Mr. Tootyhead

Last night at bedtime Kylie and I had a conversation.

Kylie:  Did you know the red on the candy cane means that Jesus bled when the soldiers killed him?

Kyle:  Wow.  Did you know that the soldiers also called Jesus names and made fun of him (I was hoping to lead into how we don't make fun of others).

Kylie:  Did they call him Mr. Tootyhead?

I quickly changed the subject and we said our prayers.  Kylie had one more comment.

Kylie:  What if someone's Mom and Dad named them Mr. Tootyhead.  Then you won't be ugly when you call them that.

Generous

Last night and tonight we hosted Photos with Santa to benefit the Orange Santa program for kids in need in Hutto.  Santa was awesome (as usual).  We had a lot of help from other groups in the community, which really made it a great event.

With the economy tanking, we fully expected to run low this year.  But last night and today, some people came through in BIG ways.  It's encouraging to know that, even in hard times, people can show generousity.  It's a blessing for both parties.

On a different note, as I was heading out the door for our event, I got a call from a man in Ontario who is excited about our Sister City relationship.  He grew up in Chililabombwe, is a Canadian citizen, and is of Indian descent.  I love the global village!  His passion was contagious!

What joy we have when we give ourselves away.  

Making Dough

In our ongoing attempts to be frugal (we've cut our grocery budget almost in half), I spent an hour today making pizza dough.  After making 12 full-size pies, I'm pretty good at tossing them in the air without punching a hole in them on the way down.

Also on the plate are freezer cinnamon rolls.  Put some out the night before and in the morning they are ready to bake.  This should limit trips to the donut shop. 

I'm intrigued about the bread making process.  My grandpa used to own a bakery in the days where you bought your bread fresh and not from Wal-Mart.  Almost every culture has a type of bread as a staple.  

The process is very relaxing for me.  Hard work, focused thought, and you can eat it when you're done.  What's not to like?

Courageous Sucking

I just read an interesting post from Merlin Mann about the "Tolerance for Courageous Sucking".  He's writing about learning to take better photographs, but I think the lesson is great for church planting as well:

"Nobody likes feeling like a noob, especially when you’re getting constant pressure on all sides to never stick out in an unflattering way. And, in this godforsaken just-add-Wikipedia era of make-believe insight and instant expertise, it’s natural to start believing you must never suck at anything or admit to knowing less than everything — even when you’re just starting out. Clarinets should never squawk, sketch lines should never be visible, and dictionaries are just big, dumb books of words for cheaters and fancy people. Right?

I think finding your own comfort with the process (whatever that process ends up being) might just be the whole game here — being willing to put in your time, learn the craft, and never lose the courageousness to be caught in the middle of making something you care about, even when it might be shit and you might look like an idiot fumbling to make it. What’s the worst thing that could happen?

Well, you could quit, because it’s too hard to make stuff you aren’t already great at. You could convert all that pointless effort and practice back into MySpace updates and the production of funny cat pictures. No, it’s not technically the worst thing that could happen, but it’s a damned common pathway for fear to molder back into an emotional impulse to put on jammies and watch Judge Judy."

I've been working on managing my expectations and enjoying stuff more.  Rather than just looking for that day I arrive at perfect execution (any day now!), I'm joining myself for the ride.  So, while some of our tries may be "teh suck", at least we're trying.  Right?  

If I'm going to suck at something, at least it should be something worth it.

Stories of Thanks

We did something a little different this morning at our gathering.  Rather than have me talk, I wanted to have others share some stories of thankfulness.  But, my concern was that we would just stay on the surface and share the same old stuff (I'm thankful for my family, job, friends, etc.).

So, instead, we talked about the story of God in our lives.  As we reflected on our history with God, we tried to identify some themes that were consistent in those times.  And then, we described God in those terms (my friend, my savior, my father, my foundation, etc.).

It was a very meaningful time for me, to hear the stories of those that God has us crossing paths with.  Not to mention the FANTASTIC food following our gathering.  A great day with great friends.

Let's Give Presence

This is What Real Change is About

On Holiness and Mission

I think that, for the most part, we get holiness wrong.  OK, it's defined as "set apart", but that can be a lot of things.  For most "hard-core" Christians, it means I'm set apart by homeschooling, hating Harry Potter, not watching TV, voting Republican, homophobia, and just holding on until Jesus comes back to destroy this wicked world.

Hmm.

I think holiness has more to do with what we are turning toward than what we are turning from.  What really sets us apart is our capacity for authentic faith, genuine love and concern, and hope in God as redeemer.  All these things are only made possible through Jesus Christ and his transforming our hearts and minds.

I found this quote from Tim Keller:

Jesus’ teaching consistently attracted the irreligious while offending the Bible-believing, religious people of his day. However, in the main, our churches today do not have this effect. The kind of outsiders Jesus attracted are not attracted to contemporary churches, even our most avant-garde ones. We tend to draw conservative, buttoned-down, moralistic people. The licentious and liberated or the broken and marginal avoid church. That can only mean one thing. If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishoners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then we must not be declaring the same message that Jesus did.

I've gone to homes that have a welcome mat at the door and a ravenous pit bull in the yard.  I think, oftentimes, that's what we communicate.  "Oh, please, come on in, Jesus loves you.  Oh, no?  That's a shame, at least we tried!"

Here's what Paul had to say to people like this:

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

OK, I'm done...

Fatty Melt with Grilled Onions

I made this for dinner tonight (for myself, Erika didn't want one).  It's a hamburger with grilled onions and mayo, with grilled cheese sandwiches as buns.  That's right.  And it was even better than it sounds.

The Perfect Storm

Erika gone for the weekend + Post-Halloween sugar rush + Extra hour as we "fall back" = ???

A.) No sleep for 36 hours.

B.) House catching on fire.

C.) No one bathes or cleans anything.

D.) The terrorists win.

Reign

It's been a while since I've posted.  I'm on Facebook now, which is helping me to micro-blog via status updates, photo uploads, etc.  So, this one is falling away.

I think I'll save this blog for long posts, or stream of consciousness blogging.

Our Sunday gatherings this month have been wonderful, milestone-type celebrations.  We've had seven families visit us for the first time, including two musicians who played for us yesterday.  Pitch perfect I might add.  Just the right addition for my talk on worship and God as King.

