Patience Haiku

Delayed one hour
Now it is lightning outside
Ready to be there

Kylie and Finn

Hope Springs

Friday night, my twin brother became a dad. John Finnegan Sears ("Finn") looks just like his dad, so in some ways he looks just like me. We drove up to Dallas Friday night, came back Saturday afternnon, and participated in Hutto's first Relay for Life.

We stayed up late, played a lot of poker, raised a lot of money for the American Cancer Society, and had a great time. I got to deliver a message of hope at the end. It was great having friends around. This month has been exhausting, and I think last night was the most exhausting of all, but we made a difference and grew closer in the process.

I'm getting packed, ready to head to Origins tomorrow. I'll try to blog as much as I can while I'm away.

Baby Finn

Baby Finn, born at 10:37 pm on April 27, 2007. 8 lbs. 21 in.

Values: Melody

Melody - Creativity is the natural result of spirituality.

As humans, the Bible shares that we are created in the image of God. I think that God, the Creator, as placed that same desire to create and make within us. So, when I say "creativity", I'm not necessarily meaning art, music, writing, etc. I think some people are creative in how they spend money, or how they build relationships, or how they raise their kids. What's undeniable is that most people have a desire, a craving, to create.

As we draw close to Christ, I think this desire goes deeper, to the origins of who we are. We create, not just to satisfy our longings, but to leave an eternal mark on this world. To change lives for the better. I think "melody" is a great way to describe this desire. We have a unique voice to share with the world around us, a song in our hearts that belts out our love for Christ and how he has changed who we are. Each song is unique, but borne out of the same relationship between Christ and his church.

So, at Resonate Community, we help each other find our voice. This is one of the most satisfying experiences I have, when someone is able to find God using who they are to accomplish God-sized things.

What's even better is when these voices start singing together. Later on, I'll share a little about Harmony.

Good Busy

You know how sometimes you are busy, but "good busy", not "bad busy". I think this is another one of the tensions of church planting that just doesn't go away. Frankly, I've been living this week just to get through it (on Monday we leave for the Origins Experience in Los Angeles).

But when I get back, we're starting two new events in the life of our church, things that I think will really benefit those participating. First, we're going to be reading through Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus. Each person will be reading 3-5 pages every day. We're also starting Life Transformation Groups, based of of Neil Cole's organic church development (I want to call them something different, not really sure what though). People will also have to commit to reading 2-3 chapters of Scripture a day. Last night, Erika and I were discussing whether or not we're adding too much for people to handle.

The way I look at it, is it's a "good busy". I think that, sure, people will have to give up some things in order to read all of it, but how much time do I spend online just reading news or reviews or laughing at Jon Stewart on YouTube? Is that time I'm willing to give up to connect with God?

Sometimes there's stuff on our plate that doesn't really belong there. Like an extra helping of baked beans. Sure, it tastes great, but you and everyone around you would benefit more from steamed veggies. (Don't take this metaphor too far, I like God much more than I do steamed veggies.)

Values Overview

I thought I would spend some time looking at some of the values we have as a church, and how that translates into what we do. Early on in this journey, as we talked about how we want to "resonate community", I compared what we do to a really loud woofer. You know how that deep bass feels inside, like your heart starts beating to the rhythm? We want to sound out Christ's love for people, where their hearts begin to move in rhythm to God's heartbeat.

So, we formed our values around this theme of music. There are four basic elements to music, as there are four basic elements to how we live in community.

Melody - Creativity is the natural result of spirituality.

Harmony - Community emerges from our cause.

Rhythm - Sacrifice is the heartbeat of God.

Soul - Love is why we exist.

I'll go into a little more depth on each later on.

A Spiritual Environmentalist

At the request of Amanda, I've decided to write a little about what it means (to me) to plant a church. I really like Erwin McManus's concept of the pastor as a spiritual environmentalist, and it goes great with the idea of "planting."

Basically, I see my role as creating spiritual environments for people to become rooted in Christ. As they do, the life he give will allow them to blossom and grow, developing and reproducing, creating new life in others.

"Vibrant Christians reproduce new believers, vibrant small groups reproduce new communities of faith, and vibrant churches become the catalysts for an apostolic movement." Erwin McManus, An Unstoppable Force.

So I nurture those in the garden, keep the weeds out, and create opportunities for people to grow. What's different than most expressions of "church" is that we don't meet on Sundays. It's not even on our radar right now. We genuinely want to invest in people that we encounter, and right now, a church service wouldn't do that.

