Good Stuff!
We are still serving at an IC for the time being. I am as detached from the political baloney as I can be. I layed down a vision for a "small group" ministry some time ago and a few people have given it a shot. Really, the vision was more "house church", but labels don't matter to me a whole lot. God is starting to do some cool things through these groups. People are experiencing deeper relationships with God and each other...confronting issues in their lives...serving each other...loving each other... To be honest, the only reason I keep doing what I'm doing is because I know there are people that God is influencing through us... I don't mean that in an arrogant way either.
We hung out with some friends from one of the groups last night. We braved the storms, tornadoes etc. for some fellowship, barbecue, music and study. It was worth it. My friend, Tom has been facilitating and is doing a great job! We discussed a chapter from Wild At Heart...talked about our fathers, taking risks, and what it means to be the Bride of Christ. We discussed the "wild, dangerous, warrior" side of God that doesn't get talked about to often in the IC. Good stuff! God-stuff!
We've talked to a group of folks that want to start meeting together, so we will gather next Monday. I look forward to what God is doing!
Friday, May 28, 2004
Rain, Rain, Go Away...
Gen 9:11 And I will establish My covenant with you. Neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood. Neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
I'm holding God to this promise! We have had 8.5 inches of rain this month, the normal is 3.5. About 3 inches in the last two days, with more to come this weekend! What was a "slight leak" in the basement(according to the sellers of our house)turned into buckets full of water the past two nights.
Much needed break in the weather today though....grilled some pork steaks....I love being a gentile!
Gen 9:11 And I will establish My covenant with you. Neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood. Neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
I'm holding God to this promise! We have had 8.5 inches of rain this month, the normal is 3.5. About 3 inches in the last two days, with more to come this weekend! What was a "slight leak" in the basement(according to the sellers of our house)turned into buckets full of water the past two nights.
Much needed break in the weather today though....grilled some pork steaks....I love being a gentile!
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Leadership Pt.3
According to Clawson, a good leader "supports others so they can contribute." The "information age" is forcing heiarchical structures to put the power in the hands of those who do the work. "The need for vertical hierarchies to make good decisions is rapidly evaporating. In fact, in many cases, better decisions are being made by people who are closer to the data and the customer than those several layers up. And the layers are disappearing." Later he says, "Many of these [new structures] are built around circles or networks rather than pyramidic bureaucracies. Who has authority is becoming less and less the organizing principle; who has the right information and insight is becoming more and more important.
Now, I realize that analogy of church as a "business" is not a good one, and breaks down eventually. On the other hand, I believe that all truth is God's truth. So, is Clawson's view biblical? Do we see this in the Bible? Again, I think so...
What I see in the New Testament are a loose network of churches scattered across large distances. The pyramidic structure of the current institutional church didn't appear until Constantine. What I see are local bodies doing the best they can to deal with circumstances as they arise. Even when difficult circumstances arise, they did not turn their solution into a set of rules that every other church had to follow.
Act 6:1-5 During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers--"Hellenists"--toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines. So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, "It wouldn't be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we'll assign them this task. Meanwhile, we'll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God's Word." The congregation thought this was a great idea. They went ahead and chose-- Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolas, a convert from Antioch.
In a bureacracy the question winds up being: How do we serve the organization and ourselves? What do we see here? Once again the principle is servanthood! How do we serve those who need to be served?
With Jesus as our source, each individual Christian has the information they need. The church ushered in the "information age" 2000 years ago when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to lead us into truth!
John 16:13 However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.
Who has authority is actually more of an issue for the church today than it is for businesses. Primarily becuase the church has adopted worldly business principles and made the pastor CEO of the organization. The problem is that the CEO is removed from the day-to-day operation of the company. People are not as honest with the CEO as they are their coworkers.
For the church this means that the pastor is not in touch with what the Holy Spirit is doing through individuals. The pastor/CEO is primarily concerned with the needs of the organization. Erwin says, "Institutional authority can never be a satisfactory replacement for God-given abilities and the authority which accompanies such gifts..."
The church is the original "network" becuase everyone was meant to be connected directly to the source of all power: JESUS!
According to Clawson, a good leader "supports others so they can contribute." The "information age" is forcing heiarchical structures to put the power in the hands of those who do the work. "The need for vertical hierarchies to make good decisions is rapidly evaporating. In fact, in many cases, better decisions are being made by people who are closer to the data and the customer than those several layers up. And the layers are disappearing." Later he says, "Many of these [new structures] are built around circles or networks rather than pyramidic bureaucracies. Who has authority is becoming less and less the organizing principle; who has the right information and insight is becoming more and more important.