This is the most often I've ever had to preach.  I've actually wondered how people do it every week (still do).  But, I've found a secret that has helped me develop what I think is some of the best communicating that I've ever done:  I'm speaking to myself.

Basically, my sermons are just allowing the crowd to listen in on the thoughts and discussions that I've been having with God over the text.  The points where Scripture is intersecting my life, my worries or fears, the things that make me excited or happy, all of that is just packaged in a "sermon."  

So, lately I've been pondering the reign of God in my life and what that means for the church.  The basic thought?  Jesus is Lord and Caesar isn't.  Neither is money or stuff or politics or "free-time" or anything else.  And that's freedom.

Baa

Earlier this week, I celebrated 12 years in ministry.  It's been full of a lot of ups and a lot of downs, but I have to say, God led me here.  I've been reflecting on Psalm 23 (my passage for Sunday), and I think that's the psalmist's feeling, more or less.

God led me here.  

I had a good friend remind me that God isn't calling me close to him so I can get a church off the ground.  He's calling me close to him (and that's that).  For his name's sake.  Because he loves me.  

David's conclusion is that goodness and mercy will pursue him for the rest of his life.  Anyone can look in the rearview mirror and get a glimpse of the crap that seems to chase you.  But David makes a different decision.

So, here's to enjoying green pastures.

Camping Weekend

Last night we had our first camping trip as a family!  I grew up in the Boy Scouts, so I have had my fair share of campfire cooking, setting up tents, and general discomfort.

We had a great time.  The weather was great, nice and cool.  Jon made some killer ribs, and we roasted corn on the grill too.  

The best thing is, Kylie and Kat slept (for the most part) through the night!  Before going to bed, Davey entertained us with his guitar skills and everyone else tried to sing along.

Maybe in the future we'll do it again.

Living the Dream

I enjoyed this article in Inc. Magazine regarding Harmonix, the developers behind Guitar Hero and Rock Band.  My favorite part:

Last year, when fawning organizers of a video game conference asked Rigopulos to give a speech about "living the dream," he wistfully marked up a PowerPoint chart of Harmonix's annual profits and losses. He labeled the company's breakout year, 2006, as "The Dream." The years 1995 through 2005, shown almost entirely in red ink, were "The Part Before That."

My takeaway from this is that we can never give up on our dreams.  It was more than the bottom line that was pushing these guys.  It was commitment to realizing their dream (getting non-musicians making music).  

Sometimes it can feel like we're living in "The Part Before That", but I think that it's required for the dream to feel, well, dreamy.  No matter how frustrating church planting can be (and it can), there's still much there to savor.  

And, when it's time to realize the dream, you're grateful that you kept true to it

Bailout

It seems that, in the midst of a convergence of politics and economic difficulties, fear has taken hold.  Nothing like "end of the world" type thinking (I'm sure there's some of that out there), but this subtle "what's next" sort of thing. 

The trouble is, it's easy to think that "my guy" will save us from all of this mess and "you're guy" (if he wins), will just lead us further into trouble.

It's been helpful (for me, anyway) to think of this:  "Some trust in horses, some trust in chariots, but we will trust in the name of the LORD our God."

We hope that there's a messiah out there that will come to fix all of our problems, but we fail in placing that hope in human hands.  

The Fireside Chat

How I long for a president with the ability to communicate like FDR.

A Narrative Framework

I thought this article was interesting.  It's one guy's reason on why he's voting Obama in November.  My intention is to be thought-provoking, not provoking.

The White Hats

Kylie has been bothering my aunt all day today.  Most recently, Lynn was watching a John Wayne movie, explaining to Kylie that he's the good guy.

"My dad says he isn't," Kylie replied.  

Perplexed, Lynn continues to explain what is happening, and as the Duke heads out of the screen, Kylie says, "Where did John McCain go?"

We Hit the Sandbox in Our Gowns!

It has been so nice and cool for the past few mornings- we have been eating our breakfast on the porch, and playing outside afterward. Fun!

First Day of Preschool

We can't believe that Kylie has gotten old enough to spend a couple of days each week away from us in preparation to begin school next year! She has done really well and had a lot of fun.

I'm ready to leave!

On our way!

Every time I pulled out the camera, Kathryn would say, "Cheese!" and smile.

Kylie and her friend Peyton- they go to the same school this year!

In the classroom

Can We Afford It?

Can we afford to have a vice-president who . . .

has the same child-naming philosophy as George Costanza?

Google Chrome

I love me some Google.  Don't know why, just do.  In any case, go download their new browser, Google Chrome.  

My favorite thing?  It lets me create application style shortcuts to launch my favorite web-based apps, like Gmail and Reader, but without all the browser-y stuff that I don't need.

Out on the Boat

We went out to the lake with Brandon and Cindy today to try out their new boat. We had a blast, even though a certain someone could stand up on skis to save his life.

Kylie loved tubing, insisting that we should go "super-fast" and laughing hard when we hit the waves. And even though we spent three and a half hours out there, Kat did great.

We're all a little sunburned and a lot of tired, but we had a good trip.

Tomorrow is Kylie's first day of preschool, so we're turning in early.

Really Really

I've noticed a theme in movies that actually works in real life. It seems that a lot of movies have a character who thinks they want one thing, only to find something even more meaningful instead. And, even though they lose, we count them as winners.

Take Rocky for example. (Spoiler Alert) He loses in the first movie! But, it's OK, because he has Adrian. Kylie has been watching Enchanted, and the same thing happens (although, you could see it coming from a mile away).

What do we really want? We think about what we want, but I'm not sure it's what we really, really want (cue Spice Girls music). We think we want money, but we really want security. We think we want excitement but we really want something meaningful.

This Sunday, I'm talking a bit about this. How we must lose these things in order to get gain what we really want. The questions is, is it worth the trade-off?

A Recommendation

I sent this out in my weekly update for the church, but I thought I'd repost it here.

"I know you don't like comic book movies, but you have GOT to see The Dark Knight!" "I know you don't like spicy food, but you should taste this chile relleno!" "I know you hate Coldplay, but listen to their new single, it's great." Have you ever recommended something to someone who doesn't natually like it? What compels us to do this?

Occasionally, we'll encounter something so remarkable that it overcomes any skepticism about it. As we grow and develop as a church, I imagine people saying, "I know 'church' isn't for you, but you've got to check out Resonate Community."