Some people get this impression that churches just want me around because I'll fill a seat and give some money. Sadly, this is true in a lot of cases. We're trying to show that Christ's love goes beyond what you can do for us. We want to serve others, call them to experience God as we have, and allow them to join us as we serve. It's much slower growth, but I feel that the foundation is better laid to actually create a movement, a group of people who are passionate about Christ, His church, and taking the good news to the ends of the earth.

So, rather than an "attractional" approach (come and check out our great preaching! music! programs!), we're taking an "incarnational" approach, where we pour into others, and show them how to do the same.

This has taken a lot of time for me to digest, but I truly feel, for me and those I try to reach, it's the best way to do it. Not the only way, just the best way for me. If you have any questions or need clarification, I'll see you in the comments.

Speaking of Cake...

Still a Kid at Heart

So I'm 27 today, but I'm still a kid at heart. My boss got me a collection of Star Wars stuff (Darth Vader Pez dispenser, playing cards, etc.), while my good friends Brandon and Cindy brought me donuts and a Spider-Man birthday card. They had to tape over the word "grandson", because they don't make Spider-Man cards for adults.

Tonight I'll be playing video games with my friends, and watching Heroes. Erika's going to make Oreo cupcakes. Can't wait.

Kites and Slides

This morning we went to Kites for Kids, an event held by LifePointe Fellowship here in Hutto. They had a 24 foot inflatable slide that Kylie loves to ride, so of course I got to go with her.

Our church is actually thinking about purchasing one of these for use in our community. We want to begin doing things like this for the community, so purchasing one just makes better financial sense. We're off to another birthday party, this one with an ice cream theme (so I didn't bother eating lunch).

A Different Kind of Hero

Everyone knows I'm a fan of superheroes. Recently, I purchased Guitar Hero 2 for the Xbox 360, and you might call me a fan as well. Erika went out with her mom tonight, and I've spent the past two hours doin' a little face meltin'.

Actually, I'm not that great, but it's super fun to play. They've got lots of songs (over 70 or so), with more available to download via Xbox Live. I'm working my way through Hard right now. And I'm thankful they have a practice mode, because I've needed it on the solos. So far, Carry On Wayward Son and Jessica are my favorites to play. I hope that soon they will release a patch that allows you to play online multiplayer (one plays lead, the other plays bass).

A Cinderella Story

Kylie's party was this afternoon. We spent the whole day getting ready (making cookies, sandwiches, cleaning the house, etc. ad infinitum). Erika designed the whole thing to be centered around Cinderella, so the kids had feather dusters, got invitations to a royal ball, and even lost their slippers when the clock struck midnight.

We had a good time, surrounded by good friends. Plus, there's a whole bowl of M&M's not even eaten (yet). Tomorrow we have another birthday part to attend, and Monday is my birthday (we'll be watching Heroes with some friends and playing a little Guitar Hero 2). For now, I'm just gonna veg out for the rest of the night.

The Idol Lives On

At Gattitown earlier this evening:

A thin, teenage Indian guy with bangs walks unknowingly past our table. A three year old yells, "It's Sanjaya!" A father tries to keep the Dr. Pepper from shooting from his nose.

What Can Make Me Feel This Way?

My girl, my girl. She's turning three tomorrow. We'll celebrate with an over the top Cinderella birthday party, complete with glass slipper party favors.

Being a dad is the best thing in the world. I didn't really have one growing up, so I really treasure being one (and hoping I don't screw this up). Kylie loves to dance, especially when that means I spin her around until I'm dizzy (I always get dizzy first). She loves being tickled, and has a great laugh. Actually, her sense of humor is great. She does pratfalls just to get a laugh. She's got a great imagination, and can actually carry on a decent conversation. If we let her, she would play outside for 12 hours a day. Digging, throwing rocks, making mud, nothing is off limits.

I love when she just spontaneously gives me a hug or a kiss, or when she insists on helping make dinner. Putting her to bed is my job, and I'm the only one who's any good at it. We read, I sing, we pray, and we talk about what our dreams will be like. She often invites me to join her in her dreams. She's a great little girl.

Looking Back (and Ahead)

One year ago tonight, I felt God leading me to consider planting a church as the lead pastor. In my previous years of ministry, I felt I best worked as a support staff person, filling in the gaps of the leader. But, rather suddenly, God showed me that I could be a person of influence.

I was at an annual men's retreat, and, due to rolling blackouts in the area, our meeting room was pitch black. So, some guys started sharing what kept them coming to the church. I was amazed that a lot of the stories included me. My role was mostly behind the scenes. I was overcome with a sense from God saying, "See, you could do this! Don't sell yourself short." I actually left the meeting room for while, to collect my thoughts. I spent that night on my bunk in prayer, asking God to strip away any sense of pride or selfishness from this decision. And, since my personality needs detailed information, I asked for him to simply confirm his desire for me to pursue this course, and I would follow wherever that may be.

