Archive for the 'Missional Church' Category

Turn the Amps Up to 11…for Jesus of Course

Published on April 15, 2010 in Head to Fingers, Missional Church and Posts That Even Make Me Mad. 10 Comments

I just posted this on Twitter and had a hard time articulating what I really want to say in 140 characters:

If I had to choose: I would take one simple act of service to a person in need over singing 100 songs at a Christian rock/’worship event’

Let me expound…

I’ve been living in a place where I’m very removed from the Christian sub-culture of my past. I don’t often hear of the newest and ‘greatest’ trends ins Churchianity. And when I do get wind of these trends I’m often left feeling like Christianity is running on a newer, more clever, more ‘excellent’ treadmill that we’ve been running on for generations. While we get better and better at ‘doing Church’ we don’t make any real progress in being the ambassadors of Jesus that we’re beckoned/supposed/called/asked/left to be.

I was watching a video on youTube of a Christian rock concert that we now call a worship event. Worship leaders are the new Christian rock stars. I wonder how many ‘worship’ albums have been produced and sold in the past 5 years? The funny thing is that I’m having a hard time calling this a worship movement. It’s a movement, but of the consumeristic kind: consuming experience, consuming more musical gear, consuming more CD’s, consuming the latest trends…But I can’t call this a movement of true worship of God. Yes, it’s singing song to and about God, and this is a part of worship, but it’s not the full thing. It’s like a reading a restaurant menu out-loud and ordering the food, but not eating.

So here is what I’m not saying: I’m not saying that I don’t like singing as worship. I’m not saying that it’s not worship. I’m not saying that it is not beneficial. I’m not saying I don’t buy Christian worship albums that I like. I’m not saying that I don’t appreciate Christians who lead worship or make a living by leading worship.

I am saying that I have a growing concern that worship is a new form of consumerism that feels like the ‘right kind of spirituality’ for a demographic of people that prefer to ‘feel Jesus’ as opposed to living for and like Him. If our expressions of worship only move us into wanting newer/better/more exciting singing and music, then I don’t believe it’s really worship. True encounter with God draws us into being more like him: sent into the world to be messengers of promise, grace, love, hope, and forgiveness. If my singing and music were becoming idols in my life over-and-above following Jesus into the world then I would never pick up a guitar again. I’m not saying that as hyperbole. Better is one day fixating on the right things of God, than thousands elsewhere….

You may call me judgmental or whatever. I know that post like this runs that risk…critiquing worship. But if you feel defensive about this (as I do a little bit even myself) then I think there might be something to look at.

After all, we learn in scripture (Micah 6:8) what God requires of us: To do justice, love mercy, and to walk humbly. I fail to see anything in there that says, “Let’s turn the amps up to 11 and rock out for Jesus.” But maybe that’s just me…


Thoughts on LeBron as a Leader

Published on March 29, 2010 in Leadership and Missional Church. 0 Comments

I think we’re seeing the new archetype of leader in LeBron James.

I remember watching Michael Jordan, or even Kobe a while ago, interact with his team. They were scared of him. If they weren’t playing well, he’d snap. Pointing fingers in faces. Shaking his head in disgust. It was pretty shaming to do that to other professional basketball players. But it got results and people still loved Mike. And some still love Kobe too.

Now we have LeBron James. I was watching highlight of a Cavs game on espn.com and at the end of the game after LeBron hits a bit shot, all the guys on the bench are going nuts. Making faces. Putting each other in headlocks. Waving their hands all over the place. Making fools of themselves pretty much…they didn’t just hit the shot! They’re riding the coat tails of the greatest basketball player alive right now. LeBron could yell at his team, he’s good enough to. He could shame guys, nobody is going to step to him. He pretty much is the Cleveland Cavaliers team. But yet, he clowns around before games. His teammates seem to genuinely enjoy being around him. He laughs on the bench (more than the one time that MJ was caught smiling and used in almost every thing where they needed him to see like-able!). He let’s teammates be themselves and have fun. When they are winning…

But even when they are losing he doesn’t get in their faces and bring shame. He goes on the court and gets it done. He doesn’t seem to care to lord over the other players that he’s the best guy in the world, that he’s the man, that he’s the franchise. He does care to win and he’ll take anyone willing (or anyone the Cavs can afford) with him.

This is the new picture of leadership. The day of the CEO as lord is over. It’s about leading by example and from within, not from above. In the upcoming generations, people will (and already do) resent overbearing, heavy thumbed leaders. People will honor and follow those who bring life in others and lead the way with passion and excellence.

