Wednesday, August 28, 2002
I am increasingly sensing tension between myself and ideas such as 'leading' and 'vision.' While the later two subjects are getting so much attention these days, all of us continue to put so much emphasis on these two ideas. We don't want to get distracted from our vision, and we want to be known as a leader(s). Yet, we also claim that relationships are our first priority. IF relationships are our first priority, should we not be willing to have OUR vision derailed (or at least re-routed) as God brings new and different people into our lives? Are relationships that God brings to us really our top priority? Or is our vision still what drives us? ... give it some thought...
Tuesday, August 27, 2002
I sat at the Bean Tree Bistro with my friend John today. We talked about what "pastoring" is supposed to look like. Among the things we came up with, we thought that it should involve true spiritual friendships (which require significant amounts of time with a few people), an unhurried life (to which you may refer to Eugene Peterson's "The Contemplative Pastor"), and the idea of pastors having pastors (are we not also sheep?).
I referred to some ideas I wrote for a leadership workshop I did with some of my favorite people in the world (my family at the Ancona Church of Christ, Ancona, IL), called Leading Like Jesus. You can check that out if you like to get a sense of some more of what John and I talked about. I would write more here, but I'm too lazy right now.
I referred to some ideas I wrote for a leadership workshop I did with some of my favorite people in the world (my family at the Ancona Church of Christ, Ancona, IL), called Leading Like Jesus. You can check that out if you like to get a sense of some more of what John and I talked about. I would write more here, but I'm too lazy right now.
Tuesday, August 20, 2002
What do most churches expect of the people in their communities? Is it being unfair to suggest that the expectations are usually and woefully inadequate? From my experience, most churches expect four things:
1) to give uncritical mental assent to a certain list of doctrinal statements.
2) to attend the big events of the group on a regular basis, and to be involved in some kind of volunteer service.
3) to be nice and polite when among other members of the group.
4) to give a certain percentage of one's income.
There is little, if any, practical expectation for spiritual transformation. We will allow people to remain spiritually unformed as long as they agree with our ideas, show up to our programs, act friendly while they are there, and contribute to the church budget. This may create nice, polite (at least publicly) volunteers, but it does little to create spiritually (trans)formed apprentices of Jesus. This is simply unacceptable, and cannot continue to be perpetuated.
If we are to create true communities of apprentices to Jesus, we MUST be about more than agreeing, attending, politeness, and 'tithing'. I don't think those things are even compelling to people who we identify as 'lost.' We must be about something that is fundamentally different than that which has passed for the Christian life in America. We must take Jesus seriously when he talks about life in the kingdom of God. We must start placing our confidence in him--really--and begin to really do the things he taught and modeled. And it is almost embarrassing to have to say that it is more than what we have accepted for so long in the church.
These are a few of my proposals.
1) We will place a greater emphasis on right living as an expression of one's actual beliefs.
2) We will place a higher emphasis on true community in whatever form it really occurs.
3) We will be people who are increasingly reflecting the character of Christ, rather than merely being nice and polite. We will increasingly become people of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, humility, self-control, forgiveness, and mercy.
4) We will give, not first and foremost to programming budgets and buildings, but so that no one will be in need.
Surely, more will be involved than these, but I suggest these as an alternative to what has passed for 'the Christian life'.
It is only when we become fundamentally different that we will begin to present a compelling alternative way of life to the people around us.
1) to give uncritical mental assent to a certain list of doctrinal statements.
2) to attend the big events of the group on a regular basis, and to be involved in some kind of volunteer service.
3) to be nice and polite when among other members of the group.
4) to give a certain percentage of one's income.
There is little, if any, practical expectation for spiritual transformation. We will allow people to remain spiritually unformed as long as they agree with our ideas, show up to our programs, act friendly while they are there, and contribute to the church budget. This may create nice, polite (at least publicly) volunteers, but it does little to create spiritually (trans)formed apprentices of Jesus. This is simply unacceptable, and cannot continue to be perpetuated.
If we are to create true communities of apprentices to Jesus, we MUST be about more than agreeing, attending, politeness, and 'tithing'. I don't think those things are even compelling to people who we identify as 'lost.' We must be about something that is fundamentally different than that which has passed for the Christian life in America. We must take Jesus seriously when he talks about life in the kingdom of God. We must start placing our confidence in him--really--and begin to really do the things he taught and modeled. And it is almost embarrassing to have to say that it is more than what we have accepted for so long in the church.
These are a few of my proposals.
1) We will place a greater emphasis on right living as an expression of one's actual beliefs.
2) We will place a higher emphasis on true community in whatever form it really occurs.
3) We will be people who are increasingly reflecting the character of Christ, rather than merely being nice and polite. We will increasingly become people of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, humility, self-control, forgiveness, and mercy.
4) We will give, not first and foremost to programming budgets and buildings, but so that no one will be in need.
Surely, more will be involved than these, but I suggest these as an alternative to what has passed for 'the Christian life'.
It is only when we become fundamentally different that we will begin to present a compelling alternative way of life to the people around us.
