Kathryn's First Tooth

Can you see it?:) This tooth was first discovered on Saturday, January 19th. I thought that I better snap a picture of it today- this morning I felt the second one poking through!

Committed to an Institution

I had a chance to speak yesterday about how a church can come together to see God move. I mentioned how we need to be become the change we wish to see. I've known many Christians who either complain and gripe about how bad things are, or they do nothing unless prompted by a leader (and resent them until they are asked). Why is this?

I think, for many people, they are committed to the institution of church. But the church isn't an institution! The church is people. And we need to continue to grow in our commitment to people, not an institution. When I think of commitment to an institution, I think of crazy people who talk to themselves and pretend to be something they aren't (like the leader of the French revolution or something).

What I love about Resonate Community is that we have very little institutionalism. We don't have a lot of the trappings of a traditional church, and I think that helps us to focus on what really matters.

There's new research out about how people outside of the church view those on the inside.

The great thing is, most people are open to having their friends talk about their faith. I think the turn off happens when we focus more on getting them assimilated into the institution of church, rather than assimilating ourselves into their lives - adding meaning and value for them, not the other way around.

Zambia Bound

It's official. I'll leave for Zambia on May 17 and return Memorial Day. Right now I'm working on scheduling meetings with the various government and civic leaders in Chililabombwe, as well as getting all of the necessary travel vaccines.

I found out that the hotel we are staying in will have a business center, which means I should be able to blog regularly while I'm there.

If you'd like to give toward the journey, I've set up a Google account for Resonate Community Church. You can find our online giving page here.

Curious?

I like Seth Godin. He's a guru about marketing, and talks a lot about how being unique in a field of mediocrity is what really sets us apart. Here (video above) he talks about the difference between the fundamentalist and the curious.

I think this idea of being curious is something that fuels me. He states that the safest thing we can do is become risky. To continue to move forward into the unknown. While he writes primarily with a business background, the outlook is the same for the church. For fifty years, we stayed the same. There was no reason to move, really. But we slowly lost touch with the people we are called to reach.

I hope that those we connect with at Resonate Community Church never lose their curiosity. I hope we continue to chase after the Redeemer who calls us beyond the known and into an eternity of impact.

Review: Cloverfield

I often try to distinguish between movies and film, the first being a "waste a couple of hours and have a good time" thing, and the latter being a "makes you think and ponder the nature of humanity" sort of thing. For example: Die Hard is a movie, while The Departed is a film. A movie can make you think, and a film can be fun, but the intent is really what matters.

I would classify Cloverfield as neither however. It an experience. It begins with the statement that the footage was found, and what you see for the next hour and a half is "unedited" documentation of the events. I won't go into these events, but I will say that, once the action picks up, it doesn't slow down.

In order for the movie to be enjoyed, it needs to be enjoyed as-is. Because it's based on one perspective, we know what the characters know. If you need complete and total closure on all of the questions raised, you'll probably be disappointed. And it is filmed with a shaky-cam quality (think Blair Witch), but you quickly get used to it.

But, at the end of the day, it's a monster movie. Is the monster cool? Oh yeah. There are times when the camera guy, while being close to the monster, isn't filming him. I made a pact with Brandon that, should we find ourselves attacked by some gigantic monster from beyond, that whoever has a camera should film it, and not our friend hiding behind a car across the street. But the monster, along with some hangers-on, is savage, scary, and definitely cool.

Growth and Success

We had a great meeting last night, discussing what factors into our success as a follower of Christ and as a church. Everyone seemed to be on the same page.

The sad truth is, there's lots of things we could do to "grow", but not necessarily in a good way. Does the end justify the means when it comes to church? Is the end what we think it is?

Don't get me wrong, I want our church to grow. But I think it can be done on a foundational level, where the culture of "who we are" is more important that "what we have." I think that's important as it filters down to us as individuals as well.

To help each of us develop personally, I've added a resource page at the Resonate Community website.

For those that came last night, any moments of insight you had, feel free to leave in the comments.

All Dressed Up for Sunday!

Resonate Community Church - Hutto, Texas

I've been trying to crystallize exactly who we are and where we are going. I think this is a good start. There's no pithy "mission statements" or anything, but I think it works.