In order to do that, we need to know people well enough to understand their hesitancy about church/faith/spirituality. We also need to be remarkable. What makes a church remarkable is remarkable people. People who love and serve one other and their community, expecting nothing in return. People who are growing in their faith (in a way that's relevant and meaningful). People who aren't content to just live their lives, but engage in the lives of those around them as well.

I encourage you to do something remarkable this week. Take the leap, try something new! Make a difference in the lives of others, and you'll find that you've made a difference in your life as well.

Pictures from Kat's Birthday Brunch

Kathryn's First Birthday

Wow, how time flies. Our little beauty is one today!

The Critic

Kylie and I watched "Ratatouille" the other night, and I was struck by the conclusion of the hard-nosed critic that has a change of heart:

"In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. The world is often unkind to new talents, new creations. The new needs friends."

Sometimes it feels like we have our fair share of critics in this life. Maybe it's ourselves. I'd rather be a creator than a critic.

Simple Wonder

Kylie loves IHOP. After a busy Saturday, we decided to spend Sunday morning at IHOP and then do a little shopping. She thought it was the best thing ever.

She had two cups of coffee (mostly milk, but still special enough). And the concept of flavored syrup was a new one for her.

Anyway, it's cool to see the simple wonder that she has.

Cross the Streams

Who We Live For

I talked today about how Jacob wrestled God. Understanding the story in the context of Jacob reconciling with Esau, it become very powerful. It is here that Jacob ceases his selfish pursuit, and finally recognizes why he was striving so much in the first place: he needed to hear from God that he's more than his name ("supplanter").

I think Coldplay's new song goes hand in hand with this thought. The way we live when we strive after power and control in our lives only corrupt us. And in the end, we can lose everything.

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sweep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing:
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt, pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a' ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you know there was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in.
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries Wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a' ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
but that was when I ruled the world

Hear Jerusalem bells a' ringings
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

Back From Vacation

We took our first big family vacation this past week, to Crystal Beach near Galveston. We got to swim, ride some SeaDoos, and that's about it. It was great. No internet, spotty phone service, no local TV channels.

I read Stephen King's "The Talisman". Thought it was great, couldn't put it down. We played Rock Band and spades. I cooked ceviche for the first time, turned out pretty good. I also made Bananas Foster with ice cream and sopapillas.

Other than that, not much to share. We are having another gathering tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

No More Birthdays

Kylie told us last night that she didn't want to have any more birthdays when she gets our age, because she doesn't want to get old and die. She just wants us to make a special breakfast for her, but no party.

Later on, as I was putting her to bed, we talked about it some more. She started to tear up a little bit, although I don't think she understood that she was crying. She did the same thing when we talked to her about Grandma dying.

She's a great kid, with a great heart. We talked a little more, and she felt better.

Random Thoughts on My Way Back From There

So, I've been in a bit of a blogging slump. I could probably fill pages with everything that's happened since I last checked in, but no one would read it, so here's the breakdown.

• My grandmother passed away a few weeks ago. I was asked to officiate the funeral, which I did. My favorite memory will be of Grandpa sharing stories of how they met and started life together with the rest of the family. Thanks to everyone who offered their condolensces.
• I'm now on the Planning and Zoning Commission for Hutto. So far, it's cool. Very interesting stuff. Like SimCity, but in real life!
• It seems like most music producers (especially in the Top 40 genre) seem to like to include random melodies in the background that sound like a cell phone ringing. I've stopped listening to songs like these.
• Our church is moving to having a Sunday gathering every other week starting in August. But it's not like "normal" church stuff, so I'm still cool with it.
• Saw "The Dark Knight" today. Amazingly awesome. Upon recollection, I realized I have seen every Batman film in the theater since 1989. This makes me feel older than I really am, or geekier, I'm not sure which.
• Speaking of comic book stuff, Kylie is continuing to enjoy our modern American mythos. She's starting to learn their alter-egos as well.
• Speaking of Kylie, she has also started working more diligently on reading. She can spell just about anything phonetically, and we're working on writing stories now.
• Kat's walking. Like, all across the room with all the confidence of someone who doesn't know any better.
  
• I listened to Cormac McCarthy's "The Road." He's an interesting writer, a mix of commercially-sound (All the Pretty Horses, No Country for Old Men) and literary-unique (All the Pretty Horses, No Country for Old Men). He's an easier listen than read though.
• My Xbox broke. Red Ring of Death. Still in warranty.
  
• I've been thinking a lot about my life lately. Not my past and not my future. Just life as it is. Have to say, I'm pretty happy, even when I shouldn't be.

Hopefully I'll be back around here sooner than later.

Funny Pictures

Kat balancing on the side of a box- we caught her chewing on that yam!

Kat woke up from her nap and Kylie went in to entertain her while I finished the dishes. Here's what I found when I went to get the baby!

Weekend Plans

We're going to Dallas tomorrow to see my grandma. She's sick, and the doctors said it's not looking good. I want her to see the girls one more time, and for them to see her.

We're going to pick up my little brother and take him back with us for the weekend. Kale and Erin are coming on Saturday, and we'll BBQ and hang out, and probably play some Guitar Hero or something. Maybe Cindy will let me borrow Rock Band? (feel free to reply in comments) :)

I'm looking forward to the weekend. It'll be good to see everyone.

The Power to See Us Through

Just listened to a fantastic talk by N.T. Wright on the book of Acts.

As a church planter, I enjoy reading the book of Acts. It feels like you're on the brink sometimes, and Luke makes me feel better. The talk is an hour long, but worth it if you can spare the time.

I like how Luke ends the book. "You'll hit storms, and it will be the most tragic experience you can imagine. It will also be the most glorious. On to Rome."

A Gathering

This Sunday will mark another worship gathering for our church, the second in the school. I'm excited about how we "do" these, in that there's very little pomp and circumstance. Last time, we just had it here at the house. But I think it's meaningful for everyone.

This week, we're talking about how, specifically how it can transform us. I'm playing a piece from "Rattle and Hum", U2's performance of "When Love Comes to Town" with B.B. King. I'm inviting everyone to share how love has transformed them.

It's different from most services I've been a part of, and I'm becoming OK with that. The "wow" factor is gone, but there's still a chance for creativity to come out of seeing people interact and share in the worship of Christ.

In my mind, there are still a lot of unanswered questions, but I'm becoming OK with that too.