Erika was surprisingly cool with the idea as well, something that is against her personality as well. And as I pursued God further, Hutto came into view. Good friends of mine, Brandon and Cindy, decided to join us as well, and have made a lot of sacrifices to make it here and to stay here.

It was a very bittersweet decision. I was at a church I loved, doing what I loved, with people I loved. I had real friends that were closer than family. But I had stepped out on faith before and seen God move, so I knew what I had to do. And through the good, bad, and ugly, it's all been worth it. I've made some great friends, seen people come to faith, and found some leadership blossom within.

I'm right where I want to be, in every possible way.

It's a Girl!

I'm going to be a dad again, to a girl again. Kylie has been an absolute joy, a beautiful little girl with an outgoing personality. It will be fun to see how her little sister turns out. We've yet to even start thinking of names so far.

I'm still committed to sharing some of my loves with both girls. Growing up, I liked dinosaurs, outer space, drawing, comic books, video games, and science fiction. So, in addition to Barbies, and Disney princesses, and My Little Ponies, there will be some education regarding Spider-Man, the X-Men, why Jean-Luc Picard is the best captain there is, old-school Nintendo, and how to draw a cool looking Stegosaurus.

I'm excited for the baby to be here. I heard Erwin McManus say how his capacity for love multiplies when you have kids, not divides. My love for Kylie won't have to be shared with the new sister. I'll get to grow in my love for both of them. It's weird what having kids will do to you. I've definitely become a better person in the process.

Postmodern Politics

Have you had a chance to see "The Colbert Report"? In my opinion it has some of the best wit on TV. But in the middle of the political satire that drives much of the show, Stephen Colbert has tapped into a postmodern paradise with one of the tenets of our generation: participation.

Participation is key for our generation. All of the social networking sites like Digg, Del.icio.us, MySpace, and YouTube tap into it. And so does the Colbert Report. From getting a bridge named after him, or a hockey mascot, or ice cream, Stephen relies on his fans to create the movement for him. His latest venture? To become known as the Greatest Living American.

Simply linking those words to his site helps Google to figure it all out. Soon, a search for "greatest living american" should make anyone who's feeling lucky visit The Colbert Nation.

I think 2008 will be an interesting presidential election. As the race is shaping up, I think that Obama, so far, is the only one who has shown that he is able to generate real momentum through involving others in the campaign (although I do applaud John Edwards for his attempts as well). So far, everyone else comes across like an advisor told them to do it *cough*McCain*cough*.

My fellow Earthicans

I've been watching the documentary series "Planet Earth" on the Discovery Channel for the past few weeks. Seeing in on an HDTV makes me want to go buy one for no other reason. It's stunning how diverse our planet really is. Sometimes you can get so caught up in living you life that you can forget how immense this world we live in is.

This image here is of a snow leopard, rarely seen in the wild, and there's a great chase scene that's never been caught on film before. There are several instances throughout the series where I'm left with my jaw on the floor, in wonder at the creation that God has made. It's a worship experience for me. Understanding the scope and size of creation, and how God has placed us humans as the pinnacle of creation, makes me feel small and important at the same time.

The coolest feature is "Capturing the Moment" at the end of each episode, where they show you exactly what the crew goes through to get the best shots possible. From polar bear attacks to sub-zero temperatures, to over three months of no sightings, it's really interesting to see the amount of dedication it takes to showcase all of earth's wonders.

By the way, if you missed it on TV, the DVD comes out on April 24. I think it's a must-own for HDTV-owners and nature buffs.

StrengthsFinder Top 5

Do you ever wish that you had a different strength? Do you think that the X-Men sit around and ask each other, "If you could have one super-hero power, what would it be?" and no one is happy with what they've got? (By the way, mine would be telekinesis).

I recently took a StrengthsFinder test, and here are my top 5:

1. Strategic: People who are especially talented in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.

2. Ideation: People who are especially talented in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena.

3. Intellection: People who are especially talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.

4. Futuristic: People who are especially talented in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They inspire others with their visions of the future.

5. Learner: People who are especially talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.

So, while all of these are true, I secretly hoped for something with a little more "oomph." Something that said, "You are an engaging, creative person that others love to be around." I know this isn't the case, but it still would've been a fun surprise.

The rest of the team is going to be taking this as well. It's a really cool way to understand more about how God's wired you. (By the way, you can save a couple of bucks if you buy the book on Amazon.com).