Now, I realize that analogy of church as a "business" is not a good one, and breaks down eventually. On the other hand, I believe that all truth is God's truth. So, is Clawson's view biblical? Do we see this in the Bible? Again, I think so...
What I see in the New Testament are a loose network of churches scattered across large distances. The pyramidic structure of the current institutional church didn't appear until Constantine. What I see are local bodies doing the best they can to deal with circumstances as they arise. Even when difficult circumstances arise, they did not turn their solution into a set of rules that every other church had to follow.
Act 6:1-5 During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers--"Hellenists"--toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines. So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, "It wouldn't be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we'll assign them this task. Meanwhile, we'll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God's Word." The congregation thought this was a great idea. They went ahead and chose-- Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolas, a convert from Antioch.
In a bureacracy the question winds up being: How do we serve the organization and ourselves? What do we see here? Once again the principle is servanthood! How do we serve those who need to be served?
With Jesus as our source, each individual Christian has the information they need. The church ushered in the "information age" 2000 years ago when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to lead us into truth!
John 16:13 However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.
Who has authority is actually more of an issue for the church today than it is for businesses. Primarily becuase the church has adopted worldly business principles and made the pastor CEO of the organization. The problem is that the CEO is removed from the day-to-day operation of the company. People are not as honest with the CEO as they are their coworkers.
For the church this means that the pastor is not in touch with what the Holy Spirit is doing through individuals. The pastor/CEO is primarily concerned with the needs of the organization. Erwin says, "Institutional authority can never be a satisfactory replacement for God-given abilities and the authority which accompanies such gifts..."
The church is the original "network" becuase everyone was meant to be connected directly to the source of all power: JESUS!
Monday, May 24, 2004
Leadership Continued...
My assumption is that leadership happens. You get a group of people together and, depending on what is happening, a leader emerges. I don't think that any one person is destined to be a leader in every situation. I see the Spirt giving gifts as they are needed. God should be the source of all leadership in the context of gatherings of Christ followers. The question is: Do we understand Biblical leadership?
Clawson says that a good leader "clarifies what others can contribute." Being a secular leadership book I find Biblical points of view all through it. He suggest that bureaucracies begin with job descriptions and try to shove people into the pre-designed mold. This is dehumanizing and frustrates those who are truly creative (which is a Godly character trait). Additionally, it suggests that "management knows exactly what needs to be done, that people can behave in robotic ways, and the environment will be stable enough to avoid the need for quick response time and creative employees." The alternative is to assume that people have talents, can learn new ones, and have a basic desire to do well.
What do we see in the Institutional Church (IC)? Exactly what Clawson says is not a healthy model of leadership. EVEN SECULAR PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT THESE ASSUMPTIONS ARE NOT HEALTHY! NOT THE IC, OF COURSE! In his book, The Jesus Style, Erwin points out that religious structures are carbon copies of secular business structures. They wind up being a "pyramid shaped, lord-it-over" type of system. Jesus' style was completely different!
Mat 20:27-28 Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served--and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage."
In the kingdom of God, the power structure is turned upside down, so that authority is on the bottom, not the top. Jesus served people because he knew their value, not because they would help the organization meet its goals. We need to recognize that each Christian has a direct, unique, relationship to Christ. God is working in each of us to do his work, for his purposes. God is our ultimate leader, creatively giving gifts to individuals for the good of the Body.
There is no organizational chart of how the Holy Spirit gives gifts. There is no manipulation or coercion to make people serve. Manipulation forces us defensively into a mold that someone has chosen for us. Freedom allows people to choose, change and grow.
Erwin says, "A servants job is to do all he can to make life better for others - to free them to be everything they can be." Biblical leadership is servanthood! It is valuing others so highly that I unknowingly wind up last.
My assumption is that leadership happens. You get a group of people together and, depending on what is happening, a leader emerges. I don't think that any one person is destined to be a leader in every situation. I see the Spirt giving gifts as they are needed. God should be the source of all leadership in the context of gatherings of Christ followers. The question is: Do we understand Biblical leadership?
Clawson says that a good leader "clarifies what others can contribute." Being a secular leadership book I find Biblical points of view all through it. He suggest that bureaucracies begin with job descriptions and try to shove people into the pre-designed mold. This is dehumanizing and frustrates those who are truly creative (which is a Godly character trait). Additionally, it suggests that "management knows exactly what needs to be done, that people can behave in robotic ways, and the environment will be stable enough to avoid the need for quick response time and creative employees." The alternative is to assume that people have talents, can learn new ones, and have a basic desire to do well.