Monday, August 19, 2002
We had a really good experience with our water's edge group tonight. We had some sharing about our lives, some really good worship, a great teaching piece by Joel, some meaningful prayer, and communion led by David Van Huisen. It was really good...
...but the best moment came when we are passing the bread and juice around and my three year old (almost) gets in my face. She says, "Daddy, I want some bread." ... and she kept saying it. So, finally I try to tell her a little bit of what it means, and she still wants some. So, unsure about the "religious" protocal of a three year old taking part in the Lord's Supper, we go to the table. She takes a very little (very little) piece of bread and dips it in the juice. She proceeds to place it on her tongue, quickly realizes it is a strange feeling, gives it back to me, and again takes it from me and eats it when we get back to our place on the floor. As she ate the little morsal, she was overcome with self-consciousness. Why? I have no idea. But I do know that she was not denied the bread that she wanted. Perhaps we need to consider? How often do we deny the bread of life to people because the are not "just right" for a million reasons... including being too young, too sinful, too dirty, too...
... did I mention the beautiful sunset I experienced driving home tonight? I ate at the table, and I am full!
...but the best moment came when we are passing the bread and juice around and my three year old (almost) gets in my face. She says, "Daddy, I want some bread." ... and she kept saying it. So, finally I try to tell her a little bit of what it means, and she still wants some. So, unsure about the "religious" protocal of a three year old taking part in the Lord's Supper, we go to the table. She takes a very little (very little) piece of bread and dips it in the juice. She proceeds to place it on her tongue, quickly realizes it is a strange feeling, gives it back to me, and again takes it from me and eats it when we get back to our place on the floor. As she ate the little morsal, she was overcome with self-consciousness. Why? I have no idea. But I do know that she was not denied the bread that she wanted. Perhaps we need to consider? How often do we deny the bread of life to people because the are not "just right" for a million reasons... including being too young, too sinful, too dirty, too...
... did I mention the beautiful sunset I experienced driving home tonight? I ate at the table, and I am full!
Friday, August 16, 2002
Jason Evans' blog on August 17, 2002 spurred something I've been realizing recently: I do some really stupid things sometimes...okay, alot of times. Like starting projects for myself before I finish others. That stuff I blogged the other day about my four big projects...don't be impressed, please. It's stupid. Really, I have been getting myself into way too much lately, and it is wearing me down in a major way.
Why am I doing all of this stuff? I could tell you the story of my twin who died before we were born and give you some idea that I am trying to live for two people, but that is just plain kooky. The truth is that I am a people pleaser. (Is my honesty impressing you? Good.) I don't like people to be disappointed in me. (You're not mad at me for being honest like this are you?) It's not my dad's fault or my mom's. They never put any pressure on me to earn their love. So why do I feel like I have to do all this stuff? Well, frankly, I think it is because there are six billion people who don't know how great I am. (For those of you who haven't got what I'm doing here yet, this is called "Brutal Honesty").
There, I wrote it. That is the sad state of my heart. Believe me, I am seriously insecure at times. Why do I want to be admired by everyone I meet? I think it is because too often, I am living according to an alternate story rather than the one I know I should have more confidence in.
The story I am increasingly learning to live by goes like this: "You can live your whole life without recognition and still be complete because you are the beloved of God. You will begin to truly live when you lose sight of yourself because you are captivated by the beauty of God and the beauty in each person that bears God's image...when you love other people enough to say, 'No'...when you love other people enough to say, 'I need your help'...when you love God enough to say, 'Not my will, but Yours be done'...when God's life breaks into your heart in such a way that the death that works within you no longer has space in which to operate...when fear, anger, greed, lust, malice, rudeness, and violence no longer have claim to who you are."
It is strange how, when you try to simplify your life, you can miss the point and just say "Yes" to too many good things. I am learning what it means to say "Yes" to One. That is the heart of simplifying my life...saying "Yes" to One. The rest should be an expression of that "Yes".
Why am I doing all of this stuff? I could tell you the story of my twin who died before we were born and give you some idea that I am trying to live for two people, but that is just plain kooky. The truth is that I am a people pleaser. (Is my honesty impressing you? Good.) I don't like people to be disappointed in me. (You're not mad at me for being honest like this are you?) It's not my dad's fault or my mom's. They never put any pressure on me to earn their love. So why do I feel like I have to do all this stuff? Well, frankly, I think it is because there are six billion people who don't know how great I am. (For those of you who haven't got what I'm doing here yet, this is called "Brutal Honesty").
There, I wrote it. That is the sad state of my heart. Believe me, I am seriously insecure at times. Why do I want to be admired by everyone I meet? I think it is because too often, I am living according to an alternate story rather than the one I know I should have more confidence in.
The story I am increasingly learning to live by goes like this: "You can live your whole life without recognition and still be complete because you are the beloved of God. You will begin to truly live when you lose sight of yourself because you are captivated by the beauty of God and the beauty in each person that bears God's image...when you love other people enough to say, 'No'...when you love other people enough to say, 'I need your help'...when you love God enough to say, 'Not my will, but Yours be done'...when God's life breaks into your heart in such a way that the death that works within you no longer has space in which to operate...when fear, anger, greed, lust, malice, rudeness, and violence no longer have claim to who you are."