Happy Father's Day

I got breakfast and a new Superman shirt. Truth is, I love being a dad. Sure, the kids are frustrating at times, but 95% of the time it's totally worth it. With all the moodiness surrounding everything right now, it's the honesty and joy of my girls that snaps me back to reality. Kylie says, "It'll be OK" with such conviction, how can you not believe?

My dad was never around (still isn't), but his absence has made me into the dad I am, so I'm thankful for it. My grandpa was the next best thing, and right now he's hurting because the love of his life is getting chemo treatments. The thing I love most about him is his humor, and how he's always smiling or whistling (you can hear it from miles away).

Anyway, Happy Father's Day (or, as Kylie exclaimed this morning: "Happy Valentine's Day!")

Blerg

That's how I feel. I found out today that my grandma has both ovarian cancer and leukemia. My aunt just completed chemo last month for breast cancer. My mom has been taking care of her for the past eight months or so, and now will be doing the same for my grandparents.

I'm worried about my grandpa mostly. Mom said he's been crying most of the day.

If you could pray for everyone involved, I would appreciate it.

Car Trouble

So, on my way to Corpus Christi, my car breaks down. In the middle of nowhere, just after 5 pm on Friday. Yeah.

Thankfully, my coach is heading to Corpus, so he picks me up, and I rent a car to get back home (well, at least to the Austin airport). Another friend, Chris, takes me home from there.

Erika was gone (her grandfather passed away), so I was stuck at the house without a car. We had our Sunday gathering here, with a house and backyard full of good friends. Even with all the junk going on with the car, I never felt like I had no one to call on to help me.

So, yesterday, Brandon and I drove two and a half hours to pick up the car and towed it back here. Other friends have cooked me food, offered to let me borrow their car, and are also going to help me fix mine.

All that to say, even in the middle of pretty crappy circumstances, I'm reminded of how blessed I am to have the friends that I do.

Liquid

One of the great things about our approach to church is how we can be liquid when it comes to doing what's best. This month has been crazy busy, for everybody, and I think the last thing we need is the stress that comes with pulling off a service. So, instead of meeting at the school this Sunday, we're going to be a little more relaxed and just meet at our house.

Just this month in our community there have been births, deaths, international travels, job stress, kid stress, sickness...and that's just the stuff I know about. I don't want church stress to be thrown in on top of it all. It's hard to talk about hope when the church is creating despair! So, we'll be sharing life together in our home, nice and easy, this Sunday.

Tomorrow, I'm heading to Corpus Christi to do some training with a church that is wanting to move into a more missional approach. It will be the first time that I'll facilitate a discussion like this, but I'm grateful for the opportunity. I think this will be a story I'll share.

In Case You Forgot

I'm going to be blogging this week at www.huttozambia.com, our travel blog. My cell phone doesn't work over here, so no moblogging, but I hope to put up pictures each night.

We're in Chingola now, will head to Chililabombwe tomorrow. Things have been nothing but smooth sailing. Keep us in your prayers!

Came Up Short

Well, I came up short on the vote for city council. I have 43% of the vote, which I still thought was good considering I've been here for 18 months and my opponent has been here for 30-something years.

I knew that, regardless of the outcome, my involvement in serving the city wouldn't decrease. There are still plenty of places to serve and build influence, and that's what it's about anyway.

Thanks to everyone who supported me. I have a feeling that it won't be my last attempt...

It's Election Day!

Sister City Update

In 10 days, I'll be heading to Zambia. We've started a new blog (www.huttozambia.com) to highlight our travels, as well as serve as a means to keep others up-to-date on future ways they can help.

Keep an eye out for our little imfubu throughout the trip.

Philosophy and Faith

If you have the time, watch this. Tim Keller is a pastor in New York (Redeemer Presbyterian) and approaches the reasoning for God in a very philosophical way. It can be a little heady (he's speaking at Google), but it's good stuff. I especially like his reference to C.S. Lewis' Surprised by Joy. Lewis writes that we relate to God, not like me relating to my neighbor (whose existence I can prove), but like Hamlet relating to Shakespeare. Hamlet can't initiate the relationship, it must be Shakespeare that does so. And that only happens if Billy were to write himself into the story.

And when you realize that Jesus Christ did just that, well, it makes it all the more meaningful.

I don't think that strict philosophical arguments will ever pave the way for belief. Keller doesn't either. He gives the example of falling off of a cliff, but recognizing a branch for you to grab. If you believe the branch is strong enough, but fail to grab it, you're dead. If you believe the branch to be weak, but grab it anyway, you're safe. He states that "weak faith in a strong object is infinitely better than strong faith in a weak object, because it is the object of faith, not the strength of your faith that saves you."

Yes

After seeing Iron Man this weekend (any self-respecting geek should take time to see it), I was excited to hear this news.

See, It's Not So Bad

Spinning

Yeah, it's been a while. I've been quite focused on our first Sunday gathering, which was yesterday. I'm happy to say that everything went as I hoped it would, and then some. Setup went off without a hitch (except for some locked bathroom doors), and the service, even without music, was very meaningful.

I experimented with "dialogical preaching", that is, having the audience respond and answer some questions. It went great, I think that more people were engaged than if I were just up there rambling on and on.

It's been the first time that I've done this sort of thing in almost two years (setup, speak, breakdown, lunch). I got home around 3 pm and just crashed. It felt great.

Thanks to everyone who was praying for us. We're doing this again the first Sunday in June. Already looking forward to it.

Celebrating Kylie's Birthday

Happy Fourth Birthday, Kylie!

Kylie, you are more than any parent could hope for! You are full of life, witty, caring, helpful, beautiful... the list goes on and on. We love you!

Birth

Yes, she weighed 9 lbs., 9 oz.!

First Birthday

Second Birthday

Third Birthday

Fourth Birthday

Tired of It

Lately the interwebs have been going on and on about "Expelled", a new film discrediting the science of evolution. Apparently, they didn't do a good job. I think the video below does, however.

Area Man Makes It Through Day

From here.

SCHAUMBURG, IL—Despite an overwhelming, seemingly endless barrage of frustrations, area systems analyst Adam Blume made it through the entire day Tuesday, overcoming the odds against him in a Herculean display of courage, perseverance, and the indomitable human spirit.

According to witnesses, though it seemed on more than one occasion throughout the day that his life would come to an end, Blume valiantly found the wherewithal to carry on. Not only did the 37-year-old successfully get out of bed and leave his apartment, but he somehow found the strength to navigate through the day's many challenges and, once victorious, made his way back home again. Hit from every side with such formidable opponents as suburban conformity, mind-numbing coworkers, and the celebrity "infotainment" magazine he paged through on his lunch break, Blume nonetheless trudged along—permitting nothing, no matter how soul-deadening, to break his will.