What do we see in the Institutional Church (IC)? Exactly what Clawson says is not a healthy model of leadership. EVEN SECULAR PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT THESE ASSUMPTIONS ARE NOT HEALTHY! NOT THE IC, OF COURSE! In his book, The Jesus Style, Erwin points out that religious structures are carbon copies of secular business structures. They wind up being a "pyramid shaped, lord-it-over" type of system. Jesus' style was completely different!
Mat 20:27-28 Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served--and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage."
In the kingdom of God, the power structure is turned upside down, so that authority is on the bottom, not the top. Jesus served people because he knew their value, not because they would help the organization meet its goals. We need to recognize that each Christian has a direct, unique, relationship to Christ. God is working in each of us to do his work, for his purposes. God is our ultimate leader, creatively giving gifts to individuals for the good of the Body.
There is no organizational chart of how the Holy Spirit gives gifts. There is no manipulation or coercion to make people serve. Manipulation forces us defensively into a mold that someone has chosen for us. Freedom allows people to choose, change and grow.
Erwin says, "A servants job is to do all he can to make life better for others - to free them to be everything they can be." Biblical leadership is servanthood! It is valuing others so highly that I unknowingly wind up last.
Friday, May 21, 2004
Went to see Shrek 2 tonight. It was just as good, if not better, than the first. There was some sexual innuendo that I thought could have been left out. That's my taste, anyway.
We wanted to surprise the kids, so we took them for a walk to the store to get some candy. Brenden, who is 4, wanted the candy NOW! He didn't want to wait because he didn't know that we were walking to the theater for a bigger blessing. I had to stop and explain to him that mom and dad had some fun stuffed planned and he would have to trust that the fun was coming....
So, we get to the theater, and Brenden was sitting there waiting for the movie to start. He starts to fidget. Then he starts getting mad at all the advertisements and trailers. He was having a hard time understanding that the good part was coming...It was so close. If only he knew what I knew! If only I could help him understand! Waiting is a hard concept for a 4-year-old.....
...and a 36-year-old...
Maybe that's how God feels?
Between reading Level Three Leadership by Clawson for school and The Jesus Style by Erwin for my own sanity I have been coming to some realizations about the concept of leadership. I can't flesh it all out in one post, but I need to purge this stuff and get some feedback for my own sanity....Here it goes...
I was not looking forward to reading a book about leadership for my college class. I’ve read them before and they all wind up being very worldly, John Maxwell kind of crap. I was pleasantly surprised as I started reading Level Three Leadership though. To my surprise, the principles were also congruent with the biblical principles that I was reading about in The Jesus Style. These principles have more to do with finding your purpose, gifts and passions then they do with typical business principles. Here are six steps that Clawson believes make up an effective leader and the biblical principles that I found in them:
1. Clarifying Your Center
According to Clawson, clarifying your center is about determining what you believe and value. Centering, therefore, is often an ongoing, reflective, meditative exercise. Are you clear on what your life’s mission is? Are you clear about what’s at your center? Do you know what your stand for?
Additionally, you need to identify what engages you. What captures your imagination, your leisure thinking, and your dreams? What is it that causes you to smile spontaneously, to increase your pulse, and to speak animatedly with others? What is it that motivates you and prepares you to expend tremendous amounts of energy, mental and physical, as you anticipate participating?
Here are some other questions that seem to connect for me while reading The Jesus Style:
Do I know Jesus? Does Jesus capture my imagination? Does he engage you?
Do I have a grasp on Jesus’ passionate, relentless love for me?
Is Jesus my center?
Do I believe that all knowledge and wisdom dwell in and come from Jesus?
Do I have a vision of what Jesus wants me to become?
Do I understand what it means to be the kind of servant that Jesus was?
As a direct result of Jesus’ love for me, and those around me, do I have a feeling, vision, dream of what God is doing through me to serve others?
I believe that as a direct result of having a personal, deep, intimate, friendship with Jesus he will express himself through us. Those visions and dreams of the person that we long to be are a glimpse of what he wants for us. Jesus' love is creative. Servanthood explodes from the love he gives to us.
Eph 2:4 Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love,
Eph 2:5 he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us!
Eph 2:6 Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
Eph 2:7 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish!
Eph 2:9 We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing!
Eph 2:10 No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
Rom 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy, shrinking from evil, cleaving to good;
Rom 12:10 in brotherly love to one another, loving fervently, having led one another in honor.