It is strange how, when you try to simplify your life, you can miss the point and just say "Yes" to too many good things. I am learning what it means to say "Yes" to One. That is the heart of simplifying my life...saying "Yes" to One. The rest should be an expression of that "Yes".
Saturday, August 10, 2002
So here is what I will be using (more or less) tomorrow night... click here to read it.
If that's too much work for you, here's an excerpt...
"I think one of the biggest keys to “going beyond the goodness of the scribes and Pharisees” is to engage with other people in creative, selfless, and love-filled ways.
"If a person has a particular problem with improper thoughts toward a co-worker of the opposite sex, it will not accomplish anything by quitting the job. In some cases, it may certainly be necessary, but there is a deeper issue than mere social proximity. There is something wrong with that person’s soul.
"There are those in the history of the church who went through their lives taking great effort to never look at a woman—even their own mothers and sisters. But such things do nothing to eliminate the wickedness in one’s heart…only the opportunity to act.
"We must, therefore, change the way we see people and relate to them.
"For us to have the goodness of the kingdom heart means that we look at the people around us, especially strangers and even the images of people we see, not as objects to be used in some way for our ‘fulfillment’, but as human beings...as image bearers of God."
If that's too much work for you, here's an excerpt...
"I think one of the biggest keys to “going beyond the goodness of the scribes and Pharisees” is to engage with other people in creative, selfless, and love-filled ways.
"If a person has a particular problem with improper thoughts toward a co-worker of the opposite sex, it will not accomplish anything by quitting the job. In some cases, it may certainly be necessary, but there is a deeper issue than mere social proximity. There is something wrong with that person’s soul.
"There are those in the history of the church who went through their lives taking great effort to never look at a woman—even their own mothers and sisters. But such things do nothing to eliminate the wickedness in one’s heart…only the opportunity to act.
"We must, therefore, change the way we see people and relate to them.
"For us to have the goodness of the kingdom heart means that we look at the people around us, especially strangers and even the images of people we see, not as objects to be used in some way for our ‘fulfillment’, but as human beings...as image bearers of God."
I can't juggle, but I do have several projects that I am working on.
1) a book review of N.T. Wright's "Jesus and the Kingdom of God" for the Pneuma Review (a theological quarterly jounal edited by my friends Mike and Raul).
2) an article on the main body of Todd Hunter's presentations "A Tale of Two Gospels" and "Calling, Mission And Gifts:
How They Integrate In A Disciple’s Life"
3) a curriculum for Christlikeness. (really...well, at least a start of one. So I'm taking Dallas Willard seriously...oh yeah, and Jesus too). Really what I'm working on is putting together an intentional approach to apprenticeship in the area of silence and solitude for Mike, Travis, and myself. Of course, it will be available to anyone...
4) a seminar based stuff from on Wright's "Jesus and the Kingdom of God," "The Challenge of Jesus," "What Saint Paul Really Said," and Todd Hunter's "Tale of Two Gospels." Too ambitious? okay, maybe it is...but I'm willing to be accused of that.
I'll post what I will be talking about tomorrow night. When? Um, tonight or tomorrow night.
I have some other thoughts to write down, but my projects are calling...or is that my alarm clock?
1) a book review of N.T. Wright's "Jesus and the Kingdom of God" for the Pneuma Review (a theological quarterly jounal edited by my friends Mike and Raul).
2) an article on the main body of Todd Hunter's presentations "A Tale of Two Gospels" and "Calling, Mission And Gifts:
How They Integrate In A Disciple’s Life"
3) a curriculum for Christlikeness. (really...well, at least a start of one. So I'm taking Dallas Willard seriously...oh yeah, and Jesus too). Really what I'm working on is putting together an intentional approach to apprenticeship in the area of silence and solitude for Mike, Travis, and myself. Of course, it will be available to anyone...
4) a seminar based stuff from on Wright's "Jesus and the Kingdom of God," "The Challenge of Jesus," "What Saint Paul Really Said," and Todd Hunter's "Tale of Two Gospels." Too ambitious? okay, maybe it is...but I'm willing to be accused of that.
I'll post what I will be talking about tomorrow night. When? Um, tonight or tomorrow night.
I have some other thoughts to write down, but my projects are calling...or is that my alarm clock?
Friday, August 09, 2002
Okay, so it's been a while...My life has suddenly become very hurried and I need time to rest. I haven't even had time to think and write, but I have had time to blog...it's just that I have come to think that eevery time I blog it has to be some great thought or something. Well, no more. I will continue to blog...even about the simple.
Speaking of simple...here's a little ad for a gathering Randy and I are helping Jason Evans from Matthew's House put on.
Speaking of simple...here's a little ad for a gathering Randy and I are helping Jason Evans from Matthew's House put on.