"Man, what a day," Blume said regarding his 16-hour battle with everything from public transportation to profound spiritual alienation.

Experts estimate that, by 10 p.m. Tuesday night, Blume had survived exposure to approximately 1,700 advertising images of epic banality, at least 35 emotionless interactions with complete strangers without making any real human contact, and more than 25,000 moments of soul-crushing inner emptiness throughout the almost day-long struggle. In addition, he also surmounted the onslaught of more than 150 separate anxiety-producing forces, including credit card debt, weight gain, hair loss, sexual inferiority, loneliness, a dead-end job, geographical isolation from extended family, virus-laden spam, the need to keep his cell phone charged, in-store Muzak, mortality, mounting laundry and dishes, his cable bill, indefinable longing, fear of terrorism, online gossip, the unavoidable certainty of his own unimportance, nostalgia for a past that never was, severe lower-back pain, and general ennui.

"I only wish I had gotten a chance to pick up those replacement filters for the vacuum cleaner," Blume said only moments after valiantly suppressing the urge to set fire to his carefully cataloged file cabinet of insurance information and old appliance manuals. "The last ones I got were for the wrong model, but I can't take them back because I didn't save the receipt and now I need new ones.

"And for some reason, I had the song 'Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe' stuck in my head all day," he added.

Blume's epic odyssey of survival reportedly began at 6:15 a.m., the moment he awoke. After enduring the sudden, unrelenting attack of his bedside alarm clock, Blume resisted the near-overpowering compulsion to press the snooze button a second time. Courageously hurling himself from bed and dragging his almost unconscious body the 15 feet to his bathroom, Blume was almost defeated before even making it to work when, as he was putting toothpaste on his toothbrush, it fell on the floor.

"I thought I was going to lose it right there," Blume later told reporters. "It was lying in that space between the sink and the bathtub, covered in dust, so I had to bend over, grab it, rinse it off under some hot water, and put some more toothpaste on it. I hate when that happens."

According to roommate Joe Tesch, with whom Blume shares an apartment despite already having reached middle age, the physically, financially, and spiritually exhausted man then stared at his hollow face in the mirror for approximately three minutes before showering, shaving, and moving his bowels in time to catch the 7:04 bus.

After arriving at work, Blume's trials and tribulations only continued. Over the next 10 hours, Blume weathered an onslaught against his very humanity, from automated menus on telephones and cash machines, to shrill homeless men yelling in the street, to a coffee stain on his workplace-mandated tie.

This was not Blume's first exposure to adversity. When pressed, he was able to recall several such incidents, including the time in May 1993 when he walked on crutches all the way from the bus stop at the bottom of a large hill in Madison, WI to the unemployment office located at the top, the 72 hours he spent stranded in Chicago's O'Hare Airport during the 2004 Christmas season, and the thousands of other battles before, between, and since.

"Another day, another dollar," said Blume, modestly downplaying the impressive scope of his accomplishments. "I suppose I just did what anybody would have done."

Blume's inspiring battle against the dehumanizing forces of modernity continues tomorrow.

The Final Five

So all of you sports fans just finished debating the Final Four, but us geeks have been thinking about the Final Five. Last season on Battlestar Galactica (the best show on TV), we got a glimpse of four of them, and last night was the final season premiere.

I have no clue who the final Cylon is, but I'm loving how they explore the relationship between faith and war, love and fear.

If you've not watched this show, I recommend you add it to your Netflix queue or buy the miniseries and first season. You'll be hooked, and you don't even have to be a geek to enjoy it!

And One of Kat...

Check out this birthday girl!

Kylie will be turning four this month, so our friend Heather over at Vanity Photography took some beautiful pictures of her, as well as her baby sister Kat. Take a look!

By the way, the credit goes to Mom for this awesome birthday outfit, and Dad and Ruth Ann for the lovely Belle dress-up dress!

Holding On to Something

After an incredibly frustrating conversation today, I began to reflect on my experience of planting churches (and ministry in general). It seems like all of the frustration and distraction and disappointment and obstacles came from Christians. Not just Christians, but even pastors and leaders. I thought that, in any other part of the world where Christians face hardship, they get it from those that don't believe, from those that are hostile to Jesus Christ and the gospel. And yet, here in America, it's from those on the inside - and worse yet, from those who should know better.

When we begin to put our own interests above that of the mission of Christ, I think we can become distracted in what we are trying to accomplish. We begin to hedge our bets, holding out just in case something goes wrong unexpectedly. What faith!

I rewatched Lord of the Rings last week, and I would have to say one of my favorite speeches is one Sam makes to Frodo. After fighting off Boromir, who wishes to use the ring of power for his own (albeit good) reasons, Frodo and Sam strike out to destroy the ring. It is far from easy. So why bother?

Why bother trying to start a church, there are plenty out there, right? Why bother trying to make this world a better place, it's just going to burn, right? Why bother investing my life into something beyond me, it costs too much, right?

I feel that my calling is a calling that propels me to do something that matters. That the stories of greatness that have inspired me (both biblical and not), inspire me because I know there is something out there worth fighting for. And even if the fight stings, and there's loss, it's still worth fighting for.

So while this bump in the road isn't really a big deal (for real, it's not, you can stop worrying), it did cause me to reflect on the nature of what is set before me. Not everyone has to believe in the cause to make it worth the fight.

Kathryn's Sitting Up and Crawling!

The Forgotten Ways - Part Five

The chapter called "Communitas, not Community" is my favorite of the book. It explores why the focus on mission is so important.

He begins by stating that "community" is not the real test for success in a missional church, but "communitas". When referring to community, we often mean "the community for me." Our impulses are grounded in a mostly middle-class value of safety and security. When coupled with consumerism's obsession with comfort and convenience, we create a church that loses her missional edge. A missional view of community is "me for the community and the community for the world."

Connected to this idea is the concept of liminality, a term coined to describe the various rites of passage of an African community. "Liminality therefore applies to that situation where people find themselves in an in-between, marginal state in relations to the surrounding society, a place that could involve significant danger and disorientation, but not necessarily so." During this shared experience, a bond of comradeship and community is forged. "Communitas happens in situations where individuals are driven to find each other through a common experience of ordeal, humbling, transition, and marginalization."