Rom 12:11 As to diligence, not slothful, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
I was not looking forward to reading a book about leadership for my college class. I’ve read them before and they all wind up being very worldly, John Maxwell kind of crap. I was pleasantly surprised as I started reading Level Three Leadership though. To my surprise, the principles were also congruent with the biblical principles that I was reading about in The Jesus Style. These principles have more to do with finding your purpose, gifts and passions then they do with typical business principles. Here are six steps that Clawson believes make up an effective leader and the biblical principles that I found in them:
1. Clarifying Your Center
According to Clawson, clarifying your center is about determining what you believe and value. Centering, therefore, is often an ongoing, reflective, meditative exercise. Are you clear on what your life’s mission is? Are you clear about what’s at your center? Do you know what your stand for?
Additionally, you need to identify what engages you. What captures your imagination, your leisure thinking, and your dreams? What is it that causes you to smile spontaneously, to increase your pulse, and to speak animatedly with others? What is it that motivates you and prepares you to expend tremendous amounts of energy, mental and physical, as you anticipate participating?
Here are some other questions that seem to connect for me while reading The Jesus Style:
Do I know Jesus? Does Jesus capture my imagination? Does he engage you?
Do I have a grasp on Jesus’ passionate, relentless love for me?
Is Jesus my center?
Do I believe that all knowledge and wisdom dwell in and come from Jesus?
Do I have a vision of what Jesus wants me to become?
Do I understand what it means to be the kind of servant that Jesus was?
As a direct result of Jesus’ love for me, and those around me, do I have a feeling, vision, dream of what God is doing through me to serve others?
I believe that as a direct result of having a personal, deep, intimate, friendship with Jesus he will express himself through us. Those visions and dreams of the person that we long to be are a glimpse of what he wants for us. Jesus' love is creative. Servanthood explodes from the love he gives to us.
Eph 2:4 Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love,
Eph 2:5 he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us!
Eph 2:6 Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
Eph 2:7 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish!
Eph 2:9 We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing!
Eph 2:10 No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
Rom 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy, shrinking from evil, cleaving to good;
Rom 12:10 in brotherly love to one another, loving fervently, having led one another in honor.
Rom 12:11 As to diligence, not slothful, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Hannah woke up early today and she climbed in bed with me while mom got ready for work. We had a good talk about spiritual things. Hannah is an active, concrete thinker. Spiritual things don't hit her radar very often, but today I shared with her the spiritual battle we are in. How the Enemy drops a thought in our mind. How our sinful nature takes that thought and runs with it. How Jesus sacrificed himself and made us new creations. How God has given us the Holy Spirit to lead us into truth and give us power to make good choices.
I asked her what lies the Enemy tells her and she said, "He wants me to lie." She is right about that. I watch her as she tells a lie and I see her countenance fall. She knows that she is letting God and her parents down.
Hannah also has a great heart! I told her that God has something special planned for her and asked her if she knew what it was. She said, "God wants me to feed the children." Believe me, if anybody can make that happen, it will be Hannah!
Like Hannah, I am learning to listen to my heart. Hear the Spirit whisper. Discern the lies of the Enemy. Walk in the Spirit as opposed to the sinful nature. All in the realization that I am loved with an everlasting love.
Mat 18:1-5 (The Message)
At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?" For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.
I asked her what lies the Enemy tells her and she said, "He wants me to lie." She is right about that. I watch her as she tells a lie and I see her countenance fall. She knows that she is letting God and her parents down.
Hannah also has a great heart! I told her that God has something special planned for her and asked her if she knew what it was. She said, "God wants me to feed the children." Believe me, if anybody can make that happen, it will be Hannah!
Like Hannah, I am learning to listen to my heart. Hear the Spirit whisper. Discern the lies of the Enemy. Walk in the Spirit as opposed to the sinful nature. All in the realization that I am loved with an everlasting love.
Mat 18:1-5 (The Message)
At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?" For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.
Saturday, May 15, 2004
Exchanging the "right thing" for the Real Thing
I've been giving some thought about how the church has taught me to do the "right thing" at the expense of the Real Thing. The Institutional Church (IC) and the religious leaders therein would like you to believe that Christianity is about being moral and ethical. Ethics are a set of principles of right conduct, or, the rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession/group. Morals are culturally accepted definitions of right and wrong behavior.
The IC would like you to believe that Christianity is about doing the right thing, saying the right words, and looking the right way. Don't believe me? Try leading "worship" unshaven, wearing a t-shirt and jeans with holes in them at an IC. Try to explain the concept of Jesus in the Pub to religious people. Or, better yet, try talking to people in the IC when the real questions of life have slammed you to the ground, you know, the ones that don't have easy answers... The IC wants nice guys. Men and women that do what they are told, and that will fit into the preconceived, programmed structure and not rock the boat.