Resonate Community Church is a new and growing church in Hutto, Texas that seeks to live by faith, to be known by love, and to be a voice of hope. Our name explains a lot about our approach to "church". We simply want to resonate community. We want to be known for our love for each other and for our neighbors and the people of Hutto. So, for the past year and a half, we have been serving our community by helping with Orange Santa and Treats on East Street, assisting local elementary schools, and hosting neighborhood events to establish new relationships. We have also been building friendships with others who connect with these values. Our friendships have grown to where we regularly share meals, have playdates, and just hang out together.

This is what Jesus meant when he said, "The world will know you are my followers when you love one another." When we grow close to God, we grow close to others. Love is the heartbeat of Christ, and as his followers, we are called to do the same.

"Church" is more than an event on Sunday. We want to engage in the the lives of those around us, to develop friendships with others where--regardless of their background or beliefs--they can feel loved and cared for. So, rather than investing our time and money into making an event happen, we've been working on sharing our lives with others around us. A meal, a conversation, a helping hand, a prayer of support. These small things are really what "church" is all about.

After spending this time investing in our community, we are ready to make another investment. Beginning the Saturday after Easter, we hope to host regular monthly worship services. We will kick things off with a preview party, where others can discover the impact that Resonate Community Church has had on the families in our community. If you are interested in learning more about our church and meeting the people who have become a family, this would be a great time for you to check us out.

In April, we will host a Bible study where you can learn more about the values of our church and how we are expressing those values in a meaningful way. Maybe you think this whole church-thing isn't for you. You've had your fair share of judgment and scorn from those who claim to be righteous. We hope to become a place where you can find genuine love and care. Real friendships, where you are valued beyond your attendance record or financial offerings.

Yeah, we know we look a little different than your typical "church". But our heartbeat is the same as the one who loved us first: love God, love others, resonate community.

I'm Seeing This

It seems that a lot of the movies I'm seeing lately would fit into the sci-fi horror genre (I Am Legend, The Mist, 1408, Mansquito). Just kidding on that last one.

But I can't wait to see Cloverfield. The teaser they put in front of Transformers last summer hooked me, and I'm swimming in the hype. I'd like to get a group of guys to see it too (I don't have to ask Erika if she's interested, I already know the answer).

So, who's in?

Two Beautiful Girls!

Turned Off

I saw this video on TED.com (a great site contributing to the marketplace of ideas), and I was struck at how meaningful it was for the context of following Christ. Daniel Goleman (author of Emotional Intelligence) mentions how we often will simply turn off the parts of our brains that looks beyond our self-centeredness and focuses on the needs of others.

Why have so many people been turned off of church? Because followers of Christ turned off the very thing Christ called us to: mercy, love, grace, sacrifice, empathy. We turned them off first. I wonder what our lives would be like if we lived with an awareness of the world around us. Easier said than done, sure, but isn't it worth a shot?

Is It Getting Cold?

I think the devil is thinking that very thing, because Erika spent last night playing Rock Band with me for over two hours! Yes, you read that right.

She's quite the singer, even while holding a baby. The game is on loan from Cindy. I imagine it will be part of my collection in a few months...

Look Who I Caught Smiling!

Happy Friday!

The Journey Ahead

In my Year in Review, I didn't include any thoughts on church and where we are headed. I did that on purpose. But, some have asked me what's coming in 2008 for Resonate Community, so I thought I would try to answer.

Good things. That's all I can really be sure of right now. The journey we're on continues to move forward, to experience momentum and freshness. But the hills and valleys and bends in the road make it hard to really say what's coming.

The people on this journey is what makes it worth it. I spent four hours last night with Chris talking about where we are headed, how to invite others to join us in that direction, and even some bigger stuff down the road that I would love to see happen.

Starting Tuesday, I'm taking the team through some concepts regarding multiplication and how we can grow and develop to a genuinely remarkable church. And in March we're having a party to introduce our friends and neighbors to what we see happening. I hope that, by April, we'll start some worship services. But, we'll see.

I would be interested to get some input from those who call Resonate their church. What makes us remarkable? What makes you feel a part of what we're doing? If you have a blog, you can make it a new post. Just leave a link in the comments. If you don't blog, feel free to leave a comment.