"So the related ideas of liminality and communitas describe the dynamics of the Christian community inspired to overcome their instincts to "huddle and cuddle" and to instead form themselves around a common mission that calls them onto a dangerous journey to unknown places - a mission tha tcalls the church to shake off its collective securities and to plunge into the world of action, where its members will experience disorientation and marginalization but also where they encounter God and one another in a new way. Communitas is therefore always linked with the experience of liminality. It involves adventure and movement, and it describes that unique experience of togetherness that only really happens among a group of people inspired by the vision of a better world who actually attempt to do something about it."

Hirsch believes that this should be the normative condition of the people of God, not just a cultural transition or, better yet, an annual emphasis for a church's new member drive.

The stories of Scripture that inspire us, even the stories from Hollywood that inspire us, are all about adventure, risk, journey, and comradeship. One of my favorite films is the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Hirsch confirms the elements of communitas within the series.



The church, for too long, has created an artificial environment for believers to grow and develop. Hirsch compares us to fish in an aquarium, where all of our needs are taken care of, only to develop the fish to be sensitive to any changes in the environment. Most go belly up with the slightest change. But, out in the ocean, we find life, adventure, danger, but also the ability to sustain ourselves when the going gets tough.

We should be "placing ourselves in the new future and then taking a series of steps, not in order to get there someday, but as if you are there, or almost there, now. This is exactly the perspective of the kingdom of God in the New Testament. In saying that the future (eschatological) kingdom of God is already present in our midst, we are called to act in the knowledge that it is already here now and yet will be completed then. And so we are drawn up into God's future for the world. This "now" and "not yet" tension of the kingdom defines our reality and keeps us moving, growing, and adapting."

When we conceive that God is at work both in the church and in the world (unlike most expressions which only concludes God's activity in the world through the church), "our worship of God is always done in the context of our engagement with the world, and because of this it is forced to be culturally meaningful to outsiders....Church is not something tha tis done in abstract from the world. Our evangelism and social action are communal, we join with God in redeeming the world (he's already there), and our spirituality is of the all-of-life variety."

Tomorrow, I'll have some concluding thoughts on the subject.

The Forgotten Ways - Part Four

Organic systems are the natural elements that form as an organism grows more complex. The opposite of these systems are the institutional systems (I wrote about that here). "The church in its most phenomenal from (when it genuinely manifests Apostolic Genius) organizes itself as a living organism that reflects more how God has structured life itself, as opposed to a machine, which is the artificial, inorganic alternative to a living system." The kingdom and church is portrayed in Scripture using organic images such as a body, field, yeast, seeds, trees, vines, etc. So, could we look at the doctrine of creation (cosmology) to guide us into a deeper understanding of ourselves and our function in the world? Hirsch thinks so.

"A living systems approach seeks to structure the common life of an organization around the rhythms and structures that mirror life itself." An organic approach includes the tasks of:

• "unleash[ing] the mDNA that is dormant in the system and help guide it to its God-intended purpose,"
• "bring[ing] the various elements in the system into meaningful interrelationship" - much like how Paul describes the body of Christ,
• "mov[ing] the system toward the edge of chaos;" that is, forcing the church to adapt and to become responsive to the community we find ourselves in, and finally,
• "help[ing] select the flow of information and focus the community around it."

Hirsch concludes, "Planting a new church in this approach isn't primarily about buildings, worship services, size of congregations, and pastoral care, but rather about gearing the whole community around natural discipling friendships, worship as lifestyle, and mission in the context of everyday life. As a living network "in Christ" it can meet anywhere, anytime and still be a viable expression of church."

On the other hand, churches often set up mechanical approaches to substitute for the natural systems that emerge. "Religious institutionalism happens when, in the name of convenience, we set up a system to do what we must do ourselves so that over time the structures we create take on a life of their own."

The dangers of institutionalism includes the transitions where

"mission becomes strategy
roles become tasks
teams become structure
networks become organization
recognition becomes compensation"

How do we stave off this decline? "It is the heart of the prophetic ministry to constantly call us to unadorned covenantal faithfulness; this is summed up in Micah 6:8, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.""

"In catering to the religious needs of some (largely the insiders) it has as a consequence failed to respond to the wider spiritual hunger of not-yet-Christians....Liquid church is essential because it takes the present culture seriously and seeks to express the fullness of the Christian gospel within that culture. The defining element of this is church as a living, adaptive network highly responsive to the deep spiritual needs and hunger expressed in the surrounding society."

In order to understand how we can successfully multiply (natural in the course of living systems) we ask the question, "What is the irreducible minimum of the faith? What can be done away with? What is too complex and heavy to carry into a new missional situation and an adaptive challenge?" The problems with the complexity of the megachurch being the only viable option is that "the net effect will be to marginalize most people from ministry and church planting, and it will effectively put a contraceptive on the reproductive mechanism of the church. It will certainly stifle genuine people movements, because it necessitates a professional concept of ministry with massive buildings and resources."

Egg Hunting

Resurrection Morning

There's something powerful about the resurrection. Two of the stories that get me the most are of the travelers on the road to Emmaus, and Peter's rediscovery of his Master.

We spent this morning with some of our friends at Resonate, just hanging out and enjoying the kids and our company. I shared these two stories, and how the resurrection has the ability to set our hearts on fire, and reunite us with the One who loved us first.

Peter's story is the most meaningful to me. (I don't think anyone noticed, but I got a little choked up reading it today). Jesus didn't have to remind Peter he was alive and cared for him. Peter was already a believer. His eternity was secure. And yet, the Messiah still revisits Peter in the same way he first met him, on the shore after a night of unsuccessful fishing.

When Jesus asked, "Peter, do you love me more than these?", he's not asking if Peter loves Jesus more than John or James or Thomas does. The "these" he's referring to are the fish. His question is, "Peter, do you love me more than you loved the comfort and security of your former life?"

I likened it to the red pill/blue pill moment from The Matrix. Peter had a chance to go back. But I think, in that moment, his heart was burning with knowing there was something ahead of him that was bigger than he ever could be, pulling him forward.

The resurrection can do that. The hope of Christ, the life he gives, can make us invincible to the powers that seek to kill, steal, and destroy.