That is the kind of leader that I want to be. I want to be a clown. I want to make faces and not be the guy that has to punk people to get them to shape up. I want to laugh. I want people to join in where I’m going because it’s good for them too, not just because they have to…because we’re having fun doing what we love doing together. I want to be passionate about life and excellent in what we are doing. At the end of the day, I’d rather play with LeBron than Kobe…maybe even MJ too (only history will prove me a fool to say that).


On the Train Tonight

Published on January 15, 2010 in From Out of Nowhere, Missional Church and Movements. 5 Comments

Tonight I had ‘futbol’ practice…it was the first time I’ve been able to go since Matias was born…To get to the practice facility I take a train that’s a bit bigger than the metro and goes way out of the city.

Tonight is the story of two train rides that have a sobering similarity.

On my way out to practice it was rush hour. There were hundreds of people out and the train was packed. There was no chance of finding of seat so I stood with backpack squeezed in between my ankles, certainly too cramped for me to wear the backpack! I had to hold the bar up above my head to keep my balance. This reminded me of my days in Paris when I’d ride the metro there at around 5:30pm! I love riding trains like this, unless it’s all four of us and we have a stroller and two kids that are getting smushed! The diversity of the people here is remarkable. Each person with a past, a story, a place they are coming from, the experiences of their day. Who knows where they are going…what their home is like. Most people are riding by themselves and sharing nothing other than a seat with the person sitting next to them. All that to say, the metro was packed with people from everywhere…and when you stop to really look at other people, you can’t help but be touched by their humanity and really wonder who they are…at least for me.

My ride home from training was much different. When I walked down to the track there was only one other person waiting for a train. I walked down the platform to the back of the train because I knew that the exit where I would get off was down there. I had my headphones on so I couldn’t really hear anything, but in that particular station there is always the smell of oily railroad ties…I kind of like that smell. I sat there smelling the smell, hearing my music, and looking for the train with virtually no other sign of life in the station. It would have made for a cool photo shoot spot. When the train came into the station I walked up to the door that stopped in front of me. I pushed the green button to open the door and I got on the train. This time, instead of ‘standing room only’ I had the pick of every seat in my car. I was alone. It was almost creepy…especially with my headphones on not being able to tell if anyone else really was on there with me. I looked over my shoulder a few time (as I often do in my neighborhood) to see if anyone was there because in situations like that, I don’t like surprises (not saying that the trains are dangerous at all in Barcelona…just saying I like to know if someone is behind me!) As we pulled into the Arc de Triumph station I stood up and looked around at all the empty chairs and realized something.

“Statistically speaking, there are probably just as many people on this empty train that follow Jesus as the crowded train that I rode on the way to practice early tonight: one…me”

I’ve probably said this 50 times at gatherings in the US…the reality in Europe is that when I ride the bus or the metro there is a high chance that I am the only Jesus follower on that bus or metro. It’s really a huge contrast to the places that I’ve lived before.

But tonight it was different for me to experience that reality like this. Being alone physically really heightened the truth that I am often very alone spiritually.

I guess there are two points to me processing this: one is to remind myself of the vacuum that exists here. I really believe that following Jesus is the hope for this life and the next…and it kills me that so many go through life never knowing the God who is Love…the love that brings grace, redemption, wholeness, peace…

The second thought that comes to mind is the story Paul when he was in Corinth and felt very alone. God reminded him that He had ‘many people’ in that city and that God himself was with Paul (Acts 18). I know that there are two kinds of people that God has here: one being other people that follow Jesus already (we’re trying to meet and connect with these people now), but the other being people that are seeking God…that God has already begun working in their lives and they just need someone to walk with them on the road. This is why we’ve come here…to trust God that we’ll be lead to these people and that they will with experience Jesus through us…and even better, taste and see for themselves that Jesus is who he claimed to be and that becoming ‘a learner’ of Jesus does bring the Life that Jesus said it would.

The beauty of living in the middle of a city (and sometimes difficulty) is that I just can’t escape human contact. I am constantly reminded of my smallness, my weakness, while swimming in this sea of life. I’m grateful for how this teaches me humility. I am also humbled by the work we have chosen to embrace…living out the Kingdom of God in a place like this seems small…like a mustard seed, or a bit of yeast, or something…but we look with anticipation to what is to come. I’m loving this lesson that I learned on the train…

A Movement of Dance

Published on June 18, 2009 in Missional Church and Movements. 3 Comments


I love this video because:

a.) I like dancing
b.)I like seeing spontaneous movements of fun
c.) I like thinking about the why and how things ‘get started’.

I hate to pollute this is a stand alone (and nearly disturbing) picture, but the question came to mind: “Did this guy intend to start a dance party on a hill, or did he just love to dance?”