The IC will try to get you to substitute the "right thing" for the Real Thing. Morality and ethics are about doing the "right thing." They are about rules, principles, formulas, programs and rituals. The problem is that real Christianity is dangerous. It is not a predictable principle. It cannot be summed up in a formula. CHRISTIANITY IS JESUS!
John Elderidge says in Wild At Heart, "There are no formulas with God. Period. So there are no formulas for the man who follows him. God is a Person, not a doctrine. He operates not like a system - not even a theological system - but with all the originality of a truly free and alive person. 'The realm of God is dangerous,' says Archbishop Anthony Bloom. 'You must enter it and not just seek information about it.'"
"What I am saying is that our false self demands a formula before he'll engage; he wants a guarantee of success, and mister, you aren't going to get one. So there comes a time in a man's life when he's got to break away from all that and head off into the unknown with God...."
Dallas Willard says, "The ideal for divine guidance is...a conversational relationship with God: the sort of relationship suited to friends who are mature personalities in a shared enterprise."
When someone starts a conversational relationship with God they may become unpredictable, subversive, countercultural, and possibly dangerous. They begin to follow their heart, led by the Holy Spirit. They might dare to question long held rules, rituals, principles and formulas. They might meet with "sinners" in a Pub. They might call the church council a "brood of vipers" or "white washed tombs". Maybe they would overturn the offering table in church.
But what happened to Johnny? He used to be such a nice boy....
Here is the word picture that Trish came up with for substituting morality for relationship: It's like having a can of Vess cola and a can of Coca-Cola side by side. Which one would you choose? Vess cola is adequate, but Coke is on a whole different level. Relationship with Jesus: HE'S THE REAL THING!
I've been giving some thought about how the church has taught me to do the "right thing" at the expense of the Real Thing. The Institutional Church (IC) and the religious leaders therein would like you to believe that Christianity is about being moral and ethical. Ethics are a set of principles of right conduct, or, the rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession/group. Morals are culturally accepted definitions of right and wrong behavior.
The IC would like you to believe that Christianity is about doing the right thing, saying the right words, and looking the right way. Don't believe me? Try leading "worship" unshaven, wearing a t-shirt and jeans with holes in them at an IC. Try to explain the concept of Jesus in the Pub to religious people. Or, better yet, try talking to people in the IC when the real questions of life have slammed you to the ground, you know, the ones that don't have easy answers... The IC wants nice guys. Men and women that do what they are told, and that will fit into the preconceived, programmed structure and not rock the boat.
The IC will try to get you to substitute the "right thing" for the Real Thing. Morality and ethics are about doing the "right thing." They are about rules, principles, formulas, programs and rituals. The problem is that real Christianity is dangerous. It is not a predictable principle. It cannot be summed up in a formula. CHRISTIANITY IS JESUS!
John Elderidge says in Wild At Heart, "There are no formulas with God. Period. So there are no formulas for the man who follows him. God is a Person, not a doctrine. He operates not like a system - not even a theological system - but with all the originality of a truly free and alive person. 'The realm of God is dangerous,' says Archbishop Anthony Bloom. 'You must enter it and not just seek information about it.'"
"What I am saying is that our false self demands a formula before he'll engage; he wants a guarantee of success, and mister, you aren't going to get one. So there comes a time in a man's life when he's got to break away from all that and head off into the unknown with God...."
Dallas Willard says, "The ideal for divine guidance is...a conversational relationship with God: the sort of relationship suited to friends who are mature personalities in a shared enterprise."
When someone starts a conversational relationship with God they may become unpredictable, subversive, countercultural, and possibly dangerous. They begin to follow their heart, led by the Holy Spirit. They might dare to question long held rules, rituals, principles and formulas. They might meet with "sinners" in a Pub. They might call the church council a "brood of vipers" or "white washed tombs". Maybe they would overturn the offering table in church.
But what happened to Johnny? He used to be such a nice boy....
Here is the word picture that Trish came up with for substituting morality for relationship: It's like having a can of Vess cola and a can of Coca-Cola side by side. Which one would you choose? Vess cola is adequate, but Coke is on a whole different level. Relationship with Jesus: HE'S THE REAL THING!
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Listen to God Speak To You...
Wayne Jacobsen has written The Shepherd's Call from God's point of view. Read it and see if you hear God speaking to you....
Wayne Jacobsen has written The Shepherd's Call from God's point of view. Read it and see if you hear God speaking to you....
Monday, May 10, 2004
I've liked Vertical Horizon since before they got famous. I heard this on the radio the other day and thought of the journey that many of us are on....