"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

The Forgotten Ways - Part Three

"The missional-incarnational impules is, in effect, the practical outworking of the mission of God (the missio Dei) and of the Incarnation. It is thus rooted in the very way that God has redeemed the world, and in how God revealed himself to us."

Hirsch contrasts this approach with the more traditional "evangelistic-attrational" model of growing the church. It's hard to critique it, because the motives are sincere, but nevertheless "it is keeping us from experience that authentic impulse that reverberates through authentic apostolic movements."

Hirsch relates mission to a spreading of seeds, or how a viral outbreak happens when someone sneezes. However, when the attractional mode is used, "the net effect is to unwittingly block the outward-bound movement that is built into the gospel. Instead of being sown in the wind, seeds are put into ecclesial storehouses, thus effectively extinguishing the purpose they were made for. Or, to go back to the sneeze metaphor, we suppress the "sneeze" by holding back the impulse to sneeze in the first place. And because of this, the attractional model quite simply can never hope to impact the broader culture as Jesus movements are able to."

So, now we know that the mission of God is to take the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth, to scatter and seed the good news to whatever culture, group, and time that it can be placed. But what do we do once we arrive in that time and place? "In our mission to those outside of the faith we will need to exercise a genuine identification and affinity with those we are attempting to reach." In a word, incarnation.

Hirsch shows us four ways this incarnation is displayed, both by Christ and through us. It's too good to summarize, so I'm just going to quote the whole thing:

• Presence - The fact that God was in the Nazarene neighborhood for thirty years and no one noticed should be profoundly disturbing to our normal ways of engaging mission. Not only does it have implications for our affirmation of normal human living, it says something about the timing as well as the relative anonymity of incarnational ways to engaging in mission. There is a time for "in your face" approaches to mission, but there is also a time to simple become part of the very fabric of a community and to engage in the humanity of it all. Furthermore, the idea of presence highlights the role of relationships in mission. If relationship is the key means in the transfer of the gospel, then it simply means we are going to have to be directly present to the people in our circle. Our very lives are our messages, and we cannot take ourselves out of the equation of mission. But one of the profound implications of our presence as representatives of Jesus is that Jesus actually likes to hang out with the people we hang out with. They get the implied message that God actually likes them.
• Proximity - Jesus mixed with people from every level of society. He ate with Pharisees as well as tax collectors and prostitutes. If we are to follow in his footsteps, his people will need to be directly and actively involved in the lives of the people we are seeking to reach. This assumes not only presence, but genuine availability, which will involve spontaneity as well as regularity in the friendships and communities we inhabit.
• Powerlessness - In seeking to act in a Christlike way, we cannot rely on normal forms of power to communicate the gospel, but have to take Jesus' model with absolute seriousness. This commits us to servanthood and humility in our relationships with each other and the world. Sadly, much of church history shows how little we have assimilated this aspect of incarnational Christlikeness into our understanding of church, leadership, and mission.
• Proclamation - The gospel invitation initiated in the ministry of Jesus remains alive and active to this very day. A genuine incarnational approach will require that we be always willing to share the gospel story with those within our world. We simply cannot take this aspect out of the equation of mission and remain faithful to our calling in the world. We are essentially a "message tribe," and that means we must ensure the faithful transmission of the message we carry through proclamation.

We are all called to "give birth" so to speak, to reproduce. But, statistically, over 90% of churches will never seed a new church. Can you imagine if over 90% of our population never had children? This world would change in a generation. I encourage you to watch "Children of Men," a film about just such a scenario. I think it's a great parallel to the hope the church provides in this world, but that hope diminishes when we fail to live out the missional-incarnational impulse.

When we stay focused on Christ, our understanding of him and how we engaged in the mission of God, we derive our own approach. He teaches us how to connect to a culture without being "churchy." But doing so changes the "scorecard", how we measure and define success.

Next, we'll look at organic systems.

The Forgotten Ways - Part Two

The chapter on disciple making begins with a great quote:

"The greatest proof of Christianity for others is not how far a man can logically analyze his reasons for believing, but how far in practice he will stake his life on his belief." - T. S. Eliot

Hirsch begins by illustrating how "easy" the modern church has made discipleship, yet how complex we've made "church". It should really be the other way around. Discipleship is the destiny we all have a followers of Christ. There is no "arrival" point at which we get all there is to get. But, most of the time, discipleship is seen as a classroom-based session for new converts.

He then explains how the major challenge to the viability of Christianity in the Western world is not Buddhism, or Islam, or New Age practices, but something we've all become accustomed to: consumerism. In fact, most advertising is no longer centered around the merits of the product, but the religious experiences of having said product (belonging, identity, meaning, purpose, etc.). There is a great, unfulfilled void in our lives, and marketers are tapping into that void using religious and spiritual language.

After almost a century of this consumeristic focus, the church has begun to mirror the marketplace. We offer religious goods and services, and whoever has the best "product" is the one that dominates the marketplace. "In this [church growth proponents] were sincere and well intentioned, but they must have been also totally ignorant of the ramifications of their counsel - because in the end the medium has so easily overwhelmed the message."

I had a conversation last night about this with a friend, who is the director of operations for a group of restaurants. If the missional church is so engaging and fulfilling, why is not the biggest thing in town? Why do people eat at McDonald's, after they know there's healthy alternatives? If I opened up an authentic Italian restaurant that only served the freshest ingredients, and I was next door to Chili's, how would I do? I would inevitably fail.

Our culture's religious palate has been conditioned to want the easy, passive, convenient God. The one where I can show up on Sunday, manage to stay awake for an hour, and feel that I've done my part. And the problem is, many pastors are doing little to change their palates! How do you do it? How do you change the palate of a community? Free samples, one by one. And you'll have to expect that some people will still prefer McDonald's.

The idea of discipleship is wrapped up in Paul's theology of being "in Christ." Jesus shares in John 15 that we are to abide in Christ. So, "all the spiritual disciplines aim us toward one thing - Christlikeness....To be a follower of Christ does not mean to imitate him literally by mimicking him, but to express him through the medium of one's own life." Hirsch concludes, "In the final analysis, the medium is the message, and the phenomenal movements of God seemed to be able to express the message authentically through the media of both their personal and common lives together."