For those of us who would like to see a Jesus movement happen…I offer this: Shouldn’t we just start dancing? Instead of talking about dance theory, how to properly dance, complaining about other people dancing wrong, and comparing our dance to others? I would rather be the guy acting like a crazy person and dancing for the love of it, than a professional dancer getting a grass stain on my butt while critiquing his form…and outfit.

Thanks to Mike G. and Zach L. for unearthing this for me.


This is what the Kingdom is all about

Published on January 16, 2009 in Missional Church, News and To Think About.... 2 Comments Tags: , , .

I had tears in my eyes as I finished this story…and usually when I read ESPN.com I’m crying because the Colts lose another playoff game. But this time it’s because I’m so thankful that I’m a part of this Kingdom…

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3789373

 

thanks to Brant at Letters from Kamp Krusty for posting this…

A Post Worth Reading: The Bible and communitas : The Forgotten Ways

Published on December 6, 2008 in Missional Church. 1 Comment Tags: .

I read a lot of blogs…read is an overstatement..I browse a lot of blogs. But this post is worth reading:

The Bible and communitas : The Forgotten Ways.

If you don’t know what the heck Alan is talking about with words like ‘liminality’ or ‘communitas’ or ‘Apostolic Genius’, you should take some time to learn what they mean. They are not just buzz words for a new fad in church talk. His books do a great job of defining these things…the titles of them are: The Shaping of Things to Come, The Forgotten Ways, and a new one called ReJesus. They aren’t in a series, and I’ve only read the first two (until I get to the states and get a copy), but it’s good to read them in the order above as they build on each other. 

Imagine what the church is going to be in 20 years if things continue the directions that they are heading. If we merely do more of the same we’re fooling ourselves to think that we’ll bring about the change we hope for. These books, in a gentle way, point us in a new (yet old) direction…check ‘em out.

Slavery + Children = Global Reality

Published on October 18, 2008 in Life and Missional Church. 4 Comments Tags: , .

Here is a trailer for the Call + Response Film…

I love that quote, “Justice is what love looks like in public!” I need to put that idea up to 1 John and let God go to work on my heart.

Jen and I have some dear friends who do work in Cambodia named Don and Bridget. They’ve helped begin a ministry called AIM for Asia that is actively doing something about this issue on the front lines. Check out what they do and be a part of the solution…

Remember the days when…

Published on October 13, 2008 in Head to Fingers, Missional Church and Theology. 1 Comment Tags: , , .

Remember the days when the simplicity of the Gospel was protected, taught, and fought for? Remember the days when leaders would rather stand alone with the Gospel, than stand in a crowed with a shade of it?

I read Galatians this morning and let’s just say…Paul really brings the pain here. Not in a, “You should do this, this, this, and that” kind of way. More in a, “Are you stupid? Why in the name of Jesus are doing this, this, this, and that as if it’s going to change anything?!?” I’m sure it was just a slip of the pen when he said that they were not intelligible, unwise, and foolish…no good pastor would ever say such things…

But here is my favorite rebuke of Paul’s…which would easily be included in a list of top 10 things teachers should say that they don’t/can’t/won’t anymore:

Galatians 1:8-9

Whoever tells you a good news that is different from the Good New we gave you should be accursed, even if he is one of us or an angel from heaven. I’m now telling you again what we’ve told you in the past: I’m now telling you again what I told you in the past: If anyone tells you good news that is different from the Good News you recieved, that person should be accursed.

Not just once, but twice, does Paul make it clear that people who distort the freedom we have Christ (as he explains in the rest of this letter) should be accursed. Some translations say: condemned…one even says ‘condemned to hell’ (I think it’s for a little extra somethin’ even though it’s not in the greek…I had to look, thanks studylight.org!)

I think that if we get past the shock of Paul being so strong here, we can see something else. At this time in the Church, the purity of the Gospel was at stake. The Church’s message in it’s infancy could not be distorted and required protecting. If a corruption were to have occurred at this stage, then every offspring that this message produces would carry the same…wound. So, the message Gospel had to be purified of the untruths put on it.

Are any of view finding yourself asking the question, “uh, why did we ever stop protecting the clarity of the message of Jesus? Shouldn’t this be something that we still do?” I think this is a worthy question. And I think that Paul addresses it Galatians when he says, (1:10)

Am I saying this now to win the approval of people or God? Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.

This says all that I could.

Amongst all the things that Paul says are not important to a true Gospel, he says three things that we should chew on ’till our jaw hurts…I’ll leave you with these:

“As far as our relationship to Christ Jesus is concerned, it doesn’t matter [what laws we do or don't follow]. What matters is faith working itself out in love.” (5:6)

“[Use your freedom to] serve each other through love.” (5:13)

“Certainly, it doesn’t matter whether a person is [following a specific law] or not. Rather, what matters is being a new creation.” (6:15)