Everything You Want
Somewhere there's speaking
It's already coming in
Oh and it's rising at the back of your mind
You never could get it
Unless you were fed it
Now you're here and you don't know why
But under skinned knees and the skid marks
Past the places where you used to learn
You howl and listen
Listen and wait for the
Echoes of angels who won't return
[Chorus]
He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why
You're waiting for someone
To put you together
You're waiting for someone to push you away
There's always another wound to discover
There's always something more you wish he'd say
But you'll just sit tight
And watch it unwind
It's only what you're asking for
And you'll be just fine
With all of your time
It's only what you're waiting for
Out of the island
Into the highway
Past the places where you might have turned
You never did notice
But you still hide away
The anger of angels who won't return
I am everything you want
I am everything you need
I am everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
I say all the right things
At exactly the right time
But I mean nothing to you and I don't know why
And I don't know why
Why
I don't know
Everything You Want
Somewhere there's speaking
It's already coming in
Oh and it's rising at the back of your mind
You never could get it
Unless you were fed it
Now you're here and you don't know why
But under skinned knees and the skid marks
Past the places where you used to learn
You howl and listen
Listen and wait for the
Echoes of angels who won't return
[Chorus]
He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why
You're waiting for someone
To put you together
You're waiting for someone to push you away
There's always another wound to discover
There's always something more you wish he'd say
But you'll just sit tight
And watch it unwind
It's only what you're asking for
And you'll be just fine
With all of your time
It's only what you're waiting for
Out of the island
Into the highway
Past the places where you might have turned
You never did notice
But you still hide away
The anger of angels who won't return
I am everything you want
I am everything you need
I am everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
I say all the right things
At exactly the right time
But I mean nothing to you and I don't know why
And I don't know why
Why
I don't know
Sunday, May 09, 2004
We celebrated Mother's Day with my mom yesterday. We grilled some chicken and steaks, setup the slip-and-slide for the kids and just had a good time. We got home just in time for a couple of our youth group kids to babysit and Trish and I went out for a couple of hours. We went to a local outdoor eatery/bar and absorbed some nature, then went to the park and talked. A very nice relaxing, connecting time...
We talked about what God is doing right now in our lives. This is a time of healing for us. Healing from deep, long-formed wounds. This is a watershed time. We have some decisions to make about our future and God has been pretty silent, other than saying "Trust in me." God is not giving visions. He is telling us that NOW is what matters. What we are going through RIGHT NOW is what really matters. Embrace what you are going through. Embrace Me. Visions, talk of the future, will come later....
Check out Trish's blog for more info on her journey.... I thank God for her! She is such a great mom and wife! I have three beautiful children that are the evidence!
We also had some great prayer time with Tyler, who is Lindsey's brother. I would love to give some details, but the stuff is to personal. God is doing some things in him, and of course, our Enemy wants to squash it. Keep praying for him!
We talked about what God is doing right now in our lives. This is a time of healing for us. Healing from deep, long-formed wounds. This is a watershed time. We have some decisions to make about our future and God has been pretty silent, other than saying "Trust in me." God is not giving visions. He is telling us that NOW is what matters. What we are going through RIGHT NOW is what really matters. Embrace what you are going through. Embrace Me. Visions, talk of the future, will come later....
Check out Trish's blog for more info on her journey.... I thank God for her! She is such a great mom and wife! I have three beautiful children that are the evidence!
We also had some great prayer time with Tyler, who is Lindsey's brother. I would love to give some details, but the stuff is to personal. God is doing some things in him, and of course, our Enemy wants to squash it. Keep praying for him!
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Barna's Survey of the "Unchurched"
Challenges for the Faithful
Barna noted that to unchurched people embracing church life is “both counter-cultural and counter-intuitive.” Reaching out to unchurched people is difficult for born again Christians because the two groups have such different viewpoints and lifestyles. “Born again adults are more excited about a church’s strengths and more forgiving of its weaknesses, more disposed to spiritual growth, and less skeptical of theological and biblical claims. They neither see nor understand the obstacles that impede the unchurched. Addressing the reticence of the unchurched takes more than prayer and hard work: it requires a lot of deep reflection to see the world and the local church from a completely different angle.
“Unchurched people are not just lazy or uniformed,” the researcher continued. “They are wholly disinterested in church life – often passionately so. Stirring worship music won’t attract them because worship isn’t even on their radar screen. More comfortable pews cannot compete with the easy chair or the bed that already serve the unchurched person well. Church events cannot effectively compete with what the world has to offer. The only thing the Church can provide that no one else has is a life-changing, practical encounter – and on-going relationship – with the living God and with people transformed by similar encounters. Until such a connection is made, focusing on features, programs and benefits other than such a life-shaping encounter is more likely to lose ground than to gain it.”