Linked to this idea is the concept of embodiment, of becoming. Check out what Paul has to say:

"You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." - 1 Thessalonians 1:6-9

"Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you." - Philippians 3:17

"We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow." - 2 Thessalonians 3:9

"In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." - Titus 2:7-8

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 11:1

When we embody the mind of Christ, we develop significant influence in the community around us. That influence is what develops us into leaders. This leadership, however, is not like the leadership we are used to. Jesus modeled a discipling leadership with a "life-on-life" approach, not merely dispensing information, but working along side his learners, allowing them to experience what it means to be a follower.

Next, we'll look at the missional-incarnational impulse.

The Forgotten Ways - Part One

The heart of a movement of God begins with the most simple understanding of Scripture: "Jesus is Lord." And this understanding began first in the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4. But to best understand the radical nature of a monotheistic view, let's first understand the life as a polytheist:

"Life as a polytheist is not only complex (each deity has to be encountered with the appropriate decorum) but it is thoroughly superstitious (minor actions have massive spiritual consequences), and also dangerous (not all the gods are good; in fact, some are outright evil). This was the overwhelming religious context of Israel.

And into this context come the Shema...

"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 strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9

The implications of this statement is that Yahweh is the Lord over every aspect of life. "It is a call for covenant loyalty, rather than a statement of theological ontology (nature of being)." The significance is that we can know that Jesus is concerned with all of our lives, not just the so-called "spiritual" stuff. Because of the Shema, everything is spiritual.

"To say this more explicitly, there is no such thing as sacred and secular in biblical worldview. It can conceive of no part of the world that does not come under the claim of Yahweh's lordship. All of life belongs to God, and true holiness means bringing all the spheres of our life under God. This is what it means to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength."

In the New Testament, we see the lordship of God is found in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus himself confirms the significance of the Shema:

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "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." Mark 12:28-31

Paul later confirms the central focus of Christ as Lord:

"[God] raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:20-23

Our culture has shifted from this true expression of spirituality to a dualistic expression. "Dualism distorts our experience of God, his people, and his world." This impact is felt most in the disconnect between Sunday and Monday. And at a "church", which has come to mean a location and event rather than a people and mission.

Hirsch concludes his exploration with some practical questions:

"What does all this practically mean for those seeking to recover Apostolic Genius in the life of the community of God? For one, it will involve (re)engaging directly the central confession of "Jesus is Lord" and attempting to reorient the church around this life-orienting claim. It will also mean simplifying our core messages, uncluttering our overly complex theologies, and thoroughly evaluating the traditional templates that so shape our behaviors and dominate our consciousness."

Everything else we examine is viewed through this lens. Next, we'll look at disciple making.

The Forgotten Ways - Introduction

I'm going to skip all of the introductory stuff that's in the book (backgrounds and the like). There is a great quote early on:

"If you want to build a ship, don't summon people to buy wood, prepare tools, distribute jobs, and organize the work, rather teach people the yearning for the wide, boundless ocean." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

So much of church is about how you (yes, YOU) can serve the church. Very few people are inspired by that (not very long at least). "The Forgotten Ways" by Alan Hirsch takes the components of building the church around mission - that wide, boundless ocean - and makes them practical. The six components are:

1. Jesus is Lord
2. Disciple Making
3. Missional-Incarnational Impulse
4. Apostolic Environment
5. Organic Systems
6. Communitas, not Community

Before we jump into these components, I'd like to familiarize you with some of the terms Hirsch uses.

mDNA - missional DNA (the "m" helps to distinguish it from its biological counterpart). In biology, DNA is found in every living cell, it codes genetic information for the transmission of inherited traits beyond that of the initiating organism, it is self-replicating, and it carries vital information for healthy reproduction. All followers of Christ have the full coding of mDNA in them.

Apostolic Genius - the formation of mDNA into a powerful, spiritual current that transforms our experience of Jesus, community, and mission.

Missional and Missional Church - a community of God's people that defines itself, and organizes its life around, its real purpose of being an agent of God's mission to the world. The expression of the Kingdom of God; we are both the product of the mission and dispensers of it.

Next, we'll look at the heart of the missional church - Jesus Christ.

Done and Done

Well, I didn't think we'd finish, but we did! Thanks to everyone who helped. Kylie stayed on the swings for over 30 minutes after we were finished.

The Nazarene Carpenter

After spending 9 hours in the backyard building a playground (it's still not finished), I appreciate Jesus even more. He was a carpenter for most of his life, and yet remained sinless.

I can't go more than 10 minutes without thinking (or saying) something inappropriate.

Finally Working

So, after two years of working outside the home, I'm finally back. I'm full-time with the church now, and although I still have some outside jobs helping to make ends meet, the vast majority of my time is spent doing what I love.

The past month or so has been a time of focus for me. I've been fasting for the past three days, and I think I've gained some real clarity on what matters most to me. My scorecard has changed. I've always been plagued by the way I want to see "church" done, and the way I was always taught it should be. But I've finally made the transition to stop trying to measure myself by any other standard than what Christ would have me do.

There can be some liabilities in this, mostly on the financial front. But I'm not really worrying about it. Over just the past month, I feel that our team has crystallized on the vision and values. We've started some coaching/discipleship stuff that I think is going to be dynamic, and it seems that those we've been connecting with are getting it.

I'm working on letting go of the need to control every variable. I know that Christ is Lord, and that alone should be enough for me to stop worrying about every little thing.

Over the next few posts, I hope to share some thoughts from "The Forgotten Ways" by Alan Hirsch. It takes the thoughts from "This Present Future" that I walked through, and makes them bloom.

Garfield Minus Garfield

If you've not seen this yet, I encourage you to check it out. It shows how unstable Jon Arbuckle really is without his pet cat.

City Council

So, I'm running for city council. You can track my progress and comment on issues over at my new blog. Wish me luck!

www.kylesearsforhutto.com

Kylie's First Soccer Game

She followed the ball, kicked it a few times, and didn't cry when she got knocked down. It was a great first game!

Kathryn's Six Month Pictures

and one with big sister, Kylie (3 3/4 years old)...

Soccer Season Begins

Kylie started soccer practice this week. She's on a great team, the Cyclones. She started practice with stretches and a little running, and then on the fundamentals.



Today we spent the day getting soccer pics done, a little practice time, and then headed to Lowe's to figure out how we're going to spend out tax rebate. You noticed I said Lowe's and not Best Buy, so you can deduce who's spending the money...

I'm going to work on her dribbling skills this week in preparation for our first scrimmage on Thursday and our first game on Saturday.

I've never been much of an athlete, so she'll probably eclipse my skill in the next month or so.