministry in a postmodern world. Chuck successfully takes the arguement out of the cognitive and into his living room. This time its personal.

8. In Search of Authentic Faith: How Emerging Generations Are Transforming The Church, by Steve Rabey, Waterbrook Press, 2001.
A look at the first wave of postmodern ministries in USA and how the gospel is being communicated to people in a postmodern world.

9. Godspace 4 The New Edge, by Brad Sargent, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 1997.
A 2 volume examination of ministry in a postmodern setting, a ministry that I was involved in. Includes postmodern subcultures, an examination of neo-Celtic spirituality, monastic structures, and Brad's ideas of ministry to "Trans-virtual Urban Tribes".

10. The Church Beyond the Congregation: The Strategic Role of the Church in the Postmodern Era", by James Thwaites, Paternoster Press, 1999.
About time someone suggested a way forward. Australian “Jim” Thwaites is one of the first writers to tackle the issue of being not just in a postmodern shift but also, and perhaps more importantly, in a post-western transition. His suggestions for ministering in the post-modern, post-western world, such as adopting a more holistic worldview and adequate cosmology, are much needed in our current captivity of Greek thinking. My English friends think very highly of this book.

11. Carpe Manana, by Leonard Sweet, Zondervan, 2001.
I enjoyed this book more than Len's "SoulTsnami" (which is larger and has more numbers, appealing to accountants but not so much to artists). Carpe Manana is directional rather than just informational. It is a purposeful look into our current world to find help in making the transition from modern to postmodern. It is a book about how to LIVE in our emerging culture. And everyone should buy at least one Len Sweet book.

12. Introducing Postmodernism, by Richard Appignesi and Chris Garratt, 1995, Totem Books.
Part of a series of fun-to-read books that give a guided tour of the issues of postmodernism, including cool pictures. Broad sweep of ideas and vocabulary.

Posted on Friday, October 04, 2002
10 Vows of Vinyard Monastery
Simplicity - a frugal and focused life.
Community - a shared and stable life.
Worship - a God-centered life.
Study - a transformed life.
Work - a productive and creative life.
Service - a generous life.
Hospitality - a welcoming life.
Justice- a socially active life.
Sabbath - a renewed life.
Celebration - a joy-filled life.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Meaningful community boils down to one key emphasis

Meaningful community boils down to one key emphasis: meaningful relationships. - Drew Zahn

Read more about today's expression of Church from his article entitled, "What's Driving Today's Innovations?" in the Winter 2005 edition of Leadership Journal,.

I cannot hear my heart amidst the clamoring of my thoughts.

I’m mechanized with linear thinking. I seek clarity but the footpaths of reason disappear into ambiguity. If my understanding were a line, how can I embrace the square, let alone experience the cube or time and space or the Divine? I cannot. Unless He visits me I shall wander with the others only to discover that I am where I began.

Alpha Community

I’m working toward launching the first community. It will serve as a development group. The mission is to experience the summer in the context of an authentic community. If you’re in the Arlington, Texas area and think you may be interested you can contact me.

Authenticity
Community
Worship
Civilization

Monday, May 09, 2005

Inside the noise

Sometimes I wonder if the mission gets lost in all of the religious posturing and rhetoric. Isn’t it enough for each of us to respond to the vision God gives and let Him sort out all of the rest? I find myself wanting to justify this new direction and legitimize my efforts in the eyes of others. It is, at times, disconcerting to try to explain why I’m called to move on while others stay. I know it would be acceptable, even commendable, if I were starting “another one” (just like the one I’ve called home). From their comfort they look at me with suspicious eyes and furrowed brows and a tone in their voice as if to say, “What’s wrong with what we’re doing?” Yet that’s the point. Our “doing” comes out of who we have become. Who we have become are people who are withdrawn and isolated, focused on our needs, out of touch with world around us and the context of the Gospel that we cherish.

I don’t mean to be critical. There is place in the Kingdom for their labors as well. Perhaps I’m just projecting my guilt for limiting my faith to mostly verbal expression and abstract thinking. I’ve been a student of the game and not a player. A priori aside. It’s time for a postiori.

Thursday, May 05, 2005

Millions more are needed...

...excerpt from "House Churches Have No Sex Appeal (And Other Gripes)" - by Andrew Jones (26 July 2004)

You cannot talk about emerging church without talking about house church. Only in wealthy post-Christian countries do we have the luxury of either a large pot of money (USA), an inheritance of ecclesial real estate (United Kingdom) or a government-sponsored theological training (Continental Europe) For most of the world, starting new churches means cleaning up before the living room fills up with people. Millions of churches around the word are starting this way and millions more are needed.

Read more...

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

I've left home. Where do I go now?

It's "their" fault. "They" invited me to this conference in Austin... I have a friend in Austin... a weekend get-away with my wife... talk about missions... it'll be great!

That was two years ago. Wabi Sabi.

Then another conference... Missional Church.

I began to notice how many people I network with are "former members" of somewhere, everywhere. They're currently disconnected, disgruntaled, disenfranchised, or just plainly disinterested with church, but more importantly, they are estranged from God. He doesn't love them any less, but they feel awkward or they feel nothing at all.

Now.

What do I do?

... why didn't I take the blue pill?

Monday, May 02, 2005

What should the core values of faith communities include?

These are my current thoughts (in no particular order):

Authentic relationships


To achieve genuine community members must be honest. There must be freedom of expression and permission to pass during discussions.

Corporate worship


Those who follow Jesus should journey with others whenever possible. In the 21st century, those who walk in isolation have chosen the life of a recluse.

Loving accountability


Love requires balance; encouragement as well as confrontation. This is a difficult undertaking. Friends who find this balance are to be treasured.

Devotion to God’s mission

Sunday I concluded eleven years of ministry at my church.

I'm looking forward to starting a new mission project, "Coaching faith communities." It's been difficult to articulate the vision I feel call to by God. I've used the words, "It's like church planting except there's no congregation on the other side."

Here are some issues that have been burdening my heart for some time:

1. I've met hundreds of people who used to attend church but are currently disconnected or disenfranchised or disinterested.

Usually someone said something or did something that offended them. Sometimes it was the result of poor choices that were unwelcome and they felt unwanted and unloved. Others just didn’t find their experience relevant.


2. Many institutional churches are over-programmed and primarily centralized in their approach to ministry.

In those cases, the prime directive appears to be survival. Institutions require organization and structured leadership. When a vacancy occurs, the priority becomes recruiting new leadership instead of evaluating the program’s effectiveness and life-cycle. There seems to be a perpetual re-tooling, re-naming, and re-running of old, tired, ineffective ideas.

Over-programming also leads to over-scheduling. This takes the believers and their voice out of the community.

3. Many institutional churches are focused on member services.

This is the result of marketing special programs to targeted demographics and has created a sub-culture of religious consumers. It has become all about “us”. Non-members are viewed as prospects and recruited by special programs (member services). Non-believers, or better pre-believers, are encouraged to become like us (i.e. talk like us, think like us, embrace our values, speak our insider language), behave like us (i.e. learn and practice the do’s and don’ts), and belong to us (membership has its responsibilities).

4. Those who would follow Jesus need to follow Him back into the communities of our lives. We need to explore our passions and create relationships where the stories of Jesus are not known.

I doubt that we’ll fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) until we improve our practice of the Greatest Commandments (Mark 12:29-31).


"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."