Barna noted that the millions of young unchurched have no understanding of or interest in a church, even if it is “contemporary” in style. “Millions of young adults are more interested in truth, authenticity, experiences, relationships and spirituality than they are in laws, traditions, events, disciplines, institutions and religion. The confluence of preconceived notions, past experiences and evolving lifestyles and values means that existing churches simply cannot reach millions of today’s unchurched people. The rapidly swelling numbers of unchurched people may be forcing existing churches to reinvent their core spiritual practices while holding tightly to their core spiritual beliefs. It will take radically new settings and experiences to effectively introduce unchurched individuals to biblical principles and practices.”
+ Father, may pastors take these statements to heart! +
Challenges for the Faithful
Barna noted that to unchurched people embracing church life is “both counter-cultural and counter-intuitive.” Reaching out to unchurched people is difficult for born again Christians because the two groups have such different viewpoints and lifestyles. “Born again adults are more excited about a church’s strengths and more forgiving of its weaknesses, more disposed to spiritual growth, and less skeptical of theological and biblical claims. They neither see nor understand the obstacles that impede the unchurched. Addressing the reticence of the unchurched takes more than prayer and hard work: it requires a lot of deep reflection to see the world and the local church from a completely different angle.
“Unchurched people are not just lazy or uniformed,” the researcher continued. “They are wholly disinterested in church life – often passionately so. Stirring worship music won’t attract them because worship isn’t even on their radar screen. More comfortable pews cannot compete with the easy chair or the bed that already serve the unchurched person well. Church events cannot effectively compete with what the world has to offer. The only thing the Church can provide that no one else has is a life-changing, practical encounter – and on-going relationship – with the living God and with people transformed by similar encounters. Until such a connection is made, focusing on features, programs and benefits other than such a life-shaping encounter is more likely to lose ground than to gain it.”
Barna noted that the millions of young unchurched have no understanding of or interest in a church, even if it is “contemporary” in style. “Millions of young adults are more interested in truth, authenticity, experiences, relationships and spirituality than they are in laws, traditions, events, disciplines, institutions and religion. The confluence of preconceived notions, past experiences and evolving lifestyles and values means that existing churches simply cannot reach millions of today’s unchurched people. The rapidly swelling numbers of unchurched people may be forcing existing churches to reinvent their core spiritual practices while holding tightly to their core spiritual beliefs. It will take radically new settings and experiences to effectively introduce unchurched individuals to biblical principles and practices.”
+ Father, may pastors take these statements to heart! +
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Wounded
I've been reading John Eldridge's book "Wild at Heart." In one way it's a rehash of "The Sacred Romance" with a masculine twist, but it has stirred some God stuff in me that I going to share. I am going to take the risk of being vulnerable in a public place because I think it may help some people.
We are all walking wounded. All of us at some point in our life have been told things that have damaged our spirits. Many times it's been our parents. I'm not talking about direct abuse, although that is all to common and causes many wounds, but I'm talking about those of us that come from seemingly good families.
Now, I love my dad, so don't get me wrong. But, in my teen years when I needed him most, he remained detached. My dad and I have never really connected at a heart level. I don't know if my dad is even capable of it. I have a feeling that he never connected with his dad either (my Grandpa died before I was born, so I don't know firsthand). We are closer today than we have ever been, but there is still something missing.
Do you ever have things, seemingly from nowhere, pop into your mind from your childhood? It is interesting to me that I am 36 years old and there is still something from 7th grade that pops into my mind occasionally. I was one of three white kids that rode on an all african-american bus. Needless to say there were some tense relationships. One day a kids decided he wanted to fight me. He got off of the bus at my stop with one of his friends and we went at it. I threw a couple of punches, and not knowing if his friend was going to jump in I ran.
I have never been a fighter. Some people seem born to fight. I've been in fights, but that is just not where my heart was. Satan uses that wound to keep me where he wants me....passive and weak. I don't know what your wound is, but I can guarantee you the the Enemy uses it to cripple you. He will bring it up to make you feel worse about yourself than you already do. If you start to deal with it he will redouble his efforts. Hey! I'm 36 years old and do you really think this situation that happened when I was in 7th grade pops into my mind for no reason?! Hell, no! That's how the Enemy works!
Here is the good news! There is healing to be found. It won't be found in the masks we wear to cover our wound. You won't find it in the many and varied ways our society provides to keep you distracted, dumb and "happy". You won't find it in your girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse. You won't find it in the mastery of your profession. You may not even find it in church. Healing is found in having an intimate, deep, connection with Jesus.