So, while we're dreaming about things we aren't, if you could have any super-hero strength, what would it be?

Building a Team

Man, what a wakeup call this weekend. CPD this weekend was centered around building a team, and how everyone needs to feel that they are a valued co-owner to this dream and vision. It was like a baseball bat to the face. Essentially my "team building" was "go meet people". What can I say, I like things simple.

There's a big difference between having a heart for something and making it happen. Team is just what I want. I want everyone to feel like their soaring on the wind when they are connected with us. But I've tethered everyone to a very specific need (connecting) while ignoring all of the other talent that we have on our team. What's crazy, is that by tapping into this potential, we'll probably connect with more than doing it my way.

So, I've made some changes. This is my mea culpa. It seems like there are a million things to consider when planting, and everyone of them are important. Thankfully I'm surrounded by graceful people who are patient with me.

Anyone who said that church planters just take the easy way out have never tried it. But there's no other place I'd rather be.

Onward.

Drive

Just got finished watching a new show on Fox called "Drive". It's from one of the guys behind the TV show "Firefly" and stars Nathan Fillion (Mal from "Firefly"). The concept is interesting: participants in an illegal, cross-country roadrace, where the winner gets $32 million, and maybe even more. The title is a play on words, not only about the contest, but about what's driving each person to participate to begin with. One character's wife has been kidnapped by the very people who are hosting the race, one found out he's terminal, another is running from her abusive husband.

Nathan Fillion is great at playing the comic tough guy, who'll punch you in the face while making a little quip. Very similar to comic book heroes like Spider-Man and the Human Torch. And the writing here, at least from what I've seen so far, has a similar quality and feel to "Firefly".

Lots of twists and turns, some genuinely entertaining car races, decent characterization, sharp writing. It made the season pass for the TiVo. Oh yeah, it picks up tomorrow night, so if you want in early, check it out (it seems like any interesting show like this never makes it far, so if a lot of people start watching maybe I can find my next "Lost" replacement).

Moving Fast

Einstein's Theory of Relativity states that as an object approaches the speed of light, time slows down. This weekend was that way. It seemed like we had a million things to do, but it was a nice, slow, comfortable weekend.

Yesterday we spent the morning playing some Wii, the afternoon at a CPD (Church Planter Development), and the night playing Settlers of Catan and even more Wii. This morning we went to church to hear Amanda sing in worship, then had the crew over at our house for lunch.

There is a genuine tension between Getting Things Done and Taking It Slow. But it seems like there is a sweet spot where I can accomplish a lot of things and still savor the moments. In planting a movement for Christ, I feel this tension all the time. I think God grants me the grace to enjoy life, even if it feels like were moving at breakneck speed.

Oh, and can I just say how great it is to be surrounded by a loving, understanding community? Sometimes it feels like I don't know the first thing about what I'm doing here, but they still seem to be OK about putting up with me. It's like wind in my sails.

Golf is Messy

Yesterday I played golf with some good friends. I haven't played in almost two years, mostly because I suck at golf. I spent most of the afternoon relaying my suckitude through self-depricating humor.

Brandon noted how that's essentially just crapping on yourself, so maybe it should be called self-defecating humor.

I was able to play yesterday with only two tees. My swing is so weak and crappy that they don't even break. Just saving money however I can. But I had the most fun I've ever had golfing, mostly due to friends and copious amounts of self-defecating jokes.

Moblogging Origins 2007

I plan to moblog Origins 2007 in Los Angeles at the beginning of May. Blogger will let me send photos and text messages to this blog! Hopefully I'll actually do it.

Pleased to Meet You, Take My Hand

OK, so a little about me. I've had a couple of blogs before, but can never seem to make them stick for more than six months or so. Third time's a charm.

I'm a pastor, specifically a "church planter." So you'll probably hear a little bit about the ups and downs that come with this lifestyle. I'm also a geek, and proud to say it. I like to watch Battlestar Galactica, Futurama, and would love to build my own MAME arcade. Oh yeah, don't forget Heroes. Love that show.

I've been married for almost eight years now. My wife is the best wife a guy could ask for. She puts up with all my nerdliness, and occasionally laughs at my jokes.

I also have a three year old daughter, who's nothing like me. I'm usually smiling on the inside when she's around (even if she's painting the table with ketchup). We're also expecting another one on the way in August, so by then this blog will either grow or crash and burn. We'll see.

What else? I hope that I can be fairly transparent in this blog and not get any backlash because I'm a pastor. Anything I say is my opinion, and doesn't necessarily reflect on my church or its leadership. So, with that said, I guess there's no way back...