That sounds so simple and trite, but it is the truth. We have to face our wounds. Call them what they are. Tell the Enemy that he is not welcome in our lives and then seek the heart of God with reckless abandon. What you are doing is letting the ultimate Father, father you. Where our earthly parents fall short, God our Father will take over. Where our "friends" on earth have let us down, and maybe even abused us, Jesus, our forever Friend, will put his arm around us and call us friend. He will send the Comforter to comfort us in our pain as we deal with these wounds.
Here's the catch....yea, there had to be one, right?....It comes at a price. The price is living a lifestyle that is committed to intimacy with Jesus. Finding those disciplines that help you come close to the Lord and sticking with them until the healing happens. Forsaking your past priorities for the new priorities of God's Kingdom. It's a small price really, considering the benefits that await....
So, here's what I sense Jesus saying to me: "You thought you were weak, but as you have submitted to me you have been made strong. Not everybody will pick up their family and move away from friends and family to follow my call. Every time you speak at a church meeting knowing you will be misunderstood for my sake it is courageous. Every time that you talk to a hurting teenager you are entering into battle. Every time you pray over your children you are using the weapons I gave you. Don't believe that sissy, no-account, two-faced, slick tongued liar anymore! You are mine!"
May we all find our healing in Jesus.
I've been reading John Eldridge's book "Wild at Heart." In one way it's a rehash of "The Sacred Romance" with a masculine twist, but it has stirred some God stuff in me that I going to share. I am going to take the risk of being vulnerable in a public place because I think it may help some people.
We are all walking wounded. All of us at some point in our life have been told things that have damaged our spirits. Many times it's been our parents. I'm not talking about direct abuse, although that is all to common and causes many wounds, but I'm talking about those of us that come from seemingly good families.
Now, I love my dad, so don't get me wrong. But, in my teen years when I needed him most, he remained detached. My dad and I have never really connected at a heart level. I don't know if my dad is even capable of it. I have a feeling that he never connected with his dad either (my Grandpa died before I was born, so I don't know firsthand). We are closer today than we have ever been, but there is still something missing.
Do you ever have things, seemingly from nowhere, pop into your mind from your childhood? It is interesting to me that I am 36 years old and there is still something from 7th grade that pops into my mind occasionally. I was one of three white kids that rode on an all african-american bus. Needless to say there were some tense relationships. One day a kids decided he wanted to fight me. He got off of the bus at my stop with one of his friends and we went at it. I threw a couple of punches, and not knowing if his friend was going to jump in I ran.
I have never been a fighter. Some people seem born to fight. I've been in fights, but that is just not where my heart was. Satan uses that wound to keep me where he wants me....passive and weak. I don't know what your wound is, but I can guarantee you the the Enemy uses it to cripple you. He will bring it up to make you feel worse about yourself than you already do. If you start to deal with it he will redouble his efforts. Hey! I'm 36 years old and do you really think this situation that happened when I was in 7th grade pops into my mind for no reason?! Hell, no! That's how the Enemy works!
Here is the good news! There is healing to be found. It won't be found in the masks we wear to cover our wound. You won't find it in the many and varied ways our society provides to keep you distracted, dumb and "happy". You won't find it in your girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse. You won't find it in the mastery of your profession. You may not even find it in church. Healing is found in having an intimate, deep, connection with Jesus.
That sounds so simple and trite, but it is the truth. We have to face our wounds. Call them what they are. Tell the Enemy that he is not welcome in our lives and then seek the heart of God with reckless abandon. What you are doing is letting the ultimate Father, father you. Where our earthly parents fall short, God our Father will take over. Where our "friends" on earth have let us down, and maybe even abused us, Jesus, our forever Friend, will put his arm around us and call us friend. He will send the Comforter to comfort us in our pain as we deal with these wounds.
Here's the catch....yea, there had to be one, right?....It comes at a price. The price is living a lifestyle that is committed to intimacy with Jesus. Finding those disciplines that help you come close to the Lord and sticking with them until the healing happens. Forsaking your past priorities for the new priorities of God's Kingdom. It's a small price really, considering the benefits that await....
So, here's what I sense Jesus saying to me: "You thought you were weak, but as you have submitted to me you have been made strong. Not everybody will pick up their family and move away from friends and family to follow my call. Every time you speak at a church meeting knowing you will be misunderstood for my sake it is courageous. Every time that you talk to a hurting teenager you are entering into battle. Every time you pray over your children you are using the weapons I gave you. Don't believe that sissy, no-account, two-faced, slick tongued liar anymore! You are mine!"
May we all find our healing in Jesus.
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